The director of housing at University of California, Santa Cruz sent an email to faculty and staff Monday urging them to “[offer] a room for rent” in their private homes due to a “housing crisis” on campus and in the city at large.

“I am writing to you today to see if you may be able to help us ... by offering a room for rent in your home to a UCSC student this fall,” reads the email, sent by Dave Keller, the executive director of housing services on UCSC’s campus.

Keller said there are currently several hundred incoming freshmen still without housing assignments — and a shortage of any available space for them on campus.

He’s asking faculty and staff to open their homes up for the entire academic year, if possible.

“The need is real and it is urgent,” he wrote.