Partnership with Folsom Lake College aims to support unhoused students
FOLSOM — A project years in the making officially moved from vision to reality Friday as community leaders, partners and supporters gathered at Oak Hills Church for the groundbreaking of a new student housing village led by HART of Folsom.
Friday’s ceremony marked the start of construction on a development designed to provide stable housing for students attending Folsom Lake College who are experiencing homelessness, representing a major expansion of the nonprofit’s long-standing efforts to address housing insecurity in the community.
“This groundbreaking represents an exciting step forward for our community,” said HART of Folsom Board President Liz Ekenstedt. “The student village will benefit unhoused Folsom Lake College students, and we’re excited to be opening the doors for Fall semester students.”
Standing before a crowd of community partners, donors and city officials, Ekenstedt emphasized that the milestone was the result of years of collaboration and trust across Folsom, recognizing contributors from local foundations and volunteers to city staff and nonprofit partners who helped bring the project to this point.
“It’s because of everyone here,” she said. “What we’re doing here is the first… actually looking at a way to reduce entrenched homelessness.”
The project will bring a new set of residential units to the Oak Hills Church property, with plans calling for up to five individual units constructed along the rear of the site. Organizers said the project will begin with three units, with fundraising already underway to add a fourth and potentially expand to a fifth if additional support is secured. The new units replace the previously used camping trailers that have been in place at the site.
Standing before the site during the ceremony, Ekenstedt described how the layout will take shape, noting the units will be built along the back wall of the property, with one positioned at the far end as a dedicated ADA-accessible unit.
“Pretty much… we’ve got one, two, three, four and five,” she said, outlining the placement. “The units are going to go along this back wall… and then the final unit will be this way… and that’s going to be an ADA unit.”
Each unit will include its own interior living space with a kitchen and private restroom, providing residents with a more complete and independent environment as they work toward stability.
Ekenstedt also emphasized that the site is being designed to meet all required building and safety standards, including sidewalks, lighting and emergency exit features.
“Our sidewalks will be to code. Everything’s to code. Our lighting’s to code. Our panic buttons to get out the gates are to code,” she said. “I just love that it’s going to be exactly as good as it should be.”
The development is designed specifically to support female students from Folsom Lake College, offering not only housing but a structured environment focused on long-term success. Program leaders say the goal is to provide more than temporary shelter by creating a pathway toward independence through case management, goal setting and access to essential resources.
That approach builds on HART’s broader mission, which began in November 2018 with the launch of its transitional housing program. The program focuses on helping individuals move beyond homelessness through one-on-one case management, addressing underlying challenges, setting personal goals and connecting participants with critical resources needed to achieve long-term independence.
Since its inception, the program has demonstrated consistent success, with many participants transitioning into stable housing within about a year and avoiding a return to homelessness.
The need for expanded housing solutions has become increasingly urgent, particularly among students. During the 2024–25 academic year, 64 students at Folsom Lake College — nearly 1 percent of the student body — reported experiencing homelessness, though officials believe the true number is likely higher due to underreporting tied to stigma.
While temporary hotel placements have provided short-term relief, community leaders say they do not offer the long-term stability students need to succeed academically and remain on track toward their goals.
Friday’s groundbreaking reflects a growing partnership between HART, Folsom Lake College and Oak Hills Church, which donated the land for the project and has long supported the organization’s efforts to address homelessness in the community.
City leadership also underscored the importance of nonprofit-driven solutions in addressing local needs.
“We don’t have a whole lot of services out here, so we really do rely on our nonprofit organizations to be that hand up,” said Justin Raithel. “Because we do have needs here in our community, and we have individuals that absolutely need our help and assistance.”
Raithel said the city will continue to support the project and the broader work being done by HART as it expands housing opportunities in the community.
“I’m glad that this transitional housing project is moving forward and that the city can play our role in that,” he said. “I’m excited to see these go up and meet the residents and help them in the next phase of their lives.”
Construction is expected to take approximately six to nine months, with organizers aiming to welcome the first group of student residents as early as an upcoming academic term.
Once completed, the project will expand HART’s housing capacity in Folsom while providing a more durable, long-term solution designed to better serve students working to complete their education and move forward with stability. Those wishing to learn more about the project, HART or how to donate to the organization should visit their website here.
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