Sheridan partnerships create safe, affordable off-campus housing options for students

As more students prepare to return to classes on campus next week, Sheridan has partnered with two leading off-campus housing organizations to provide students with more safe and affordable housing options. 

Sheridan has partnered with Canada Homestay Network (CHN) to help bring international students and Canadian families together. Homestays provide students with more than just room and board. They offer a chance to further connect with the local community through a host family. Recognizing that international students may be in need of extra support while they navigate their new host country and culture, CHN’s hosts are carefully screened, including reference and criminal record checks, and regular in-person home visits. Hosts also receive special COVID-19 health and safety training. CHN also offers transitionary housing, which allows a student to opt for a shorter 2-3 month stay as they transition to a longer-term homestay for the full academic year if needed. 

The college has also partnered with Places4Students.com, an established provider of off-campus housing solutions, to engage more local landlords and connect them directly with students looking for housing through a simplified listing process. Listing fees in Mississauga and Oakville have been significantly reduced to help engage more landlords during the pandemic, and listings are free in Brampton.

“We are very proud to partner with the Canada Homestay Network and Places4Students.com to connect even more students and landlords this coming year,” says Sunand Sharma, Associate Dean, Community Citizenship, Leadership and Engagement. “Our students’ safety is our utmost priority and we are thrilled to partner with organizations that practice stringent screening every step of the way to ensure students have the best possible off-campus housing experience.” 

Sheridan offers robust resources for students wishing to live off-campus. These include: housing readiness workshops and resources offered to new students months before their arrival; an external dedicated website and student portal that contain numerous resources and links about off-campus housing (including important information about Registered Dwelling Houses in Brampton, Landlord and Tenant Board guidance and translated fire safety information, step-by step guides, tips and checklists to help students learn to navigate the housing process), and a housing guide. For more information, please visit our Off-Campus Housing page. 

Sheridan is also expanding its Be a Good Neighbour program to help educate students about their civic responsibilities, tenant rights and responsibilities. The program also offers by-law education specific to legal dwellings, community safety, property maintenance, garbage, parking, and noise and nuisance. 

Sheridan encourages anyone in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville who may have a vacant room suitable for a student tenant to explore listing options through the Canada Homestay Network and Places4Students.com. 

At pre-pandemic levels, approximately 8,000 of Sheridan’s 23,000 students sought off-campus housing across our three home communities of Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville, while approximately 1,200 learners lived in residence buildings on Sheridan’s Brampton and Oakville Campuses. Our Off-Campus Housing resource site was built to provide students with an increased number of safe options. Sheridan does not manage rental listings or off-campus housing sites. 

About Canada Homestay Network

For more than 25 years, Canada Homestay Network, a family-run, non-profit society, has helped tens of thousands of students find a home away from home in Canada. Visit www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca to learn more.
 

About Places4Students.com

Places4Students.com is the comprehensive Off-Campus Housing Service that works in conjunction with academic institutions and student organizations to provide off-campus housing solutions for students.  Over 190 college and university campuses throughout North America have partnered with this resourceful website since 2003.  During the last 17 years, Places4Students.com has helped over 100,000 landlords and property managers advertise their rental vacancies to students, alumni and faculty successfully.