How to rent a house in New York on the cheap: a little-known program helps to save on renting an apartment
'13.04.2023'
Nadezhda Verbitskaya
New York is one of the most expensive cities in the US to rent. On average, to rent a one-bedroom apartment, you need to pay $3, and a two-bedroom apartment costs $790.
At the same time, you can rent housing in New York on the cheap with the help of a program that few people know about.
The New York Foundation for the Elderly (NYFSC) manages cohabitation program. It works very simply. Older owners (or tenants) of apartments that have extra vacant bedrooms are being linked to responsible young people looking for affordable housing in New York City.
“Our free innovation program is a wonderful resource,” says Linda Hoffman, president of the New York Older Foundation. – Our professional social workers conduct a confidential selection of applicants. They connect hosts and eligible guests.”
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Adults over the age of 18 are eligible to participate in the program. A host must be at least 60 years of age.
Those wishing to participate in the program "hosts" and "guests" (as NYFSC qualifies them) must apply. Then they will be checked through the QUICK-MATCH program. This is a unique database that helps identify the most potentially compatible people to live together. To do this, she compares 31 indicators of their lifestyle (these indicators must be indicated in the application form). The host and guest will then meet in person and will be visited by NYFSC staff during their stay. Before settling, both parties sign a written agreement, which should ensure safety in living together.
Apply to become a host at this link. Application form for a guest - here.
In this way, both hosts and guests benefit from reduced housing costs and opportunities for communication. In addition, the program reduces the level of isolation and loneliness that older people often experience.
Amy Roneck, a 32-year-old Manhattan cohabitation “guest,” told her story: “Moving to New York from Iowa, I found it much harder to find a job than finding a comfortable and affordable home in Manhattan. The professional staff of the Foundation's Shared Living Program quickly found the perfect home for me by pairing me with Maxine, a wonderful host.”
For more information about the NYFSC Home Sharing program, visit: www.nyfsc.org, write to e-mail: [email protected] or call 212-962-7559. You can read reviews from program participants here.
