NYU Plans To Set Students In Need Of Housing Up With Senior Citizens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- NYU is in the planning stages of a new housing program set to debut next fall, which would match up students in need of cheap housing with older New Yorkers with an extra room.
As WCBS 880's Mike Smeltz reported, seniors living with seniors is hardly uncommon as a concept. But it is not so common in this case involving college seniors and senior citizens.
"In New York, housing is a real challenge for a lot of people, obviously, in particular students," said Ellen Schall, chair of the NYU Affordability Steering Committee.
The group is dedicated to making one of the country's most expensive schools affordable. Next fall, the group will launch a pilot program that will match college students with senior citizens who live nearby and have a sparse room they are willing to rent out.
"I think it has huge national potential as people focus on the cost of college and in general, I believe, in intergenerational programs," Schall said.
It will be a volunteer program, and Schall believes it can cut housing costs for seniors in half.