Creating housing opportunities for everyone

City centre

Winnipeg

If you were to ask Kylie Cox, manager of food service, campus living, and commuting and parking at Red River College Polytechnic, one of the biggest ways to help a student succeed is to ensure that they have a safe place to stay at the end of the day, once classes are over.

This incentive is one of the driving forces behind the new collaborative project between RRC Polytech and SpacesShared — a homeshare service originally based out of Ontario — which is now helping connect students with hosts looking to rent out a room in their homes during the school year.

The partnership was launched very recently and over 60 students have already signed up through the college, according to Cox. To put that into perspective, the RRC Polytech Residence (504 Main St., inside the Paterson GlobalFoods institute) only has 100 beds, which are all full, at press time.

“Even if we could house 60 students, that’s the equivalent to 60 per cent of the (residence),” Cox said, adding that she predicts the need will always ebb and flow depending on the program, term or location. “If we’re encouraging more people to come here, we can expect that we might have more people looking for housing.”

Residence is a subject that’s very near to Cox’s heart. Hailing from Saskatchewan, her first day of college was coincidentally her first day in Winnipeg, and living in a dorm had introduced her to an entire network of friends she remains close with to this day, even a decade on — as well as her husband. Because of college, she wound up staying in Winnipeg permanently.

“I think that’s what’s encouraged me to maintain a connection to housing ever since,” she said. “I love every day I come to work. I love every day I get to interact with students, every day that I get to advocate for housing, safe housing, affordable housing, all the options for residents or any student, especially here.”

“I became who I am because of residence,” she added. “Because of the community that was developed there. And I really hope that more people can have that experience … I think that there’s a community development that just adds a layer to your academics that you don’t get elsewhere.”

Students interested in being connected with a host — almost ten of which have registered already — can do so by going online or calling the campus living team at the college. From there, they’ll have access to a secure online portal where they can learn more about hosts, as well as chat with those they match with.

Hosts must be legal and require criminal record checks, and students must provide a copy of their college admittance to prove they’re a registered student. Their time at college can range from weeks to years and they can be from anywhere to apply, whether that be Manitoba, other parts of Canada, or internationally.

Hosts can also be from any walk of life, provided they’re eligible, and fellow students have even started to express interest in giving it a shot.

Cox said that having that opportunity to connect, chat and explore different hosts can offer a better sense of security, as well, as it can be a scary experience — especially during such a transitional period of life.

On the flip side, it provides a good benefit for hosts who may be battling empty nest syndrome after their kids have left home.

“Everyone tells you that it takes a village, and they’re talking about little kids, but it still takes a village now,” Cox said.

“I think it’s important to know that it goes deeper than just a place to live. This allows hosts to have an opportunity to help students integrate to the community, discover the culture and feel really supported, especially when they don’t have that family connection nearby.”

For more information on RRC Polytech housing services, visit rrc.ca/housing/