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Homes for Service - Rental Resources Helping members live and serve in Washington State |
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Permanent Housing Options | Housing Search Strategies | Low-Income Housing Information | Standard Lease Requirements | Moving In | Tenants’ Rights |
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After you have begun to do a little research on where you want to live and what kind of budget you are working with (see Before you Arrive), you can start working out the details and actually searching for housing. This page offers information for AmeriCorps members that will help with the housing search as well as the moving-in process. It includes:
The majority of AmeriCorps members live in apartments, and almost all of them have roommates. Very few live alone, so be prepared to share a space with at least one other person. If you feel uncomfortable about having a roommate, you will probably need to look at your budget choices, especially if you are living in one of the more expensive urban areas.
We encourage our members to try and keep rent at around $300-$350 per month. In some areas (like Seattle) that can be difficult, while in other locations you might find several options within that price range. If you are in an urban area, you may discover some cheaper living options farther out, but you will need to consider the extra costs (in both time and money) of a lengthy commute.
Apartment/Room Shares:
AmeriCorps Group
Shares:
Make sure that you lay down ground rules about shared duties and expectations with a roommate agreement. Many roommate conflicts can be avoided by openly discussing and agreeing to these things ahead of time. If you are already experiencing problems, contact a dispute resolution center in your area for free mediation and resources.
Living Alone:
Finding housing on an AmeriCorps budget can be tough, but you can do it! Here are some strategies to pursue that might be helpful in your housing search: 1) Networking - Through word-of-mouth, contact all relatives, friends, school associates, etc. who live (or know someone who lives) where you will be serving. About 45% of AmeriCorps and VISTA members surveyed in Seattle found their housing through a friend, family member, or other AmeriCorps member. Ask everyone if they know of any available housing, and ask them to spread the word about what you are looking for. Reconnect with your contacts periodically to check on any new leads. Post a "housing needed" request on the AmeriCorps bulletin board by clicking the "Enter my Forum" button below
2) Classifieds Search (on-line and upon arrival) – Search and respond to on-line and printed classified ads that meet your criteria. Please note that communities vary greatly in the degree to which they pursue online housing ads. For some of our sites, these internet listings will have many offerings, but for others, especially in rural areas, they may have none. That does not mean that there aren’t plenty of great housing opportunities in those communities, but you will need to rely more heavily on the word-of-mouth and neighborhood search strategies. If you are moving to a rural area and can't find information on-line about a place you are looking at, feel free to ask them to send you pictures so you can get a better idea of the property.
Craigslist
You can also run on-line searches for property management companies in your community and Google "relocation (your town name) Washington" to get links to lots of real estate and other information
Roommates.com - Post an ad for a roommate or scan the roommate offerings. College Housing
Boards Community
Newspapers Free Weekly or
Neighborhood Papers What do Former Tenants Have to Say?
Check out this apartment rating site to read what current and former tenants have to say about different apartment buildings. The site includes a forum for tenants to rate and comment on the building as well as other information like average unit rental price. Site has buildings all over the state, some with more ratings than others - highly entertaining and informative. 1) Neighborhood Search – Visit affordable neighborhoods which interest you. Walk the residential streets and look for "FOR RENT" signs. Check community boards at universities, co-ops, libraries, and service agencies for available housing information. 2) AmeriCorps Bulletin Board - You can use the WA Service Corps bulletin board to connect with other members for roommates and housing. You might find a member who is already in your community who could do some in-person searching or a group of people willing to be roommates—-housing is much more affordable for groups than for singles. Simply click on the "Enter My Forum" button below and post your own requests or respond to others' offers. Make sure when you are comparing listings that you are comparing apples to apples. Do they include water/sewer/garbage? That can cost at least $60 per month. Are utilities paid? Those will be an additional $50 at least, unless you have a small space or are very efficient. Remember, a place that seems like a real steal but doesn't include any of these things may end up costing you more than another place with higher rent but utilities included. If these things are not included, make sure to ask what they usually run so you don't find yourself with unexpectedly high bills.
Public Housing Assistance The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development administers two government programs to assist low-income renters, the public housing program and Section 8. In Washington, these resources are administered through local Housing Authorities. AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA members qualify in terms of income, and, like food stamps, the living stipend is not counted in determining the award. For documentation that you can download, please check out these links:
Section 8 Excludable Income Clarification: Look at the top of page #3. Please note that low-income housing availability varies greatly across the state. In some areas, especially semi-rural communities, many low-income housing options may be available immediately. If so, these often are an excellent option, offering rent as low as $25 per month. However, in other areas, including Seattle and Thurston County, the waitlist for government–funded low-income housing (such as Section 8) is so long that they have stopped accepting applications. If you are interested in applying for Section 8, the first step is to contact the Housing Authority in the area in which you will be living. It is usually possible to begin the application process before you arrive, putting you on the waiting list earlier and getting you into housing faster. Section 8 is not the only way to get low-income housing! Check out these links to run searches for other low-income rental properties. These are not totally comprehensive, but they are a good start: Getting a Discount
Low Income Apartment Finder: Gives a lot of information about the properties and allows you to search by area as well as by your circumstances (family, elderly, etc.) Subsidized Housing Locator Ignore the ads at the top! Scroll down for subsidized apartments or run a search by community in the upper right hand corner. Look for apartments that advertise themselves as low-income or subsidized. Take the "Excludable Income" documents with you and an AmeriCorps pay stub. While your AmeriCorps living stipend might make it tough to find housing in your price range, the fact that you are an AmeriCorps member can have its advantages in the world of rental housing. Some landlords will be impressed by what you are doing, and others will take it as a sign that you will be good tenants (and the regularity of your paychecks doesn't hurt either!). Many members have gotten reduced rent over the years simply by explaining AmeriCorps and asking for a lower rent. Download this letter to help explain to your landlord what AmeriCorps is and encourage them to make you a deal. They might also want something proving that you are an AmeriCorps volunteers (such as a pay stub or contract). Your supervisor might also have pamphlets or other information you could take along as well, and you can look for additional materials on the AmeriCorps or Washington Service Corps websites. Not only are you getting the word out about AmeriCorps, you might get rewarded for it!
Documentation and monetary requirements to sign a lease will vary somewhat depending on whether you are dealing directly with the property owner, or working through a property management firm. Documentation requirements may include: Employment Letter (stating position, salary and start date)—These are available from your supervisor.
Some places require that your monthly income be at least three times the the rent. If you do not meet minimum income requirements, you may be asked to identify a guarantor for the lease. A guarantor is an individual, such as a parent, who earns an annual income several times the monthly rent. In most cases, the guarantor will be asked to produce documentation similar to the tenant requirements as described above. Some property managers will not accept personal checks for the first month’s rent, security deposit, and to secure the apartment. Therefore, it is important to have access to cash or a cashiers/certified check or money order (which can be obtained through your bank or at places like Western Union.)
Furnishing a new apartment can be an expensive proposition. Here are a couple of suggestions on where to get furniture on the cheap: Site for people to give away items for FREE. You sign up for a yahoo group, and you receive and can send e-mails of items wanted and items offered. Many communities have one of these, and items posted often include furniture and appliances. Operates in many communities throughout Washington. Has "wanted" and "offered" sections, and everything must be under $100. Lots of great deals on furniture, appliances, all kinds of moving in things. Thrift Stores Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. can be great places to pick up furnishings, appliances, and dishes. Yard/Garage Sales Sometimes there are deals to be had at these things, especially at the end of the day. College Surplus Sometimes colleges have to get rid of a bunch of furnishings and offer them at a very reasonable price. Contact your local college. AmeriCorps Bulletin Board As you contemplate how you are going to find all the stuff you need to furnish your apartment, dozens of other AmeriCorps folks, just finishing up their year are wondering how to get rid of all their stuff. Post for furniture needed, and look for furniture offered. Just click on the "Enter my Forum" button. An organization that offers alternatives to owning your own car, sort of like a rental car service. They have trucks as well as cars that could be great for moving. Much more info on their website. When signing up on the website, enter in the AmeriCorps promo code "V25ACorps" for a $25 usage credit. Currently only in Portland and Seattle. While, for the most part, most people have a good rental experience, it doesn’t hurt to know your rights as a tenant and what recourse you have should something go wrong. The Attorney General’s office has put out some very clear instructions on tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. Click here to link to the actual text in WA State law. For disputes involving landlords, consider mediation as a possible first step. The WA Tenants' Union also has good information and support for rental disputes as well as a 24-hour hotline. 
Corporation for National and Community Service and WA Service Corps Disclaimer Housing opportunities and information listed in this guide are for your informational purposes only and are in no way endorsed by the Washington Service Corps or the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps members reading this guide must use their best judgment, scrutinize every opportunity, and make their own informed decisions on how they will use the information presented. This guide is current as of July 2009; however, contact information and pricing may be subject to changes.
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