PLUS Research Fellows: Tianyue Lang, Ruth Rodriguez, Lara Pesce Ares, and Astha Agarwal

PLUS (Planning & Learning United for Systems-Change) is a participatory action research initiative that partners graduate students with cities and school districts to better align planning, policy, and education systems in pursuit of equity. As part of the CC+S Y-HEAR-US initiative, PLUS applies a whole-child approach to improving outcomes for students experiencing homelessness and housing instability—bringing a city planning lens to uncover systemic barriers and inform cross-sector solutions.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, PLUS research focused on how coordinated planning can more effectively support these students across California. Graduate student fellows explored the use of housing questionnaires, the role of transportation in chronic absenteeism, and local efforts to expand college and career access—developing equity-driven strategies to address the complex, intersectional challenges facing the state’s most vulnerable youth.

The PLUS California Playbook summarizes four studies conducted over the 2024-25 academic year in partnership with HETACs.

The four research studies address, analyze, and provide recommendations relating to the Housing Questionnaire, Transportation Access, College and Career Readiness, and Intersectionality between Students Experiencing Homelessness and other special populations in California.

Read the final Playbook Report here.