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 Arkansas 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
We suggest you start looking into housing options now to better acclimate with our housing market and get an idea of what you are looking for so that you are more knowledgeable when it’s time to find your new place and sign a lease! Typically, most apartment leases are signed up to three months in advance – keep in mind – you will be hard-pressed to find a landlord who will sign a lease much earlier than that.
Little Rock is a small city, so there isn’t a need to wait for school placements to sign a lease. If you are in Little Rock, your commute to service at your school will likely be 20-25 minutes at the most.
Deciding where to live
Our partner schools are in southwest Little Rock, so you may want to focus your search there, but Little Rock is a small enough city that your commute will remain under 30 minutes.
Finding roommates
Since you’ll be serving with about 50 other AmeriCorps members, we highly suggest rooming with a fellow AmeriCorps member to save on costs and to have a roommate who understands your work and has the same schedule as you.
Budgeting for housing
Members find housing through online posting sites, word of mouth and sometimes on the City Year Little Rock Facebook group (current members advertising their apartments). Postings should outline who to contact to learn more about the property, costs and lease terms. While it is your responsibility to find your own housing, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Service Year Adviser for assistance if you have questions or run into any roadblocks.
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. Be sure to consider the cost of utilities (if not included in rent) on top of the monthly rent when determining if an apartment is within your price range.
The cost of living in Little Rock falls below the national average – allowing your standard of living to be heightened compared to other cities! When you take advantage of local deals and follow your budget, it is possible to live comfortably with the City Year stipend.
On average, with a roommate, City Year Little Rock AmeriCorps members pay between $300-$500 per person each month in rent. Based on our past AmeriCorps members’ input, here are some important monthly expenses to consider as you search for housing for your service year:
- Bills- $80 per month
- Phone bill- $80 per month
- Food- $190 per month
- Entertainment- $200 per month
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 Little Rock for several years, there are always new and exciting things to experience here.
Looking for more resources and information? We’ve got you covered.
