Housing in Detroit

Find housing before you start service

You will be required to be living within the state of Michigan by your first day of service. We highly encourage our AmeriCorps members to secure housing and move prior to the first day of service to allow yourself to adjust to your new neighborhood before the school year begins.

When to start looking

Many rentals begin to become available in May, June, and July. You should begin searching in April and expect to be moved in by July.

Deciding where to live

We will provide you with a housing guide in April that will give you some ideas about where to look and recommendation from former and current staff and Americorps members. We will also provide a survey to help you find roommates to live with that are also doing City Year. While we provide resources and support, it is important to remember that securing housing is ultimately up to you.

Budgeting for housing

Members find housing through online posting sites, 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.