Housing

Topics include:

• City Year relocation benefits
• How to conduct an apartment search
• Additional housing resources

City Year relocation benefits

Relocation benefit

If you are moving more than 50 miles to serve with City Year Seattle / King County (CYSKC), you will receive a one-time relocation benefit with your first or second paycheck. You will have the opportunity to elect / decline this benefit when completing your Workday hiring tasks.

Please note:

• The pre-tax relocation amount is $500. Depending on your tax elections, you will receive around $300 post-tax.
• The payment will be processed once you start service and will be received with your first or second paycheck—the relocation benefit cannot be distributed before you start service.

Temporary housing assistance

City Year will provide up to six nights in a local hotel if you need a place to stay before your new housing is secured / lease begins. Please connect with your Service Year Advisor if this is support you need.

How to conduct an apartment search

Where should I start?

Once you figure out your moving date, you should start doing research on the various neighborhoods, transit routes and price ranges Seattle has to offer.

About three-six weeks before your scheduled move-in date is the prime time to conduct your final search and sign a lease—many apartments and homes that will be available during your timeframe will start to be advertised at this time.

Where should I look?

City Year Seattle / King County AmeriCorps members live in all parts of the city. In the past, ACMs have chosen to live with family, friends, other ACMs, co-ops or on their own. Some are in the city, and some are up to 35 miles outside of the city. It is up to you to decide what is realistic for you, but keep in mind that we are in service each day from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

All of our schools are located in south Seattle. Explore our school and neighborhood map to track what a typical commute might be to any of our schools. Learn more about Seattle neighborhoods with the Seattle Housing Authority Neighborhood Guide.

Things to consider

• How will you be commuting to and from service and around the city? Factor in your decision on where you choose to live. More info on transportation in Seattle here.
• Start saving for housing costs early—remember that you won’t receive your first paycheck until August 30, 2024.
• Consider living with roommates to cut down on costs. When considering roommates ask yourself:
  • Do I want to live with people I work with nine-10 hours a day?
  • What cleaning habits are important to me?
  • What shared spaces are important? (Do you enjoy cooking? Do you need a shared bathroom?)

Additional housing resources

Below are some helpful sites to start your Seattle apartment search. For many of the sites listed, you’ll be able to sign up for notification emails about apartments that fit your criteria. We also highly recommend that you or one of your roommates see the apartment in person before you sign your lease.

City Year Seattle/King County does not endorse any of these services. They are strictly recommendations past corps members have found helpful.

Seattle housing Facebook groups

• Seattle – housing, apartments, rooms, sublets, roommates
• Seattle housing, rooms, apartments, sublets
• Seattle roommates
• Seattle POC Housing Group
• Seattle Queer Housing Group

General websites

Apartments former ACMs have chosen

Recommendations by former ACMs

Not recommended

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