TRANSITION

FOSTER CARE TRANSITION GUIDE
pose a challenge. Students or first-time renters often lack a rental history,
someone to act as a guarantor, or the savings for a security deposit.
Don’t let this discourage you.
Being a student or first-time renter with limited or no credit is common.
There may be opportunities to prove your reliability without a rental or
credit history. For example, consider subletting an apartment. If a
landlord requires a co-signer, consider asking your caseworker, a mentor,
or another responsible adult to serve as a co-signer. You may be able to
submit a letter of support from your ETV coordinator, confirming that you
having access to housing funds as a student in the ETV program.
Beware! When searching for a home, it’s important to look out for scams.
Scammers often advertise rentals that do not exist or are not available to
trick people into sending money before they discover the truth. Find out
how rental scams work, signs of a scam, and how to report scams here:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0079-rental-listing-scams.
Does it make more sense for me to live on-campus or off-campus?
The choice between living on-campus (e.g., in a residence hall or dorm),
or off-campus (e.g., with family or in your own apartment), can be as
difficult as choosing which college to attend or career to pursue.
Below is a helpful list of issues to weigh when searching for a place to
live.
On-Campus Life
• Resident Advisor (RA) – Someone is always available on-site to
handle emergencies and offer guidance. RA’s play an important
role of developing a sense of community among campus residents.
• Student Engagement – Research suggests that students who live
on campus are more likely to graduate because campus living is
designed for student learning. Also, most college dorms have
planned social activities, some of which are free, that help students
get acquainted with campus and other students.
• Free Amenities – Utilities are typically free in a dorm. Colleges
that do charge for cable or internet typically do not charge the
same amount you might pay for in an apartment or home. Also,
some dorms come equipped with TV’s, an on-site gym, and games.
Living on campus can also help you save money and time since
you can likely walk to class.
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