Student Housing Strategy

Student housing strategy 

In our efforts to support students amid a challenging housing landscape, Georgian has developed a student housing strategy. It’s goal is to ensure the availability of safe, affordable, and suitable housing options for domestic and international students to engage in their studies both on and off campus.

On this page:

Residence and housing
On-campus housing
Off-campus housing
International student housing

A message from Suzie Addison-Toor, Georgian College Vice President, Student Success

The goal of this housing strategy is to ensure availability of safe, affordable and suitable housing options for both domestic and international students to help them engage in their studies both on- and off-campus. This also aims to strengthen collaborative relationships with key college partners and foster a harmonious and multicultural community at Georgian and within the community. Solutions to housing challenges are complex and require several options and many partners, as housing is not exclusively a Georgian challenge but a societal one. Students are students one day and young professionals the next and housing needs don’t disappear after convocation, and we need to consider that in our planning and partnerships. 

Photo of Suzie Addison-Toor

Latest housing strategy news *HIDDEN SECTION*
 

Every Child Matters flag - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to reflect on and commemorate the painful legacy of Canada’s residential schools. Several events are planned across all campuses leading up to Sept. 30.

Learn more and take part in the events
Greg McGregor stands in front of the new mural and sign welcoming people to the Windookdaading Indigenous Resource Centre at the Barrie campus

Wiidookdaading Indigenous Resource Centre at the Barrie Campus

Georgian’s Indigenous Resource Centre at the Barrie Campus was recently renamed the Wiidookdaading Indigenous Resource Centre, and a mural was installed at the entrance to the centre.

Learn more about the new name and mural

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Key findings from the research

Research conducted about housing concerns and needs show a number of key findings to address.

  1. There is limited demand for more purpose-built student housing at current price points.  While all the on-campus student housing properties in Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound are full, none have shown substantial waitlists, and in some instances are slow to fill.  
  1. There is a need for more affordable rental options for both students and young professionals. This includes, but is not limited to, central and northern Barrie and downtown and eastern Owen Sound, at the price points of $400 to $600 for a shared room to $700+ for a private room. Also, the housing needs do no go away at graduation. Many local businesses, including hospitals, have staff experiencing housing challenges, many of whom are early to mid-20s professionals.  
  1. Students value proximity to campus, employment opportunities and transit service. Many students work a part-time job and do not have cars, increasing their reliability on bus service(s) to get them between the campus, home, and their workplace. 
  2.  There are considerable challenges for students seeking short-term stay accommodations when they first start college, are enrolled in short-term programming, or take co-op semesters.  Students may struggle to find affordable housing for shorter periods of time to allow them to undertake co-op work, particularly because short-stay accommodation (such as Airbnb) can be prohibitively expensive. This can also be an issue when students leave Georgian campus communities to undertake co-op terms, creating significant financial hardship.  
  1. There is an increased government focus on expanding affordable rental housing, and there are opportunities to leverage.  There is an increasing range of incentives from all three levels of government to help deliver affordable housing, including federal and provincial tax exemptions, and low-cost loans through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  

Recommendations from the research

To address housing needs and concerns, there a number of recommendations to consider.

  1. Consider partnership opportunities with private sector developers. Georgian should consider opportunities to deliver new housing in a public-private partnership (P3) over a long period (between 30-99 years). Mixed-used design principles should be incorporated to improve project economics, including opportunities for market housing, and partnerships to embed commercial and academic spaces including healthcare, office space, and conference and function space.
  2. Invest in housing coordination services and SpacesShared program. Continue to invest in Georgian’s housing coordination services, and expand the SpacesShared program. SpacesShared connects students who need a place to live with older adults living at home to create mutually beneficial sharing arrangements. This model has the potential to also benefit co-op students looking for shorter term accommodations. 
  3. Align class schedules and transit timetables. Review class and transit timetables, particularly for programs with an emphasis on synchronous learning and where lab learning space permits, to optimize students’ ability to work in the community and earn income for their living expenses.   

Existing student housing services

Georgian College provides housing services to students and communities across our seven campuses.

Residences, purpose-built housing, and homestay and home share opportunities provide over 2,200 beds for Georgian College students.

  1. On-campus residences in the Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound communities house more than 775 students. This is done through a partnership with Campus Living Centres.
  2. Purpose-built student housing involves Georgian working alongside local purpose-built student housing providers to promote housing options, help with rental applications and mediate any concerns in the living environment. There are three purpose-built housing options located in Barrie that house more than 850 students.
  3. Homestay and home sharing includes SpacesShared, an innovative home sharing program matching students looking for affordable room rentals with older adults in the community. Homestay allows students to be matched with a host family who will provide a private bedroom, food for three meals per day and internet access.
  4. Rental market access leverages community partnerships and digital tools to facilitate student connection to local rental markets and simplify the rental process.
  5. Supporting flourishing communities through changemaking and community building. Student Housing Champions educate peers about bylaws, represent Georgian’s housing services at community events, and engage students in weekly campus events. Rentville, a housing lab by Georgian’s Community Impact Lab and the County of Simcoe, supports affordable housing strategies. Connecting Neighbours events allow for information sharing among students, landlords, neighbours and organizations.
  6. Student transition support and the housing services team supports students during key transition events including Headstart, orientation, International Education Week and Georgian’s Open House. Housing Awareness Week also helps students find housing and meet future neighbours through a collaboration with the college, city partners and local vendors.
  7. Student advocacy through coordinated care keeps students safe, housed and thriving. Navigate, Georgian’s student information system, links services for coordinated care to allow housing and outreach coordinators to assess real-time housing needs and refer students for additional assistance. Coordinators also direct students to the community legal clinic for thorough legal advice about housing issues or concerns.
Bedroom with a bed and desk.

What’s next

The key findings and recommendations in this student housing strategy are multi-faceted over multiple years. Here is where we plan to make improvements and do further research starting immediately:

  1. We will begin a market sounding study (an exploratory, intelligence gathering exercise) in fall 2024, designed to help us understand how a public-private partnership for a new mixed-use student residence on the Barrie Campus will be received by the local construction and business community. 
  1. We will expand the SpacesShared program in Orillia and Owen Sound beginning in fall 2024. 
  1. We will investigate any federal and/or provincial government policies and programs that would support the development of any additional on-campus housing. 
  1. We will explore the feasibility of class scheduling in alignment with municipal and regional transit services. We will continue to have Georgian representatives on municipal transit working groups in Barrie and Orillia and look for opportunities for continued collaboration with transit providers in all of our campus communities to best serve our students. 
  1. We will report back to the community about our housing coordination services by publishing our 2023-24 housing impact report. 
Student sitting cross-legged on a bed while using a Macbook laptop

Want to learn more about Georgian’s student housing strategy?

Contact information

Student Transition and Engagement Services
249.388.1854
Email housing