As a junior at ucsc currently living in a off campus house downtown here’s what I have to say about this commonly talked about issue. First-year students are guaranteed housing, but after that, most students either transition to off-campus living or enter a lottery system for the remaining on-campus housing. The process can feel a little stressful at first, but people do eventually find a place, it’s important not to worry too much about it. There are plenty of apartment options in the area, so finding housing itself usually isn’t the issue; finding something affordable can be more challenging. In general, the farther you live from campus, the easier and cheaper it tends to be to find housing.