International students face housing challenges
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/05/2024 (879 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
New international students at Assiniboine Community College are facing challenges in finding suitable accommodation, some of them said during their orientation event on Wednesday.
The college invited about 80 students from the Peters School of Business to the event.
New intake Haonan Li from China said it has been a huge task finding housing since he arrived in Brandon.
“I’ve been here for 11 days and still haven’t found an apartment,” Li told the Sun. “It’s challenging because the few available houses are not affordable and this is one of the difficulties many newcomers face in accessing suitable living arrangements within their budget constraints.”
Li advocated for the expansion of housing options tailored to the needs of international students, adding more housing options would be helpful for international students who struggle to find affordable accommodation.
Li Zanhong Xin, another student at the college, also had difficulties finding an affordable place to live before she got one a few days ago.
“Finding accommodation was very difficult for me due to limited availability in Brandon,” Xin said. “Exorbitant rental costs coupled with a scarcity of available units pose formidable obstacles to our settlement in the community.”
As Brandon continues to attract a growing number of international students, addressing the accommodation challenge becomes imperative to ensure their successful integration and academic pursuits, she said.
Anmoldeep Singh, a new business administration student, said the challenges faced by newcomers extend beyond housing availability, citing unexpected financial strain.
“The cost of living and study expenses here are much higher than what we anticipated in India,” he told the Sun. “Many students, including myself, struggle to make ends meet because they can’t find work to support themselves while studying.”
Harpreet Singh, another new student, echoed similar sentiments, citing difficulties in obtaining refunds from previous universities and the burden of expensive housing and the cost of living in Canada.
Recent government policies, such as reduced work hours for international students, are a major concern, he said.
“Studying in Canada is taking a significant financial task that requires a lot of money and many of us rely on work opportunities during breaks to cover up,” he said. “Limiting the work hours is a major setback for us.”
Parth Taneja, transferring from the University of Manitoba to study business administration at ACC, called for more affordable housing options and a review of policies affecting international students’ financial stability.
“I believe the government should reconsider policies like reduced work hours for international students, as it makes it harder for us to cover expenses,” he told the Sun. “Additionally, reducing unnecessary fees and providing more affordable housing options would greatly help.”
College spokesperson Anya McNabb said the school does not operate any student housing, but it does support students with finding suitable housing in advance of their arrival and once they are in Brandon.
“We offer advice on monthly budget planning for accommodation. On occasion we do find that some students have pronounced concerns finding suitable housing that fits their lifestyle and budget,” McNabb told the Sun in an email.
The college also offers an online portal through Places4Students where landlords can list their offerings and students can search.
“We highlight other local classified sites where students may find success. We also partner with Brandon University for students to stay in BU residences and students are welcome to apply for residency there.”
She added Assiniboine International, in partnership with Westman Immigrant Services, hosts welcome information sessions throughout the year to help students familiarize themselves with the community of Brandon and assist students with pressing settlement needs, including housing.
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