GAK House - Housing for Low-Income Students
By: Camila Grases ‘21
One of the biggest struggles for college students is finding affordable housing near campus, especially if you live in a city like Los Angeles. The area around USC has turned into a place where companies can invest and charge thousands of dollars in rent to college students who are already struggling to get by. In a community like this, it’s wonderful to have found the GAK house, where rent is $375 a month and whose mission statement is “financial and personal support, diversity of culture and ideas, opportunities for leadership, access to our alumni network and all that is best in the Trojan spirit.”
The house itself has a rich history. Originally, GAK (or Gakusei Kai) was a home built to support Japanese students living in Los Angeles. However, when World War II started and Japanese students were sent to internment camps, the University took the house back from the student organization. After the war, the students received the house back, but the organization died down in the sense that they began to include students from all sorts of backgrounds. Eventually, it became the co-ed, diverse community it is today.
So how is it possible for a house in Los Angeles to function on such a low rent? At some point in the house’s history, it became owned by an alumnus. The house was completely paid off and this alumnus seeks no profit from the house that most likely harbored him at some point. As a result, the full rent payment goes directly towards utilities and the maintenance of the house. The rent also covers things such as parking and furniture in the rooms.
The house is also entirely student-run. It is not overseen by a company or a land-lord; alumni often help with large projects and are involved with the house, but the day-to-day of the house itself falls on the hands of the students. We have a good system of chores that relies on the idea that those who are a part of the house want to see the house clean and well-managed. Officer positions such as president, treasurer, and maintenance ensure that the bills are paid and everything is running smoothly.
It’s a wonderful community that I have been lucky to take part in this past semester. Overall, its very welcoming and the students in the house find a space where they feel comfortable and at home. Because everything is run by the students, there is greater care that goes into the house itself. We want to make it better and cleaner and richer in its history and appearance.
Applications are due October 21. In order to apply, you must be eligible for financial aid; however, international students are more than welcome as well so long as they can prove their financial need somehow. After initial applications are sent in, we go through interview processes. Here, you can elaborate on the circumstances surrounding your family’s financial situation as well as show us who you are. One last piece of advice: don’t feel like someone else deserves it more. It’s a great opportunity so don’t hesitate!
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