For Immediate Release
September 10, 2010

San Mateo College District Offers Temporary Housing to San Bruno Fire Victims

The District is offering several brand new apartments to be used as temporary housing.

The San Mateo County Community College District today offered several brand new apartments to be used as temporary housing for victims of the San Bruno fire. The District opened Cañada Vista, a 60 unit complex on the Cañada campus in Redwood City, three weeks ago and not all apartments have yet been rented to faculty and staff. The College District had reserved several apartments to be used to recruit new faculty and staff.

“Given the devastating losses in San Bruno, we decided to make the vacant apartments available first to our employees and students who might have lost a home in the San Bruno fire and, secondly, to other community members affected by the fire,” Chancellor Ron Galatolo said. “We want to offer victims the opportunity to live in a home rather than in a hotel or shelter.” The apartments were built for faculty and staff of the College District which includes Skyline College in San Bruno, College of San Mateo and Cañada College in Redwood City.

Cañada Vista sits on the top of hillside overlooking the San Francisco Bay, south San Mateo County and the Woodside hills. Most apartments have stunning views, individual garages, washer/dryer, energy star appliances and air conditioning. Rents for the apartments are about 40% below market, due to the fact that the apartments were constructed on District–owned land and rents are used to pay back the construction debt. The apartments are not supported by tax dollars.

For information on available apartments, please contact christensen@smccd.edu.

For more information, contact Robert Hood, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at hoodr@smccd.edu or 306-3340