Whether you are relocating from across the country or locally, these resources will help you secure housing ahead of service.
Find housing before you start service
You will be required to be living within a commuting distance from City Year New York 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.
When to start looking
NYC leases are fast paced. Most City Year New York AmeriCorps members begin their leases on July 1, July 15, August 1 or August 15. However, this may be negotiable with the broker / agency you’re working with, so be sure to ask if they are flexible on the date.
We suggest looking one month before your desired lease date. Any earlier and the apartment will be off the market. If you’re coming from out of state, you can start to have conversations with folx who are already in the city looking for a roommate to help you secure housing. You can utilize the Discord server for this.
You will learn your borough placement in late spring. This should give you plenty of time to find housing before your registration day/ first day of service. You can begin reaching out to a staff members or current AmeriCorps members to learn about the neighborhood.
Deciding where to live
Once you get your placement, we’ll send you a specific e-mail with suggestions on neighborhoods that are popular for individuals who serve in those areas.
Many of our corps members find housing within the four boroughs we serve in; however, we also have individuals who choose to commute from areas in New Jersey, Long Island, Staten Island and north of the city. It’s important to know that the MetroCard you will receive only works for the four boroughs our schools are located in. This may affect your decision on where you would like to live.
A typical commute for AmeriCorps members is 45-75 minutes; some take a little longer, some a bit shorter.
Finding roommates
It’s important to consider your budget and how many roommates you’d like to live with. Some folx enjoy living with other AmeriCorps members, others like to live with non-City Year members, this depends on what support you’re looking for throughout the year.
The easiest way to find roommates is utilizing the Discord server if you’re looking to live with other City Year AmeriCorps members. Once you know your borough placement, you can see who else is looking for rooms to fill or perhaps a group of you can look together.
If you prefer, there are plenty of apps and websites that help you find housing in NYC. Gypsy Housing is a great way to find rooms to sublet, new leases, and many of our City Year AmeriCorps Members use this to find housing. Other apps you can use are StreetEasy, Symbi, Craigslist, Listings Project, Naked Apartments, NYBits, RentHop, SpareRoom and Zumper.
If you are struggling with housing, reach out to Tyler Aitken, AmeriCorps Member experience manager, at TAitken@cityyear.org.
Budgeting for housing
Members find housing through online posting sites, word of mouth and sometimes on the City Year Discord server (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.
- 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 New York for several years, there are always new and exciting things to experience here.
Looking for more resources and information? We’ve got you covered.
