SPECIAL ISSUE 2022
LETTER FROM
THE EDITORS If you’re reading this, chances are that you are a prospective student, incoming freshman attending your START orientation, an Oregon State University student attending the 2022 Housing Fair, or simply searching for a place to live in Corvallis, Ore. First, if you’re a prospective student—hello! I hope you seriously consider joining the OSU community because we welcome you with open arms! You will truly fall in love with this place. This issue has content you may find helpful when considering if OSU and the City of Corvallis are right for you, like what dorm life is like on the Corvallis campus, or information on when to apply for on-campus housing. If you’re reading this during your START session, congratulations! Us here at Beaver’s Digest are so excited to welcome you into Beaver Nation. In this issue, you will find plenty of information that will help ease your transition into life living on campus—including reasons to be excited about dorm life, transportation options, and how to make your dorm feel more like home. I have not forgot about those of you who are reading this because you attended the 2022 Housing Fair or are simply looking for help finding housing—especially if this is your first time living off campus, we know how hard it can be to find a place that checks all the right boxes. That is why this issue exists—to help you! In this Housing Guide, we have content that can help in many different situations, including a roommate compatibility quiz and roommate agreement, Greek life housing information, housing horror stories and advice, how to find affordable furniture, and where to go for resources throughout your renting journey in Corvallis. We hope that there is a little something for everybody in this guide. Thank you for your continued support—your readership and engagement help drive and inspire the content we create. This is Beaver’s Digest’s first major collaboration on a publication, not to mention, the Renter's Guide’s first-ever appearance in magazine form… so… we are DAM proud of it and we hope you like it!
To all Oregon State University students worried about their living situation next academic year, I hope this magazine in collaboration with Beaver’s Digest provides some ease in your decision making. From considering bus routes to roommate agreements, we hope you can feel confident in your decisions by page 36. Every story in this issue was written and shot with the intent of showcasing different housing forms that are within the Corvallis community. Our writers and photographers here at The Daily Barometer put forth their best effort into every piece of media that is displayed here, and we hope that you appreciate their hard work towards this issue, and to Orange Media Network as a whole. This project has been an undertaking unique to any others I have done since my time as Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Baro. When I originally had this idea, I could have never imagined it would turn out this way. I am extremely grateful to have worked with Jaycee Kalama and Alan Nguyen to create this collaboration. I am constantly inspired by their drive and creativity. I hope that every OSU student—incoming or returning— finds a resource that they weren’t aware of before turning the pages. I am thankful to our local businesses for supporting our ventures with this issue by buying ad space, our writers for balancing both these stories and stories for our March issue out on stands now, and my editorial team for pitching and assigning such informative stories. They were integral to the success of this issue.
Best, Adriana Gutierrez The Daily Barometer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Best, Jaycee Kalama Beaver’s Digest EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: ASHTON BISNER COVER MODEL: OLIVIA RECCHIA COVER DIRECTOR: ALAN NGUYEN COVER ASSISTANT: ANDRES DE LOS SANTOS &
GARRET GRAVINK
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10 R E A S O N S T O LO O K F O R WA R D T O D O R M L I F E
06.
12. 08.
STUDENTS ADVISED TO A P P L Y ‘A S S O O N A S POSSIBLE’ FOR ONCAMPUS HOUSING
14.
O S U , C O R VA L L I S TRANSIT OPTIONS COULD BE FIRST STEP IN STUDENT HOUSING SEARCH
18. LIVING IN GREEK LIFE IS ‘MORE THAN JUST PAY I N G R E N T ’
24. 22. 31.
STUDENT ON THE S T R E E T: W H AT ’ S YOUR LIVIN G S I T UAT I O N L I K E ?
RO O M M AT E C O M PAT I B I L I T Y Q U I Z
32.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR DORM FEEL MORE LIKE HOME
IN THIS ISSUE
HOUSING HORROR STORIES
S I X S T O R E S T O S AV E ON FURNITURE
RO O M M AT E AG R E E M E N T
20.
28. 34.
LOHR: WHY YOU SHOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE
FIND HELP WITH HOUSING BOTH ON CAMPUS AND OFF
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MEET
T H E S TA F F
Jaycee Kalama
Adriana Gutierrez
beaver’s digest editor-in-chief
the daily barometer editor-in-chief
Alan Nguyen
Patience Womack
creative lead
beaver’s digest assistant editor
Kelsy Valentine
Luke Reynolds
the daily barometer campus editor
Cara Nixon
the daily barometer city editor
Jacob Le
photo chief
the daily barometer assistant editor
Ryan Moore
the daily barometer copy editor
marketing lead
Sukhjot Sal
Jessica Lucas
beaver’s digest copy editor
Jeremiah Estrada
sales lead
Agrizha Puspita Sari
Hayden Lohr
writer/photographer
Colin Rickman
writer
writer
Adia Wolters
Natalie Sharp
writer
writer
Stella Harkness
writer
writer
writer
Samuel Albert
Tarsa Weikert
Riley LeCocq
writer
Sam Misa
photographer
Jess Hume-Pantuso
Kate Zinke
Kayla Jones photographer
photographer
illustrator
H. Beck
illustrator
April James
photographer
Ashton Bisner
writer/photographer
Olivia Metcalf photographer
Taylor Wells photographer
Zeva Rosenbaum photographer
THE DAILY BAROMETER | CAMPUS
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING applications for the 2022-23 school year have already opened, and with Oregon State University’s high student population, University Housing and Dining Services staff recommend students begin their housing search soon. Housing applications for first-year students opened on Feb. 10 and priority registration will continue until May 10. Firstyear students who apply for housing before the priority registration date can choose their roommates in June. First-year students can apply after this priority registration deadline but will not be eligible for online roommate matching. For second-year students, the priority registration date opened on Feb. 1 and will close on March 30 at 5 p.m. Another phase for housing applications for second-year students and above will begin on April 20 and close on May 13. According to Brian Stroup, the UHDS director of operations and facilities, applying for housing as soon as possible gives students the greatest scope of living options, and at this stage in the process, there are no financial obligations associated with searching for somewhere to live. “In addition to starting your search early, make sure you understand the fine print in leases or rental agreements,” Stroup said. “For example, many leases in town are for a 12-month term versus a contract to live on campus that is for nine months, midSeptember to mid-June.” OSU offers a wide variety of single room options in residence halls and studio apartments at The Gem Apartments for students that wish to live alone, as well as a roommate matching program for those who would like to live with others. “For students to take advantage of [the roommate matching] process, they must first apply for housing and sign their contract,” Stroup
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said. “Once this is done, students can engage in a roommate or suitemate match from Feb. 15 through the end of March.” One of the primary concerns for many undergraduate students searching for housing in Corvallis, Ore. is affordability, but with the term progressing at full speed, it can be difficult to find time to even scout out some of the cheaper living options. “I have not yet used OSU’s resources for finding housing,” said Paige Schmidt, an OSU first-year marine biology student. “It can be a bit confusing and overwhelming trying to sort through all of the emails UHDS sends to find the housing ones.” Like other first and second years in the dorms, Schmidt has not had the opportunity to explore their options for next year but knows with certainty that they would like to move off campus. “I’ve been looking online for apartments in and around Corvallis,” Schidmt said. “People are more mature and respectful of the place around you, and there’s also not an obligation to always be socializing with your neighbors. Personally, I think it will be good for my mental health to separate my school and social life.” For other students, however, living on campus is an obvious choice. The dining plans and communal atmosphere of the residence halls can prove comforting to a sizable portion of the student body. Second-year chemical engineering student Deja Preusser, who is also the student representative and resident assistant at McNary Hall, said she has not considered any other option besides being an RA. Preusser said she feels she got lucky that her first year of college was online since she didn’t have to pay for housing as a freshman student. “Going into college, I knew I was going to be an RA as a sophomore,” Preusser said. “Free housing, free dining and on-campus living makes everything really accessible… Sometimes it feels like there’s more going on on campus than off campus.”
WRITER:
SAM ALBERT PHOTOGRAPHER:
ZEVA ROSENBAUM
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BEAVER’S DIGEST
LIVING IN A DORM is the epitome of the collegiate experience. It is, in fact, one of the most memorable and quintessential parts of college. Oregon State University's on-campus housing is conveniently surrounded by life on campus—such as events, classrooms, dining halls, campus facilities and faculty services. Many perks and plenty of resources can be found on campus, and is made more easily accessible when living in the middle of it. First-year students are required to live on campus in one of the 14 residence halls, but, while some incoming freshmen are excited to live the dorm life, others may be worried about their soon-to-be living situation. Well, here are 10 reasons why dorm life should be an exciting adventure, according to three OSU students. 1. EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS 2. ACCESS TO CLASSES, PEERS AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES “I liked living in the dorm because it made it easy to make friends in my major,” said Lillian Nomie, a fourth-year student studying chemical engineering at OSU. “I’m an engineering major and I lived in Buxton, which was one of the engineering dorms. This made it easy to get help from the people in my classes because many of them were also in the same classes as me! My [resident assistant] was also an engineer, so she helped out with homework a lot of the time too. I also liked living on campus. Especially as a freshman, it made it easy to get around—I had a very sociable floor so we all became friends. Many of my friends today I met in the dorms my freshman year!” Autumn De La Cruz, a fourth-year student studying civil engineering and sustainability at OSU, said it was lovely to live in the dorm because it made it easier to meet others in and outside of their own major. The dorms exposed her to a community of people she would not have met otherwise. “I enjoyed living in the dorms because of the friends I made and got to meet,” De La Cruz said. “These people became a part of my community. Being on campus was also nice because I had easy access to campus resources such as Dixon [Recreation Center], the [Memorial Union], Student Experience Center, etc.” “It's only about a 15-minute walk to any of my classes at the very most,” said Elijah Deckon, a first-year student studying bioengineering at OSU. “On top of that, since I live in Bloss Hall, I am right by both Arnold Dining Center and Cascadia Market.”
WRITER:
AGRIZHA PUSPITA SARI
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PHOTOGRAPHER:
ASHTON BISNER
5. LEARNING TO LIVE WITH ROOMMATES
Three OSU students reflect on their favorite memories while living on campus 3. FUN ACTIVITIES WITH ROOMMATES 4. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO When you’re feeling bored and your schedule is wide open, your roommates can be your best companions as you explore campus and its surroundings. Especially on the weekends, OSU dorms, campus facilities and local businesses are bustling. Nomie said there is a lot to do on and off campus. Downtown Corvallis, Ore. is within walking distance from campus. She and her roommates liked to go to the Saturday Markets off campus and the events held on campus. “In my freshman year, we attended the DAMchic fashion shows, went on walks around campus and ventured out into downtown Corvallis,” Nomie said. De La Cruz said some of the fun activities she did with her roommates included eating dinner together, going to football games and attending club meetings. She and her dormmates also liked to walk to Monroe Avenue to grab frozen yogurt or dinner. Additionally, they studied together at the library or in the study lounge of their residence hall. Deckon said that he usually watches something on Youtube, plays games with his roommate, or messes with the cards that he brought with him in his spare time. “Well, I dragged my roommate back into Magic the Gathering, so we moved the little drawers under our desks into the middle of the room and played Commander/EDH before,” Deckon said. “Other than that, we’re both pretty private people.”
Nomie said that sometimes it can be tough sharing a room with people no matter how great your roommates are since there is no personal space in the dorm. Having alone time is something that she really enjoys. “I think the best thing that came from the dorms were the relationships that I built,” Nomie said. “You get really close to the people that live on your floor. Everyone is kinda homesick and I feel like we really became a family–thankfully I had a relationship with my roommates prior to living with them so we were all friends. I would say the most important thing is to have good communication skills. If we ever had an issue we would bring it up and it usually got resolved after that.” De La Cruz said that she learned how to live with other people in the dorms. It was a new experience for them, since they had only lived with their family. For her, living with a roommate was actually a lot of fun. She said she thinks the best way to get used to this is by talking to the roommates about your boundaries and getting to know them. “My freshman year roommate and I did everything together,” De La Cruz said. “We worked out together, we went to the dining hall together and went to football games. This helped us bond and we became pretty good friends.” Deckon said that he has had his own room for the last 10 or so years, so living in close quarters with people has definitely been interesting, especially cracking enough dumb jokes to break the ice with roommates to get to know each other better. 6. LEARNING TO BUDGET 7. PAYING STUDENT FEES = PERKS All OSU students pay annual student fees that go toward a wide range of amenities and services offered by the university. Because of these fees, students have access to things like the gym, laundry rooms in every residence hall, on-campus therapists, sporting events and more. Deckon tries to take advantage of the amenities and services he pays for. According to Deckon, living on campus has helped him save a lot of money through access to Dixon Recreation Center versus paying for a monthly gym membership, using Sackett Hall’s laundry room versus paying to use a laundromat, occasional campus events that offer free food and not having to pay for rent and utility bills out-of-pocket every month. “Other than that, thanks to the meal plan, I get good meals for cheap,” Deckon said. “Cascadia Market helps fill in the gaps.” For De La Cruz, she learned how to stretch her dining dollars as far as they’d go. “I think the best way to save money is to use your dining plan for actual food,” De La Cruz said. “It is expensive to buy the frozen foods or snacks in the dining halls or Cascadia Market. The best way to get snacks is to go off campus to cheaper options like Winco. The best way to get there without a car is to use the public transportation systems.”
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8. ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 9. WALKING-FRIENDLY CAMPUS Corvallis’ public transit choices are mainly free, and OSU offers several free transportation services—making it simple for students who live on or off campus to commute. The availability of public transit is another reason to look forward to dorm living. “Safe Ride was a really nice transportation service that is available on campus,” Nomie said. “It was really helpful for getting places at night if it was cold or I was scared to walk alone.” Other transportation options include bikes for rent on and off campus, and the Beaver Bus. “Besides [using] free buses, everything is only like a 10-minute walking [distance] so I just walk everywhere,” Deckon said.
See page 12 for more transit information. 10. UNFORGETTABLE SOCIAL EVENTS Events on campus can be one of the most memorable aspects of being a college student. Almost every week, OSU departments and student groups host a variety of events. One of the benefits of living on campus is the immense opportunity to get involved, immerse yourself in the OSU community and support student organizations. “I always liked attending the fashion shows and the events put on by Dixon,” Nomie said. “In my spare time or weekends, I typically would go to on-campus events,” De La Cruz said. “An event I went to was [Recreation] Night because there was a lot of free stuff. Some other things I did was go to sports events on campus, since they are free to students.” Deckon joins a group of friends every Tuesday in his residence hall to play games. “Tuesday Night Magic down at Sackett Hall—every Tuesday at 6 p.m.,” Deckon said. “Magic the Gathering is a trading card game, such as Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh.” Living on campus is a fantastic experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. If you are a prospective student looking to live on OSU’s campus but aren't sure which residence hall is your perfect match, OSU’s website has plenty of information on which residence hall is right for you. “Overall, I am very thankful for the experience I had in the dorms,” Nomie said. “I will cherish the friendships I made, forever.”
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THE DAILY BAROMETER | CITY
WRITER:
RILEY LECOCQ
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PHOTOGRAPHER:
JESS HUME-PANTUSO
AS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY students begin looking for next year's housing, a big question arises: How will they get to campus? Public transit might just be the solution. OSU's Sustainable Transportation Manager Sarah Bronstein said it is important for students to consider transportation to and from campus before signing any housing contracts. “I think it is so important and really wise, when you’re thinking about where you are going to live, [to] also think about how it is that you are going to get to campus,” Bronstein said. One popular option for transportation near and on campus is the Beaver Bus, a free transportation method for students to get around campus, with some routes reaching areas just off campus in Corvallis, Ore. Theresa DiNobile, a fourth-year fashion design and management double major, utilized the Beaver Bus all four years at OSU to commute to and from campus for work, school and extracurriculars. “For the most part, if you are living in the northwest area [of campus], either the northwest route or the west route is going to help the best,” DiNobile said. “The Beaver Bus is a really great option for people, don't be scared to use it.” DiNobile said she has heard of many students who do not use the Beaver Bus during their time at OSU and cannot imagine her college experience without it. While the Beaver Bus is a great option for students living directly next to campus, many students are unable to find housing that close and must look further off campus for both their living and transportation needs. Bronstein said the Beaver Bus is great, but there are other methods for students to use for transportation, such as the Corvallis Transit System, which is also sustainable and free for everyone. Both CTS and the Beaver
Bus system have also experienced a smaller number of running routes this year due to a nationwide bus driver shortage, but Bronstein said they are hoping services can return to normal soon. Second-year political science student Abril Uribe has taken full advantage of the CTS in her commute. “I don't use the Beaver Bus because my classes are usually close to each other,” Uribe said. “However, I often use the transit system to get from my house to campus and vice versa. Other times, I will use it to get downtown and go to work, which is on campus.” Uribe noted that Route 1, serviced by CTS, has been the most helpful and safe for her as many other college students juse the same route in their commute. “I would suggest looking at housing near or around bus stops,” Uribe said. “The transit system in Corvallis is free, which makes it very convenient, especially when you're trying to save up money for other things.” There have also been recent updates within the Corvallis Transit System because of a close relationship with Oregon State University, according to Tim Bates, the CTS transit coordinator. “[The new transit app] will show an entire map plus it has real-time arrivals, not just predicted arrivals,
but actually where the bus is at all times, and you can sign up for texting to a particular stop so it can let you know where that bus is relative to that stop,” Bates said. Bates recommended students who are unfamiliar with navigating public transit plan their first transit trip on a weekend when there are often fewer travelers and less stressors. He also recommended speaking with the driver before or after the trip for any specific concerns or questions. According to Bates and Bronstein, CTS reaches all parts of the city, connecting students from all around to campus without having to pay a dime. Corvallis Transit System services have also expanded b e y o n d the regular class time to include a night owl bus route running Thursday through Sunday night, 8:45 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. For students looking for their next place to live, Bates and Bronstein urge them to take full advantage of the free resources available in Corvallis to make their trip to campus as easy and accessible as possible.
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BEAVER’S DIGEST
HOUSING HORROR STORIES OSU students reflect on their worst housing situations and provide advice WRITER:
NATALIE SHARP
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ILLUSTRATOR:
H. BECK
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FIRST-YEAR OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT Kate Patrick was nervous about moving to campus and meeting new people, but she was excited to finally meet her roommate who was going to be a sure friend. Over the summer, they had matched on a roommate matching app and bonded over their similar likes and dislikes. The only problem was, come move-in day, Patrick’s roommate was none of these things. Finding housing can be a scary endeavor whether it's bad roommates, landlords or facilities, there is always a chance something could go wrong. Here are some housing horror stories to help offer important strategies to avoid nightmare housing and tips to help when your housing situation is not ideal. Patrick moved into Finley Hall this past fall to find out her roommate who claimed to like all the same things, was allegedly lying. Kate found her roommate on Oregon State’s MyCollegeRoomie. After filling out the survey that asks about your interests and living style, Kate began messaging a girl she was a 90% match with. They talked about their shared love for sci-fi and Kate hoped to find a roommate who had similar “nerdy” hobbies. “She told me she wasn’t interested in partying or Greek life,” Patrick said. “But when we got here, none of that was true. She was a total sorority girl and we had nothing in common.” Patrick laughs and admits, “I got catfished on MyRoomie.” Ultimately this pairing did not work out and Patrick recently made a room change and is much happier with her new roommate. While searching for a roommate, it is a good idea to Facetime or meet up in person and get to know them a little bit better before agreeing to live with them. Additionally, when looking for a roommate in the dorms, it is essential to find someone with similar sleeping habits. Second-year OSU student Sam Nicklous learned this the hard way when he lived with someone in ROTC his freshman year. 16
“I stayed on the top floor of Finley, which happens to be the ROTC floor,” Nicklous said. “As a non-ROTC member, that experience was rather... interesting. For starters, my roommate would wake up anywhere from 4-6 a.m.,depending on the day, and was often in bed and asleep by 8:30 or 9 p.m. This meant that if I had even a remotely fun time at night, I would have to be as quiet as possible when I got back.” The disconnect from his roommate led Nicklous to spend his time everywhere but in his own room. Luckily, in the end, Sam took the problem into his own hands and requested a room change. “It took a quick conversation with my residential director, and a couple of days before [the change], I had a double room completely to myself,” Nicklous said. While in search of a roommate, make sure to ask about their sleeping habits. If you find yourself in a situation where they don’t match up, you always have the option to make a room change. Moving off campus is a big step. Whether you’re dealing with management or landlords, it’s crucial to stick up for yourself and not get taken advantage of as a renter. Second-year OSU student Emma Joy moved into her new apartment this past fall at The Retreat, a student off-campus housing facility. When Joy’s first roommate got there, she was welcomed by a pile of McDonald’s trash, globs of hair in the shower, sunflower seeds strewn across the floor, black stains dripping down the wall and a pungent stench of BO. In the main room, the kitchen was a mess. A piece of the wall was missing, the floor trimming was gone, the caulking in all the bathrooms needed to be redone and the floor was sticky and covered with “the kind of stains you can’t clean or mop up,” Joy explained. Luckily, all the parents involved in the move-in were big advocates for Joy and her roommates. After calling the offices and talking to the people at the front desk, their persistence paid off. The Retreat sent a professional cleaning and
painting crew to fix the apartment. However, Joy admitted the worst part had yet to unfold. Her roommates decided they would be fine sleeping in their rooms while the cleaning team worked throughout the day. But during that first night, Joy revealed, “my roommate came out of her room and goes ‘guys, there’s bugs on my walls!’… and sure enough, there were thousands of little bugs all over her walls.” It turned out that the BO smell was so bad that carpet beetles had infested the rooms. In the end, The Retreat sent Joy and her roommates to the model home while they installed new carpets, treated the bug situation, painted, cleaned and installed brand new appliances. Even the owner of The Retreat, Greystar, knew about their apartment and gave them free parking spots and a free month's rent. Ultimately, after their determination, The Retreat owned up to their mistakes and made the needed changes. Joy has even decided to live at The Retreat again next year. Her tip for people in similar situations is to “stick up for yourself even if it's hard—sometimes it is best to confront them in person, and remember that you are the one paying.” The Retreat did not provide a statement by the time of publication. If you need assistance with any housing-related problems, you can visit OSU’s Student Housing Resources, where they have tips on how to best approach the processes of renting. They even have people who can review a lease with you before you sign.
See page 34 for more housing resource information. Housing can be a scary field to navigate, but taking advantage of the resources provided, asking good questions, getting to know potential roommates and advocating for yourself will go a long way in making sure your housing situation is set up for success. Moving away from home can be a great opportunity for growth, and in the end, should be a real blast.
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THE DAILY BAROMETER & BEAVER’S DIGEST’S
Roommate Agreement Moving in with new people can sometimes be a challenge. Whether you are living with your best friend or someone you barely know, setting terms before you move in is always a good idea. This roommate agreement can help you and your roommates set ground rules and expectations of your household. Feel free to cut out this page, take it to your roommates and fill it out together. Then stick it on your refrigerator and refer to it if any problems arise!
NOISE LEVEL
FOOD
When you’re studying at home, what is the expected noise level? quiet
loud
music
no music
doesn’t matter
together
separate
How should food be cooked?
Any specific quiet hours?
together
SECURITY
separate
designated spaces
no
gone
both
give to others
Are get-togethers okay?
together
Is alcohol allowed? discuss
yes
no
Is smoking allowed?
Are overnight guests allowed? yes
wherever
How should bills be paid? separate
no
no
ask first
BILLS
Do guests need to be approved before they are invited over?
yes
labeled with names
none
GUESTS yes
no
Turn off heat if it reaches _______°F Turn off air if it reaches _______°F
Where will the spare key be? hide for selves
yes
TEMPERATURE
Should doors be locked while gone or while home? home
Is food shared?
How should food be stored?
Is it okay to leave the windows open at night? yes
How should grocery shopping be done?
no
yes
DECORATIONS Should shared spaces be decorated? together
no deco
check with others
OTHER
no
HYGEINE
give money to designated roommate
List pet peeves:
How clean should the space be? immaculate
messy but not dirty
don’t care
Who should clean what? designated chores
clean up after self
tag team
roommate meeting
BORROWING ITEMS Clothes/shoes/makeup/etc? yes
no
ask first
one-on-one
text
Discuss these topics:
Appliances/utensils/supplies? yes
If a problem arises, how should we communicate?
no
ask first
What to do when an individual is upset. What are preferred sleep schedules?
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE ABOVE TOPICS AND ARE READY TO LIVE TOGETHER:
ROOMMATE #1
ROOMMATE #3
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ROOMMATE #2
ROOMMATE #4
ROOMMATE #5
note
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BEAVER’S DIGEST RATHER THAN SPENDING all your money on new goods, why not buy your furniture used? These six options provide a way to both save money and reduce your carbon footprint through reusing and recycling goods.
WRITER:
SAM MISA
PHOTOGRAPHER:
TAYLOR WELLS
1. OSUSED STORE WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? The OSUsed Store is located on campus, and features all used goods for purchase through Oregon State University’s Surplus Property department that are significantly cheaper than store-bought goods. The store’s inventory includes things such as computers/computer accessories, furniture, office supplies and many other items. For 2022, the OSUsed Store also has a reward card program to save additional money for each visit. The store takes cash, checks up to $1,000, as well as Visa and MasterCards. LOCATION: The Property Services Building on campus at 644 SW 13th Street HOURS: Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Fridays noon-3 p.m. SOCIAL MEDIA: Surplus Property - Oregon State University on Facebook CURRENT INVENTORY: Not too long ago, OSUsed Store sold seats right out of Reser Stadium, as well as outdoor benches from OSU’s campus for only $35. For more information on their current inventory, you can find it on their Facebook page listed above.
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2. BENTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? The ReStore with Benton Habitat for Humanity is similar to that of the OSUsed Store in that both of them get their inventories from donations. The main difference between the two is that the ReStore has the added benefit of having all of its proceeds going directly to support Habitat for Humanity’s programs in Benton County. “We receive new donations and shipments every day, offering products at 50-75% off retail prices,” states the ReStore’s webpage on Habitat for Humanity’s website. “Visit often to see what new values are available for your home, yard, office or whatever project you are working on!” LOCATION: 4840 Philomath Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97333 HOURS: Varies seasonally SOCIAL MEDIA: @bhfh_restore on Instagram CURRENT INVENTORY: Just recently, BHFH ReStore was selling a matching sofa and chair for $179. For more information on their current inventory, you can find it on their Instagram page listed above. “Inventory is constantly changing but always includes some staple products,” ReStore’s webpage states
3. GOODWILL WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? Goodwill is a tried and trusted way of both donating and finding used goods that may otherwise be thrown away. This particular location in Corvallis, Ore. has 3.9 stars out of 5 on Google Reviews, and isn’t too far from campus to bike or drive to. Its inventory contains clothing in addition to furniture and other household items, as well as a limited number of sporting equipment as well. LOCATION: 1325 NW 9th St, Corvallis, OR 97330 HOURS: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily 4. CORVALLIS FURNITURE WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? Corvallis Furniture focuses entirely on furniture for your house, apartment or dorm. This includes bed frames, shelves, dining tables and entire couch setups. It also has two locations, both not far from OSU’s campus. With a 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google, Corvallis Furniture is a safe bet for getting good quality furniture for reasonable prices. “Corvallis Furniture has new and pre-loved furniture,” states the Corvallis Furniture Facebook page. “Come check out our great selection or bring in your quality pre-loved f urniture for consignment.” LOCATION: 1810 SW 3rd St. and 700 NE Circle Blvd. HOURS: Varies SOCIAL MEDIA: Corvallis Furniture on Facebook CURRENT INVENTORY: Just recently, Corvallis Furniture was selling a queen platform bed with drawers for $100. For more information on their current inventory, you can find it on their Facebook page listed above.
5. FURNITURE EXCHANGE WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? At just over a decade old, Furniture Exchange offers home decor of all kinds. Furniture Exchange also offers consignments for order so that your furniture can be delivered to your home. “Quality pre-owned furniture at affordable prices,” states the Furniture Exchange Facebook page. LOCATION: 210 NW 2nd St HOURS: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays SOCIAL MEDIA: Furniture Exchange on Facebook CURRENT INVENTORY: “An ever-changing variety of furniture and home decor!” states the Facebook page. For information on their current inventory, you can find it on their Facebook page listed above. 6. FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT? Logging into Facebook’s Marketplace to acquire furniture is one of those high-risk, highreward situations where you can get some steals or some duds. Some nice things about FB Marketplace is that you can shop locally and can arrange to pick up or have something delivered, and prices are negotiable to the point where some people may just be giving away their own goods for free. CURRENT INVENTORY: At the time of publication, someone in Corvallis is giving away a free queen mattress and bedframe, and another community member is selling a dining table for $50. 21
THE DAILY BAROMETER | CAMPUS
WRITER:
STELLA HARKNESS
PHOTOGRAPHER:
OLIVIA METCALF
ONE OPTION FOR housing option for Oregon State University students comes in the form of living in a sorority and fraternity houses, which is an option for members of Greek life. Greek life is made up of sororities and fraternities that are typically part of national councils. Some are culture based, like the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is a collaborative organization made of the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, sometimes referred to as the “Divine Nine.” Others are academic and interestbased, and are part of the Collective Greek Council, while the Interfraternity Council governs traditionally-housed men’s fraternities. Only the IFC and PHC are housed, and with housing comes living in. Living in, as it is commonly known, typically happens during a student’s second and third year at OSU. However, living in is also a reason why many Greek life members, such as Nick Williams who 22
was a pledge at Phi Gamma Delta, or FIJI, decided to drop out. Williams was a pledge, but never got to the point of living in. “The primary reason why I joined Greek life was because I really liked the idea of brotherhood,” Williams said. “It's going to be a second home for you.” According to Williams, however, he had always been on the fence about living in, even when he initially joined. “I do really value having my own space and basically having no space that really belongs to me, that was a major issue for me,” Williams said. “I have certain cleanliness preferences that I know most other people do not really share and I knew that that would be a big issue for me too.” Williams said there are valid reasons why other members choose to live in.
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“I’d imagine that you would never be bored,” Williams said. “And there’d probably always be stuff to do, always people running around. I think it would allow for a lot of spontaneity.” Michaela Lorenz, a Kappa Kappa Gamma member, said originally, she also wanted to live in. “I get to be really close with a lot of girls in my member class and if I want to hang out with someone I know, everyone’s just down the hall,” Lorenz said. With a sister who also took part in Greek life at OSU, Lorenz said she knew she would have to live in because it is required of all the chapters. However, Lorenz said students shouldn’t join a sorority just to live in, but because they want to experience it. “Greek life is a really great way to meet friends,” Lorenz said. “Not just people from the chapter you end up joining but people from tons of other chapters.” According to Devyn Halvorson, the PHC president, living in has many benefits, such as most chapters providing two meals a day with snack items that are paid for by dues, which is made up of rent and extra fees. “Another great pro about living in is the proximity to campus,” Halvorson said. “All chapter houses are a short walk to campus and there is most likely someone else that has a class at the same time as you that can also walk with to campus.” 23
BEAVER’S DIGEST
HEY YOU! WHERE DO YOU LIVE? This is a creepy question to ask someone you have never spoken to before, but we went around campus and asked students anyway. Invasions of privacy and personal space aside, the question brings up an important dialogue that needs to be had amongst students. If we are being overcharged or price gouged for rent, we should know about it so we can act against it. The City of Corvallis, Ore. reported that the fair market rent in town ranges from $1,065 for a studio to $2,177 for a four-bedroom, which would be about
$544 per person if each bedroom was being used. This report is not far off from national averages either. A survey was done by Realtor.com that reported the average rent in college towns nationwide is $1,575, which would be on par with a two or three-bedroom house here in Corvallis. Surveys and statistics can be used to make pretty graphs or turn heads, but what are our fellow students really paying each month? Are they getting their money’s worth? Are they even happy with their living situation? Here’s what we found out.
NATALIE SPATHAS - SENIOR “I live in a duplex with four other roommates. I have lived there for two years now. I know all of them pretty well and we have had some issues this year but it hasn’t been too bad.” “We pay about $675 per month, so it is not horrible, but last year we paid like $25 less. Our landlord increased it this year because for some reason we were paying a different amount than his other properties, so I think he was trying to make it fair.” “I love the space, I love where it’s located and everything.”
BRIAN LUBINSKY - SOPHOMORE
NATALIE SPATHAS - SENIOR
BRIAN LUBINSKY - SOPHOMORE “I started at Callahan last year, then I went over to Hawley-Buxton. They actually didn’t give me much of an option when switching dorms. I put Callahan, Finley and Halsell as my options and they didn’t give me any of my choices. I think they had a huge influx of students and just didn’t have any rooms. So, I got put in a triple in Hawley-Buxton which wasn’t in any of my suggestions.” “Hawley is alright, but it’s not quite as nice as Callahan. It only has one 24
MCKENZIE KEPHART - FRESHMA
kitchen on the first floor and people don’t really take care of the bathrooms as much and the communal areas kind of get trashed. It’s kind of hard sharing it with people, especially people who aren’t used to sharing an area or taking care of themselves.” “I didn’t really have a choice of where I went and it worked out in the end, but I want to move because I am as far as I could possibly be from my classes and the housing is really expensive. I think it is upwards of $3,000 per term.”
AN
WILL STEIGLER - SENIOR
MCKENZIE KEPHART - FRESHMAN “I live in McNary on campus. It’s the worst of them all but I try to make the best out of it. It’s not the best living situation but it works.” “I try to make the best out of it with friends, making it a good community in there, making sure it stays clean and what-not. I met my roommate on MyCollegeRoomie, so we were already friends before we moved in. When we first got there, nobody was talking to each other on the floor. Then, all of sudden this guy, his name is Brandon, asked everyone on our floor for their Snapchats and made a huge group chat for all of us. Then we all just became friends over time through that.” “One thing I would change about McNary is to renovate it. In our kitchens, there is literally only a microwave and a sink in there, and it’s always trashed. And I would definitely change the wall colors. They are so disgusting.”
LEIF BORNGASSER - SOPHOMORE
LEIF BORNGASSER - SOPHOMORE “I live in a duplex with four of my friends right on 15th Street and it’s a fiveminute walk at most from campus.” “We went pretty late before we actually started looking for houses, so we got a discounted price on it because it was not selling and because of COVID-19. The rent is $600 per person right now, but I think it is being raised to $720 per person at the end of the lease.” “We are quite lucky because our landlord is pretty good. Whenever we have difficulties, we just let them know. Previously, we had an issue with our microwave where it kept sparking out of the top. It was honestly scary. I would jump away from the microwave every time I started it, but they replaced it pretty fast.”
WILL STEIGLER - SENIOR “I rent someone's garage; it’s not an apartment or anything, it's just someone’s garage. It's kind of a neat situation I guess. I live by myself so it's kind of like a studio. It was just on Craigslist. I just saw it and was like ‘sure,’ contacted the owner and it seemed to work out.” “I pay $750 a month for rent, which is more expensive than renting with others but it seems like a pretty good deal as far as other studio apartments go. I’m pretty happy with it, and utilities are included. It actually kind of has a built-in kitchen. It has a little mini-fridge, a sink to do dishes and portable camping stuff. I don’t have a full-on oven or stove but for one person, it works.” “There are two rooms plus a little tiny bathroom with a little shower and a bedroom. I guess my situation is a little unique. I got pretty lucky. The biggest thing is just that I wish I had a larger fridge.”
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YUNCE WAKUR - SOPHOMORE
YUNCE WAKUR - SOPHOMORE “I live in the dorms, in Tebeau. So far it's good; the kitchen is really good and the people are really friendly too. Last year I lived in the [International Living-Learning Center] building but I prefer Tebeau—the view is a lot better from there.” “I have a roommate and she is really nice. She is from Japan and I am from Indonesia, and since we are both Asian we come from similar backgrounds. I didn't know her before we moved in, but I sent her an email like ‘Hey, you will be my roommate and we are gonna stay together,’ before we met.” “Tebeau is very expensive, I think $10,000 per year, and I think that is very expensive compared to if you stay off campus, [which is] probably cheaper. Maybe next year I will probably move out because I have been staying in the dorms for two years.” “Being an international student, the process of coming to [Oregon State University] and being set up in a place to live is kind of difficult. But I think the people in OSU are really open toward people like me so they set us up well and were very helpful.”
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MAIJA PHAM - SENIOR “I live in Tyler Townhomes. Including me, there are five of us. I would say we all get along. We were all friends and knew each other beforehand. Any time there is anything wrong, we just call our property manager or submit a form online. We recently had a little inspection so they checked the carpet, made sure no one is living in the garage, stuff like that. Nothing too invasive.” “At Tyler, it is $600 per month and there are five bedrooms, two garages and everyone gets their own bathroom connected to their bedroom. At my last house, it was still $600 with three bedrooms, one tiny bathroom, a main floor, a basement and shared parking. First-come-first-serve parking where we had to fight for spots.” “The townhomes are a pretty good living situation individually. The walls are sometimes kind of thin, so while I’m sleeping I hear someone walking up the stairs in a different unit.”
JADA DICKERSON - SOPHOMORE
JADA DICKERSON - SOPHOMORE “I live in an apartment at Domain Corvallis. It’s sort of off NW Harrison Boulevard and it’s more geared toward student living, but you don’t have to be a student to live there. I really like the apartment itself, but I mean it’s pretty typical of any apartment in a college town with noise complaints and stuff like that.” “I live with one roommate, my friend Emily, and my fiancé. The Domain has a pool, gym, study rooms, a clubhouse that has pool tables, free coffee and an Amazon hub. Personally, I don’t use the amenities a lot because I’m really busy.” “Rent is $955 per month and the electricity bill usually ranges from $20 to $50. I think they are kind of faulty in the way they charge for electricity. Electricity is for like, for the whole apartment right? But they charge both me and Emily the same amount. So technically, they are getting double the pay. Our electricity bill was $37 last month, but they charged both of us $37. There is no way together we used $70-worth of electricity, so they aren’t splitting it.”
MAI
IJA PHAM - SENIOR
ANNIKA GALVIN - FRESHMAN “I live on campus in Callahan. I love it there, but I am also close with all the [resident assistants] and made our entire floor do secret Santa. I think we are also going to do a field day for spring term and possibly a bonfire on the beach.” “I have one roommate and she is absolutely phenomenal. Shout out to Ashley Fedderson! I did not know her at all and we figured out we were roommates 24 hours before the deadline. Grace goes a long way and it ended up working out perfectly.” “Callahan has gender-neutral bathrooms on every other floor, which is nice because we have some non-binary people and it makes them feel welcomed. Everything is pretty updated and it’s close to McNary which is arguably one of the better dining halls on campus. It’s close to off-campus, I like being able to walk downtown and there is a park across the street where I like to hammock. It’s great, there’s sunshine, and the only annoying thing is the train but you can hear the train if you are anywhere within five miles of the tracks.”
WRITER:
COLIN RICKMAN PHOTOGRAPHER:
ASHTON BISNER
ANNIKA GALVIN - FRESHMAN
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THE DAILY BAROMETER | FORUM
WHEN STARTING COLLEGE, the transition to living in dorms can be difficult for many Oregon State University students, but ultimately, only the students themselves will know what living situations are best for them. Preferred living situations can vary greatly from student to student. Some like large groups of friends, some want to live alone, some need to live with strangers and some don’t know what they want. Many first-year students who have never even lived away from home often 28
find themselves worrying about what dorm to live in, how to pay the bills and who to live with. What’s most important, though, is that each student follows their own intuition to choose a living situation that reflects what they hope to gain from a first-year experience at OSU. Personally, I jumped into the dorms as a first-year student not knowing either of my two roommates. That worked out fine for me, but I didn’t become super close with either of them. Then, during the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all online at
OSU, I recruited my friends to live with me. There have been ups and downs, but living with my friends has worked. Living with strangers as a first-year student is something I don’t regret. While living with friends would have been nice, living with strangers forces one to be more lenient to other living styles. In my dorm, we never filled out any roommate agreement, nor did we make rules. We just minded each other's space. However, according to Kira Durham, a student majoring in animal sciences with a pre-vet option, her first-year dorm experience went poorly largely because of the vastly different ways in which she and her roommate lived.
“I remember coming back to my dorm, and there was a certain stench, and it wasn't coming from my side of the room,” Durham said. “I turned to my roommate's side of the room and found mold everywhere from old food that had been sitting around, from wetness that had been covered by plates, bowls, containers. [Betta fish] bowl was surrounded by moldy containers… I never would have pictured this person doing that since we were friends in high school… [Living together] put a big strain on our friendship.” Durham’s experience reflects that of many other students and, for this reason, I think it’s best for first-year students to live with strangers in the dorm and only to live with friends afterward. This forces students to make friends while everyone else is trying to do the same. The dorms, after all, are known for new romances and friendships. “I kind of became a homebody,” said Durham. “I didn't want to go out because
my friends were at home. I think I missed out on a lot of opportunities. I think it's good to keep the separation of friendship and roommate-ship.” While Durham’s experience only reflects that of one student, others students such as Thomas Kearney, a civil engineering major at OSU, have had similar experiences. “I think you should live with people you are newly friends with, or friends with in general, because you can build and become better friends,” Kearney said. “But if you move in with best friends and you’re just unsure if you’re going to live together perfectly, if you have any doubt, you shouldn’t, because there is only downward to go from there.” Living with friends doesn’t work for everyone, and COVID-19 further complicates these situations, but there’s
no need to stress over living conditions. You’ll likely mess up but you’re also going to have good times. Everyone makes mistakes, but a lease isn’t permanent. “I think it's tricky because I think people can do either, [living with friends or strangers], and both can really work out,” said Hunter McKenzie Calvert, an environmental sciences student at OSU. “I started out not really knowing my roommates and now they’re some of my best friends. Before, my best friends started out as roommates and now we are more like family.” Calvert said he is even in a relationship with one of his roommates, and that his entire house was largely a bunch of strangers to him before deciding to move in with them. Until next time. Safe travels.
WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER:
HAYDEN LOHR
University Housing & Dining Services
Second-Year and Above Housing Community. Close by. Convenient. On-campus housing for your second year of college and beyond. Current OSU students are eligible for $1,200 off ($400/term) next year’s residence hall room rate. The application for 2022-23 is open now!
Learn more and apply at uhds.link/return2022 29
BEAVER’S DIGEST
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WRITER:
TARSA WEIKERT
Unsure about who to live with? Take this roommate compatibility quiz to test if your prospective roommate is right for you. HOW DO YOU APPROACH DOING DISHES? A. I clean my dishes before I eat my freshly-cooked meal. B. One or two dishes in the sink does not bother me! C. I do not own a dish. D. I mean, I have grown mold in my sink before. HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO AFFORD RENT? A. Full-time workaholic here. B. Mom and Dad help me out. C. I am a broke college student. D. Just positive vibes here man, the corporate elite can’t hold me down. DO YOU ENJOY HOSTING WILD PARTIES OR DO YOU PREFER A QUIET NIGHT IN? A. Namaste home all day. B. The occasional party never killed anyone. C. Party until you die and then party some more! D. Silent Disco. DO YOU ENGAGE IN ANY MESSY HOBBIES? A. No... B. Sometimes my hobbies can get messy, but I always clean! C. I have so many hobbies! One of my favorites is making homemade bread and cleaning up my mess three days later. D. My life is a mess, my room is a mess, I am a mess.
DO YOU GET ANGRY EASILY? A. No, I am a neutral and understanding person. B. I may get upset if clothes are left in the bathroom, but we can talk it out. C. Do not look at me on Tuesdays… D. Pickup the fork you left on the counter, or I will lose my mind. ARE YOUR COMFTORABLE LIVING WITH PETS? A. Yes! I have one fish, two snails, three cats and a dog! B. A cat or dog would be fine to live with. C. I literally sneeze every time I see an animal. D. No, I am not a fan of living with fur babies. ARE YOU AN EARLY RISER OR A NIGHT OWL? A. I rise with the sun and sleep with the moon. B. I only have time to sleep in on the weekends. C. I am usually up studying until 3AM every day. D. Sleep is for the weak. WHAT IS YOUR NEGLECTED HOUSEHOLD CHORE? A. My room exists in a constant state of chaos. B. The laundry belongs in the basket or on the floor, not in my closet. C. I can leave a dish in one spot for weeks. D. Somehow the trash always ends up outside, it’s like magic.
RESULTS: Compare results with your prospective roommate! Individuals who answered A or B for most questions may not be compatible with individuals who answered C or D for most questions.
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BEAVER’S DIGEST
THE TRANSITION TO living in a dorm can be difficult, but there are ways to lessen the homesickness and make your dorm an enjoyable place to be. According to Hannah McLeod, a student at Oregon State University, it can definitely be a hard experience moving into the dorms. She noted how the transition from high school to college, and how it’s so different from at-home life, can be a struggle. A common hardship is learning how to live with your roommate. Anneka Davys, an international OSU student from Australia said an important thing to do is “ensure that you are on the same page as your roommate and actively try to work with them and compromise.” Homesickness is often a heavy burden new students face. Davys said, “I feel homesick all the time, especially in the morning.” While there can be struggles with dorm life, OSU dormitory residents provided their experienced wisdom on how to deal with the hardships you may face, and overall, how to make your experience the best it can be. In terms of dealing with homesickness, McLeod said, “When I was a freshman, the best solution for that was being with friends. Only because it’s almost like, with homesickness, you almost lack personability.” McLeod added, “Spending time with people was really helpful for me and also making time to do the activities that I find important.” Technology has also helped students connect with family and friends from far away.
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“Usually I look at photos or try to message someone or just find something to get my mind off it,” Davys said. Maddie Jensen, an OSU student from out-of-state said, “I have Skype virtuals with my family every Sunday. So just being able to connect virtually has helped a lot.” Jensen also said that continuing to do what she does at home can help ease her homesickness. Additionally, it’s important to make your dorm feel comfortable and more like home. A good way to do this is to “make time to, if you can, cook in the dorms—I think that’s a great option. I did that a couple times freshman year,” McLeod said. Davys agreed that cooking was a good way to make your dorm experience more fun. “I try to set tasks to do, such as cooking every Sunday night and other hobbies,” she said. Another way of making your dorm feel more like home is getting creative. “I think the key to making it more homey is decorations,” Jensen said. She recommended putting some lights up. Most of all, students noted that it’s always a good idea to get involved with your dorm communities, whether that be through joining activities or getting to know your neighbors. “I would definitely say, even though it’s kind of uncomfortable, meeting new people on your [floor level] whether that be knocking on peoples’ doors or just trying to get your name out and connecting [is important,]” Jensen said. McLeod agreed, “I think making as many connections you can as a freshman
KAYLA JONES
PHOTOGRAPHER:
ADIA WOLTERS
WRITER:
is probably one of the best things you could do.” Both Jensen and McLeod said movie nights are a great way to have fun with your floor. McLeod also talked about the importance of getting out of the dorms with the people you meet, such as going to Monroe Avenue which hosts various restaurants that are fun places to go out with friends. She added that she went a lot as a freshman. Finally, students said that it’s also important to get involved with the OSU community as a whole. “I think that when you are more involved on campus you meet more people,” McLeod said, noting that this will allow you to develop more relationships around campus—and some of the people you meet may even live in your dorm! “I think being a part of a club or team is really helpful,” Dayvs said. According to McLeod, finding an activity you like to do and getting
involved with those groups can help build meaningful relationships. “I also think Oregon State is a pretty cool school where it has a large campussmall campus kind of feel,” McLeod said. “So the people you meet in your dorms you're gonna know again, and you’re gonna run into them on campus.” Overall, dorm life can seem daunting, but experienced OSU residents provided assurance that there are ways to enhance your experience through getting yourself involved with the OSU community.
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WRITER:
SAM MISA
KATE ZINKE
PHOTOGRAPHER:
THE DAILY BAROMETER | CITY
WITH THE AVERAGE cost of rent in Corvallis, Ore. being $1,473 per month for an average-sized apartment of 824 square feet, there are resources available for students of Oregon State University facing housing insecurity. In extreme cases, the Human Services Resource Center is able to provide emergency housing for up to 28 days for up to 10 people at a time. Outside of this program, the HSRC provides other ways for students to save money, which they can then use for housing.
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For example, they provide Healthy Beaver Bags, which are ingredients and recipe kits available on Fridays from noon to 2:30 p.m. and can be picked up with a valid OSU student ID at the back porch of Champinefu Lodge. Additionally, open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, the HSRC food pantry is also available and only requires participants to give their name and zip code in order to qualify. “They can choose from any [selection], and this changes weekly,” said Food Security Assistant Tina Hanby. “You’ve got a nice variety of items that you can have… If you can't make it on Wednesdays, you can always come on Mondays or Thursdays and make an appointment and we'll have everything ready for you.” Other HSRC programs designed to help students facing financial issues include the HSRC Food Assistance Application
and guidance for those applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program available through the federal government, as well as the textbook lending program shared with the Valley Library. “I think the textbook program is a good example of how [the library] works really well with the HSRC,” said Steve Weber, coordinator for circulation services at the Valley Library. “They use the same system we do in the library to keep track of all the books that they have.” For housing cases the HSRC is not able to take care of, students are sent to other organizations, such as Jackson Street Youth Services. Jackson Street helps people from ages 10-24, and for college age participants, the organization groups them in their Next Steps Program. “We offer housing and support,” said Executive Director of Jackson Street Ann Craig. “If you're 18 to 20, experiencing homelessness and you need some extra support, you can be in our program where you can stay up to 18 months.”
According to Craig, while the Next Steps Program does not require them to pay rent, program participants who are making an income have to set aside 30% of their earnings for savings. This is to help them have at least a couple months of rent ready for when they leave the program. “For those students that are 21 through 24, they can still access that program,” Craig said. “Even if they're younger, they can decide that they don't need all that support—they don't need the skill building or the support getting a job or with school. In that case, we can support them with basically discounted rent.” According to Craig, many students may not even think of themselves as houseless because of the negative stigma associated with the word, which can stop them from asking for help when they need it. Craig said using the label ‘homeless’ is not always necessary; oftentimes, it is just important to recognize when someone needs a safe place to live and be self-sufficient.
Craig said the people who visit Jackson Street are very diverse, but that the organization sees a lot of people with similar upbringings. “We see many young people who have experienced trauma in their childhood,” Craig said. “Maybe they've had parents die or they've been neglected or abused in the past, and they may have a distrust of adults or getting help.” According to Craig, LGBTQ+ youth are another common demographic of people Jackson Street sees a lot of; people who need housing because their identities were not accepted by their families. “That's why they don't have this kind of support that you would normally have when you're transitioning to adulthood,” Craig said. “They need some extra help navigating, that maybe their parents aren't willing to do for them.” According to Craig, there are other options for those facing housing insecurity, such as Community Outreach, Inc. The organization has a transitional
housing program as well as programs to help people dealing with drug abuse or addiction. COI did not respond for comment in time for publication. There are also many opportunities to assist Jackson Street through donations and volunteering. “We are always looking for academic coaches, for leaders for youth activities, for mentors,” said Craig. “Mentors are a bigger commitment, because we're looking for someone who will be willing to work with that youth for a whole year.”
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