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.”

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

With their Bellagio-esque dancing fountain, four pools, gaming room, free shuttle, and other amenities, the Lorenzo is a popular choice for students at USC. Part of the Renaissance collection, the Lorenzo is privately owned by GH Palmer Associates and marketed as luxury student housing. While GH Palmer Associates is creating much needed housing in downtown LA, the Italian façade luxury apartments don’t serve the greater community. The increasing demand for exclusive student housing has decreased the economic incentive for developers to create additional much needed affordable housing units in South LA.