The REEF Support Center is here to support you in your housing search. While we do not have all the answers and are also witnessing the impacts of our national housing crisis, we are available to share the tips and tricks you have available to you as a Simmons student! Whether you’re a first time renter, new to Boston, or stuck in your search, we are here!
Be on the lookout for our annual housing fair each semester to explore local housing management companies.
- REEF Housing Search 101
View our Housing Search 101 presentation for tips and tricks for searching for off-campus housing!
- Simmons Off Campus Housing Website
For students looking to live off-campus, the off-campus housing website is a great tool. This website helps students connect with Simmons peers and other Boston based college students through roommate searches and house listings. Students can complete a profile including their interests, education, and roommate preferences to find the best matches for their area. Other specifications such as price range, number of bedrooms, and unit features can be filtered in the search process as well.
- Create a profile to search for units
- Create a profile to search for potential roommates (who are also students)
Additional resources on commuting to campus, commuter services at Simmons, and Commuter Dining Plans can be found on our Commuter Services Page.
- Simmons Student Assistance Program
The Simmons Student Assistance Program offers an abundance of helpful resources related to off-campus living and housing. All Simmons students may utilize this platform free of charge via the SAP website, phone number, or chat feature. We recommend accessing housing resources under the Home&Auto Tab. Resources include topics such as:
- Review of your lease! The SAP offers 30 free minutes with a licensed attorney
- Your tenants/renters rights
- What to look for in a roommate
- Preparing for a move
- How to best communicate with your landlord and neighbors
- Furnishing Your Living Space
Moving off-campus, made easy! You can love your off-campus housing even more with CORT’s furniture packages. Their team will design 3 rooms of cohesive furniture just for you. They do the work so you can stay focused on your education. Visit cort.com/student to learn about pricing and student deals!
- Additional Online Resources
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The REEF Beyond Simmons Resource Guide includes many resources within the MA and Boston communities. We recommend the following spreadsheet tabs to support you in your search:
- “Apartment Rentals, Sublets, & Storage” (includes a list of local apartment companies and widely utilized Facebook housing pages)
- “Commuting”
- “Housing Access and Utility Relief”
- “Emergency Housing Resources”
- Housing Access Resources
Like many cities, Boston is in the midst of a housing crisis. With pressures like the continuing pandemic, support around rental relief, utility relief, and other housing access resources have become more important than ever. Here is a quick list of MA/Boston-based resources.
Emergency Housing
If you find yourself in need of emergency housing, please connect with the REEF Support Center so that we can support you during our regular business hours. For after-hours, please contact Boston 311 by phone.
- List of Young Adult Emergency Housing Options & Supports (ages 24 and under). Find emergency housing options & support in the Metro Boston area and beyond.
Housing Assistance Programs:
- Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF)
RAFT and HAF provide short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They can help with costs such as utilities and rent. - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Known as Fuel Assistance, LIHEAP provides eligible households with help in paying a portion of winter heating bills. - Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE)
Boston Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) is a municipal aggregation program that provides electricity at bargained costs. Municipal aggregation is the process by which a municipality (meaning a town or city) purchases electricity in bulk from a competitive supplier on behalf of the residents and businesses within the community.
Boston Housing Offices/Organizations:
- Boston Office of Housing Stability
Contact at 617-635-4200 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) for assistance surrounding safe and stable housing. For help outside these hours, please contact BOS:311. You can dial 3-1-1 or call 617-635-4500. - City Life/Vida Urbana
City Life is a housing justice organization located in Jamaica Plain, Boston. They offer an eviction emergency hotline, mutual aid resources, tenants rights, as well as other housing-related resources. - Metro Housing Boston
Mobilizes resources to provide services that lead families and individuals to housing stability, economic security, and improved quality of life.