Source: Fanshawe College
As colleges and universities in Ontario prepare for the upcoming fall school year to have more in-person learning than online, post-secondary students are in search of housing away from their family households.
With students ready to leave home again or for the first time this fall, students are faced with issues surrounding housing that fit their affordability and accessibility of location close to campus. Arushi Singh is a King’s University student entering her final year of education for master of social work. Singh moved to London last fall where her program was a hybrid of online and in-person with a placement. “I think what immediately comes to mind is the cost of living, and also kind of what your priorities are because I think a lot of the time, affordable housing may lead to living with more people than you were anticipated to live with.”
Like many post-secondary students, Singh is living in a shared space unit with roommates. Due to the pandemic and students staying home for online learning or taking the year off from education, Singh’s unit had multiple empty rooms that may look different this fall with in-person learning.
“Obviously who you live with matters a lot and being mindful of habits. Living with people who have similar living habits to you. With going back in person and having an empty room be filled potentially this year, it does make my current roommates and I a little nervous.” reflects Singh.
This year, student housing in London will see a greater influx of students moving to London to live close to campus. Fanshawe, Western and King’s on-campus housing have established a rule this fall for incoming students to secure safety from rising Covid-19 cases. Students must show proof of double vaccination to be accepted for on-campus living. However, students and staff will not be required to be vaccinated to return to campus learning, although campuses strongly recommend getting vaccinated.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has updated its reports to reflect 610 thousand doses of vaccines administered so far.
Source: MLHU
“It will be kind of scary and strange to see that room that has been empty all year last year to be potentially filled with a new roommate this fall. It’s kind of nerve-wracking after keeping a distance from strangers for over a year to then living with one in addition to my roommates I’ve already been living with as the pandemic carries on. I am hopeful for people to be cautious and respectful of basic Covid safety and guidelines this school year and hopefully someone who is vaccinated to live with so that there is less stress at home while trying to get back to a normal routine of learning on campus”.
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