Safe Housing for College Bound Daughter

[KendraDZ1902]

Yeah, neither of my sons could even find their RA when they had a question or a problem.

I saw mine on a daily basis.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

^ Dorms tend to be expensive. I had to commute and live with relatives because I could not afford the dorms in college. Even though it would have been A LOT nicer to be on campus.

Living on campus was much cheaper for me. I tried the off campus thing one year. I was always broke and I hated my roommate. I had a horrible off campus experience. I moved back to my old dorm the following year.

 

[Aggie414]

Dorms are expensive these days, $500 + for half of a small room with no private bathroom or kitchen, and you have to move out at the end of the semester. Then there are the parties, people coming in and out at all hours, bad roommates, etc. There is one redeeming value to living on campus and that is proximity to classes and access to profs. But they are not a cheap alternative so if there is housing off-campus, it can be a lot more economical for the student.

I cannot attest to the cost of on-campus living vs. off, but speaking from someone who lives in a university town – the parties and people coming is not unique to living on the campus. There are neighborhoods that are almost exclusively lived in by college students and there’s LOTS of people in and out of them. Living in an apartment complex is no better – you can still hear the party going on through the walls. Trying to buy a house in this area you have to do lots of research to make sure it’s not college student infested

 

[4Beauty]

I was terrified when my daughter was going to move from the dorm to just-off-campus housing with a few friends. I emailed the town police department (an address was available on the website). I explained what my concerns were and asked what he (in this case) would advise his niece. He kindly responded which sections of town he would try and direct her to. The other thing I tell all college Moms is to have her take a self-defense class. I trust her to try and do the right thing, but I don’t want her naively walking into a bad situation.

 

[runningdude]

They’ve been around a long, long time. If you go to orientation I guarantee they will be there, probably handing out water bottles and/or t-shirts and notices for their first meeting. Now that they are known as “Cru” they should be even more obvious. Warn your kids. They can be really aggressive toward Catholics.

Meh. I had a friend who was part of CCC/Cru. He invited me to a few bible studies, I declined, and that was the end of it…

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Does anyone know of resources for finding housing for a college bound daughter. She is transfering to the College of Charleston,SC in August. She cannot afford much so we are hoping she can find a roommate or someone renting out a room from their home. (Preferably a Catholic but at least a Christian roommate/family.)

Anyone know of listings through Christian/Catholic campus organizations?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mary

So Mary, did your daughter find a good living arrangement? I would have recommended the dorms also, since she was new to the university. That would give her safe housing and allow her to be close to the action on campus (classes, events, resources like the library).

My daughter is very happy with her dorm situation. Schools now often have really nice dorms with nice kitchens, laundries, study rooms, etc. Yes, they are expensive, but not necessarily more than a nice apartment in a good part of a college town.

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

Thank you for all your concern and advice. My daughter found off campus housing that was somewhat affordable. $550 a month. However it is not the greatest neighborhood. It is however less than a mile from a very faithful Catholic Church, Christ the Redeemer in Hanahan, SC. She is on the edge of the shady neighborhoods/outskirts of the nice neighborhoods and moving her in was an experience. (one 60+ man starred her down hard as we were driving in with the U-Haul, it gave me the creeps.)

One good thing, her boyfriend lives in the same complex, just two buildings down from hers so they carpool everywhere. He drops her off at College of Charleston and then goes to the Citadel where he is in his 5th year, hence he doesn’t live on campus anymore.
(they tell me they have pledged to remain chaste, saving themselves for marriage and since they both are 22 that’s all I can pray for.)

He sees her safely to her apartment each night and walks back to his alone. (He conceal carries with permit)

My worry will come into play when he graduates this May. He is staying in Charleston until his lease runs out at the end of summer but then he will be returning home to find a job. (At least that was the latest.)

All prayers appreciated.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I’m glad she’s in a good situation right now. You should keep track of her expenses to live the apartments, you may find that they are comparable to dorm living. When she doesn’t have an escort, it will likely be much safer to be on campus.

I don’t know the area she’s in at all, but I hear good things from the many young people we know who are in college now and living on campus. Those who are in apartments are usually older (3rd year and up) and are more familar/comfortable with the area around the campus.

It is very common now for schools to have accomodations for students who don’t/can’t get home at every break. More dorms are built as apartments where students can stay even during the long semester breaks. Of course, those are more exensive - but may be equivalent to the rent you are paying now.