As first-year students moved into the residence halls, some returning students still sought a place to live. The city of Ann Arbor is not known for affordable, easy-to-find student housing. High rent, outrageous room-and-board fees, profit-driven management companies and the bureaucracy of utility companies can make move-in a headache and foster an environment that can make concentrating on classes difficult. Many students turn to the University's Housing Information Office as a resource. Two programs new last month could make finding off-campus housing significantly easier and cheaper. Students should capitalize on the new services to make the search for housing a more manageable feat.
Many students turn away from University Housing residence halls after their first or second year. While residence halls provide convenience and easy access to University resources, students often find it cheaper to move into off-campus accommodations. However, Ann Arbor rental rates are high - making it difficult for budget-strapped students to find housing within their means. With apartments and houses being snapped up as early as October or November, students unable to secure housing during the usual rush at the end of the fall semester often find themselves in a bind for a place to live.
One of the housing office's new programs allows students to find potential roommates over the World Wide Web. The Website also has lists of available apartments, houses and rooms around North and Central Campus. The new service gives students, especially campus latecomers, the opportunity to find housing without the difficult task of contacting individual management companies and landlords. The office serves as a clearinghouse of housing opportunities - the Website extends that service to be accessible from off-campus locations. Students transferring from other universities or returning from overseas study could find this prevents worrying about housing from afar.
HomeShare, the office's other new program, provides students with the opportunity to work off a portion of their rent, much like the University's popular co-ops. In exchange for doing tasks such as shoveling sidewalks or grocery shopping for an elderly person, students get a room and kitchen privileges in a senior citizen's house for significantly reduced rent. To quell elderly homeowners' fears, the HomeShare program screens all participants.
The program benefits both the students and homeowners. Homeowners unable to take care of some of their own basic household needs receive help. Students not only get a nominal rent - usually less than $300 a month - they also are able to give back to the community. The program will benefit the community's elderly while providing budget-conscious students the opportunity to make their living expenses more manageable.
Many problems face students looking for off-campus housing. The problems are magnified when students come to campus late or face significant financial impediments. The housing office's new services will help students with some of the difficulties that face them as they search for a place to live - it deserves commendation for offering unique, innovative programs.
09-03-97
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