Housing near Harold Washington College (Chicago, Lincoln: section 8, for rent, transferring to)

[atl2chi]

My son wants to attend Harold Washington College with the hopes of transferring to one of the larger universities later. We currently live in Charlotte, NC and he will need affordable housing near/around the campus. Any suggestions? Not much information on the website, and it's hard getting someone on the phone.

Thanks for any information!!!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by atl2chi

My son wants to attend Harold Washington College with the hopes of transferring to one of the larger universities later. We currently live in Charlotte, NC and he will need affordable housing near/around the campus. Any suggestions? Not much information on the website, and it's hard getting someone on the phone.

Thanks for any information!!!

1) Why would you come out of state to attend a community college?

2) Define "affordable"? HWC is in a very expensive part of the city.

[marothisu]

Harold Washington College is located in the Loop, which is downtown and the Central Business District. Chicago has good public transit, so he doesn't need to live near it necessarily (good luck finding much non-Section 8 affordable housing downtown anyway). He can rely on the train and bus and to save costs, he won't need a car really (unless he lives in a neighborhood that isn't very walkable or something).

What is the monthly budget that your son would need, maximum, for rent?

[atl2chi]

Originally Posted by emathias

1) Why would you come out of state to attend a community college?

2) Define "affordable"? HWC is in a very expensive part of the city.

1) He's young and wants to explore other cities. He is not 100% sure what he wants to study so he wants to attend community college in the state he hopes to attend university (to qualify for in-state tuition).

2) Affordable would be approximately $500 p/month w roommates.

[atl2chi]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Harold Washington College is located in the Loop, which is downtown and the Central Business District. Chicago has good public transit, so he doesn't need to live near it necessarily (good luck finding much non-Section 8 affordable housing downtown anyway). He can rely on the train and bus and to save costs, he won't need a car really (unless he lives in a neighborhood that isn't very walkable or something).

What is the monthly budget that your son would need, maximum, for rent?

He would be relying on public transportation. What neighborhoods do you suggest that are relatively safe? As mentioned in response to another poster, budget would be around $500 w/roommates per month.

If he were to live alone, what would be a realistic budget outside of downtown but near transportation?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by atl2chi

He would be relying on public transportation. What neighborhoods do you suggest that are relatively safe? As mentioned in response to another poster, budget would be around $500 w/roommates per month.

If he were to live alone, what would be a realistic budget outside of downtown but near transportation?

$500/month with roommates - let's see:
Bridgeport, Pilsen, maybe University Village/Little Italy, Avondale, Irving Park, maybe Edgewater, Rogers Park, maybe Chinatown (listed under Armour Square usually - though sometimes it's hard to find listings period), Albany Park, and Hyde Park (where the University of Chicago is located) as well especially if looking at 3 bedroom places. If he's lucky, he may also be able to get something in Noble Square, Ukrainian Village, or East Ukrainian Village. Also, Lincoln Square/Ravenswood may have some 3 bedrooms like that but for these 4 areas I just listed, it's probably few and far in between.

Rogers Park has some block by block shady areas, but most of the rest are relatively safe. Areas like Bridgeport and Hyde Park have the least amount to do for a young college student if he wants to go to bars/clubs/whatever though Bridgeport is a more hip area lately and has some. Irving Park is also a subdued area but not too far from any nightlife or more things to do.

Hyde Park is the least connected of those areas via public transit. No trains go directly through it, though there is a Metra (commuter rail) near the lake. However, Metra only runs about once an hour and only until about midnight. There are some buses that run between other areas and Hyde Park too and there are trains that go near Hyde Park but they're in shady areas. There is one bus that does run all night on one street between Hyde Park and a Red Line train (which runs 24/7) stop.

Then there are other areas of town that may take a little bit more effort via public transit like West Ridge, but the commute time would be greater because he'd have to take a bus to a train to get to school. Uptown may be an option too although some parts of Uptown are sketchy while other parts are fine.

[atl2chi]

Thanks for the information. We will look into those areas.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by atl2chi

1) He's young and wants to explore other cities. He is not 100% sure what he wants to study so he wants to attend community college in the state he hopes to attend university (to qualify for in-state tuition).

Is he looking for a university in the city of Chicago proper after he's done at Harold Washington? I ask because the majority of the universities in the city are private, which means he wouldn't get in-state tuition. The only public universities in the city that I can think of off the top of my head are University of Illinois--Chicago, Northeastern Illinois, and Chicago State. The only decent one in that list is UIC.

[jwaiter]

You can get a place in West Town for $500 per person split 3 ways.

[atl2chi]

Thanks Perseus and jwaiter.

Perseus- He was thinking about UIC.

We'll take a look at all the neighborhoods suggested. Thanks again!