College is the first time some people will move out of their family's house and look for a new place to live. A new online service is aimed at making the search easier.
The University of Memphis' adult and commuter services launched saweb.memphis.edu/offcampushousing to provide students a place to go for their off-campus housing needs.
Joy Stout, adult and commuter services director, said the idea for the Web site came from The University's housing fair, held each March.
"We decided that students needed additional options for off-campus housing," she said.
The Web site gives students access to housing listings, as well as pictures of the places listed.
Off Campus Partners, based out of Charlottesville, Va., provides the service to The U of M. Two University of Virginia students founded the company in 2000 after having a difficult time finding off-campus housing.
Duke Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Off Campus Partners, said one of the University of Virginia students was told, "There's no place for you to live." Since the company's initial partnership with the University of Virginia, it now provides the housing listing services to 21 schools, including Middle Tennessee State University, University of South Carolina, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech and the University of Florida at Gainesville.
The service is provided to The U of M free of charge. Property owners pay a fee to Off Campus Partners to use the service. The school acts as a portal for students looking for housing.
"The University of Memphis is providing this as a additional service to faculty and staff," Jones said.
On the site, students can search particular areas like The U of M area or West Memphis, Ark. Students can also narrow their searches by using other variables like monthly rent cost or company managing the property.
HM Heckle has been participating in the database for roughly one month.
Maney Heckle, HM Heckle's founder and president, said the company will make a more comprehensive evaluation around January or February.
"It's a little early to tell," he said. "So far, we're happy with it. I'm glad we're doing it."
According to Stout, The U of M is currently the only school in Memphis to provide this assistance to students, although Southwest Tennessee Community College and University of Tennessee Medical School have agreed verbally to link to The U of M Web site.
"I think it (a housing database) would have been really helpful," Stout said about her time living off campus and attending at LeMoyne-Owen College. "Housing is always good for students when they want to gain independence and responsibility."
With the site up and running, Stout is eager to see if people participate.
"We hope students will take advantage of this free opportunity," she said.
