Having access to a quality education is one key factor to keeping people out of homelessness. Studies have shown that those with a college education are far less likely to become homeless than those without one (though this is no way meant to marginalize or ignore the huge number of homeless students and graduates that exist within our society).

For many states, what is considered a “public education” is far more expensive than many can afford without being burdened with student loans for the rest of they’re lives. Even when financial aid if offered by FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) or other programs, it often does not come close to covering the full cost of school.

That’s why making college education free and accessible to all people should be a priority for all states to provide; but sadly this is far from the case, as education is more and more being turned into a for-profit business model, even in this faltering economy.

What’s more, many schools are using the current downturn in the economy as an excuse to charge more and more from the students, while simultaneously offering less classes and fewer services. This can be exemplified by looking at California’s public education system – the University of California.

Over the past year, the UC system has announced major cuts in funding to programs and services, while raising tuition and other fees to exorbitant prices. Last spring, for example, they announced an 11% increase in tuition in order to cover the current budget crisis. This increase, however, failed to keep the UC from trying to completely cut the Community Studies program at UC Santa Cruz – the social justice major.

This was by no means an end to this practice; and now the students are beginning to stand up for what they see as a basic human right by demanding an end to these price increases and calling for a free public education system in California. Starting this fall, the UC announced yet another increase in tuition, this time by a whopping 30%. It was then revealed that of this huge increase, not a single penny would go towards student resources or faculty; but rather it would be directed to preserving the bond rating of the institution so that it could borrow money for unnecessary building projects, and bolstering the state of California’s credit rating against its own future borrowing.

This sparked a wave of protest throughout the UC system marked by a massive system wide walkout of students and staff at every campus. Students on the UC Santa Cruz campus, who have been hit especially hard by the cuts, decided to go one step beyond these traditional protesting methods. As of this writing they have occupied two buildings on campus, literally taking direct control of they’re school and putting it in the students hands.

The first occupation lasted almost a week, and ended with no arrests or violence. Immediately after they began the occupation, letters of solidarity from all over the world started to come in, as so many others are feeling the same frustrations. The second occupation lasted only several hours; as they barricaded themselves in the office of Dean of Social Sciences, Sheldon Kamieniecki’s office, three students were maced and arrested by campus police, after not being warned or mirandized.

This is just a recent example of the demand for systemic change in the way we see school. Access to a free and quality education should be a right, not a privilege. If we lived in a society that valued people and education before profit, think of how much different our social landscape would be. I think its safe to say that if people are willing to fight this hard for a free public education that it is a real possibility. Someday soon we may have a truly public education for all people, rich and poor alike.

Check out info on the occupation by going here:
http://occupyca.wordpress.com/