Whether you are relocating from across the country or just across town, these resources will help you secure housing ahead of service.
Find housing before you start service
You will be required to be living within the state of Rhode Island for the first day of service to allow you to focus on building relationships with your teammates, immerse yourself in training and adjust to your new neighborhood before the school year begins.
We highly encourage our AmeriCorps members to secure housing and move prior to the first day of service to allow you to focus on building relationships with your teammates, immersing yourself in training and adjusting to your new neighborhood before the school year begins.
When to start looking
You will want to be in Providence by the end of July, so consider looking for leases that begin on the first of July or mid-July if possible. Many landlords require 90 days’ notice from tenants if they are going to renew, so you could find available listings as early as April. We recommend starting your search as soon as possible to give yourself some peace of mind and time for planning and budgeting long before your first day!
Deciding where to live
City Year Providence AmeriCorps members serve in six schools throughout Providence. You’ll be serving with the same team and school throughout the year. You will be placed on a team about a month into service, so you will need to secure housing before your school placement. In fact, roommates rarely serve on the same team. When considering where to live, the most important thing we recommend is to make sure you live near a bus stop (within a half mile is ideal!) that goes downtown to Kennedy Plaza.
The first step to consider when deciding where to live is identifying a budget you feel comfortable with. By prioritizing and planning, you can live in Providence on your City Year stipend.
Recommended Neighborhoods to live in Providence:
- Federal Hill
- The East Side
- Smith Hill
- Elmhurst
- Chalkstone
On average, AmeriCorps members each pay between $$650-$900/month and have 2-3 roommates. Learn more about Providence and its neighborhoods here.
Finding roommates
To keep living costs down and stretch your stipend further, we strongly encourage you to live with roommates. Use the City Year Providence confirmed corps member private Facebook group begin connecting with other people you will be serving with. Finding one or two roommates will help stretch your dollar, build community, and open the door to many more affordable housing options.
Budgeting for housing
Members find housing through online posting sites (examples: Craigslist, RentProv, Lovely, Apartments.com, Renthop, Trulia and Zillow), word of mouth and sometimes on the City Year Facebook group (current members advertising their apartments). Postings should outline who to contact to learn more about the property, costs and lease terms.
When renting an apartment, ask about the following fees as they frequently apply:
- Broker’s fee – typically one month’s rent or a percentage or the annual lease
- Security deposit – typically one month’s rent, returned at the end of the lease if the property’s condition is maintained
- First month’s rent – typically due upon signing of the lease agreement
- Last month’s rent – may be requested upon signing of the lease agreement
Some utilities are included in the price of rent, so be sure to ask your landlord. When viewing apartments, most landlords or current tenants will gladly tell you the average price of utilities, so don’t be afraid to ask. It is also helpful to ask what utilities the house uses, such as gas or electric heat. Some units and buildings include laundry, for free or a cost, while others are located near laundromats.
Learn more about your bi-weekly stipend and the various benefits – both during and after service.
Whether you’re new to our city or have lived in Providence for several years, there are always new and exciting things to experience here.
Looking for more resources and information? We’ve got you covered.
