HRC hosts off-campus living info sessions

The University's department of Housing and Residential Communities administrates on-campus student housing, but some students do not realize HRC also provides information and assistance to students who live off-campus.

Julie Elmore, the assistant director for off-campus and greek housing, said the vast majority of students live off campus.

"There are about 6,000 students living in the residence halls at the University," Elmore said. "Excluding those living in greek housing, this still leaves about 15 to 17 thousand students who live off campus."

Elmore said HRC is attempting to help these students by hosting information sessions, off-campus housing fairs and by making information available to students via their Web site.

"This week, we are planning on having four information sessions for students planning to live off-campus next year," Elmore said. "Two were held last night, and there will be two more on Thursday: one at 6:30 p.m. in Paty Hall and another at 7:30 p.m. in Rose Towers."

The sessions will provide useful information to students whose housing needs are going to be met off campus, Elmore said.

"Since the deadline for re-contracting to continue living in the residence halls has passed, we sent e-mails to all of those students currently living on campus who did not opt to re-contract," Elmore said. "The e-mails told these students about the sessions and urged them to come."

The information sessions themselves, Elmore said, will help students decide where is the best place for them off campus, and educate them about the laws and regulations that living off campus entails.

"We're using these sessions to try and educate current on-campus residents about life off campus," Elmore said.

Elmore said apartments in Tuscaloosa are not abundant, and finding what students want can be a bit of a challenge.

"Obviously, finding an apartment right next to campus for $100 a month will be next to impossible," Elmore said. "Apartments and houses for rent in Tuscaloosa are very diverse, and finding the right one is a matter of knowing what you're looking for."

Roommates can skip out on bills, Elmore said, so it's very important to know who you will be living with.

"While you live off campus, you are going to have a very different experience from living at home or even on campus," Elmore said. "You are going to have bills that have to be paid on time every month."

Making sure their parents are happy with where they'll be living is also a very important factor for students in choosing a place to live, Elmore said.

"I've heard stories from students whose parents decide that they aren't happy with where their student will be living when they move in," Elmore said. "This can be especially troublesome for students who have already signed a lease."

Another important factor to consider is occupancy regulations, Elmore said. She also said many houses and apartments in Tuscaloosa's historic district often have very strict occupancy limits, so it's important to be aware of how many people you can live with at any of the numerous areas.

Elmore also said there are many printed and online resources geared toward renters.

"Alabama Arise puts out a handbook [The Alabama Tenants' Handbook] that we have copies of for students," Elmore said. "In it, the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords are explained."

A good way to see if a property is good place to live, Elmore said, is to find out if it is part of the Crimson Choice program.

"Crimson Choice properties have to pass a 60 or 70 criteria inspection to be endorsed," Elmore said. "This doesn't mean, though, that just because a property isn't part of the program that it won't be a great place to live."

Elmore said that the Law School's Civil Law Clinic is helping HRC with the informational events and will be able to answer any legal questions students may have as well as help students when it comes to lawsuits dealing with off-campus housing.

HRC will host two information sessions presenting information about living off campus on Thursday, one at 6:30 p.m. in Paty Hall, and another at 7:30 p.m. in Rose Towers. The department also plans on hosting another off-campus housing fair in the second floor lobby of the Ferguson Center on April 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The HRC Web site also contains additional information and can be accessed from housing.ua.edu/offcampus.