Housing

Find housing before you start service

You will be required to be living within the Tulsa area on 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.

We highly encourage our AmeriCorps members to secure housing and move prior to the first day of service to allow you to focus on building relationships with your teammates, immersing yourself in training and adjusting 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 3 months in advance.

Tulsa is a small city geographically, so there is no need to wait for school placements to sign a lease. If you are in Tulsa, your commute to service at your school will likely be 20-25 minutes.

Deciding where to live

Our partner schools are in northwest Tulsa, so you may want to focus your search there, but Tulsa is a small enough city that your commute will remain under 30 minutes.

Finding roommates

Since you’ll be serving with about 70 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.

Will you need a car or someone to carpool with?

Tulsa is very much a commuter city with most residents owning a car and depending on it for most of their transportation. Having a car in Tulsa is highly suggested, but there is a public bus system that you can use for free with a bus pass from City Year Tulsa! Otherwise, it is suggested that you make a point to find a roommate who has a vehicle.

Many AmeriCorps members also carpool to service together, so that may be something you choose to coordinate during the first days of service.

Budgeting for housing

Members find housing through online posting sites, word of mouth and sometimes on the City Year Tulsa 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 Tulsa 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.

As a City Year Tulsa AmeriCorps member, you’ll receive a stipend of $630 (pre-tax) every two weeks. On average, with a roommate, City Year Tulsa 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:

• Utility bill: $80 per month
• Phone bill: $80 per month
• Food: $190 per month
• Entertainment: $200 per month