Tuesday August 29, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC [UPDATED 6:20 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Each year, the University of Victoria welcomes approximately 22,000 students to campus.
Ahead of the fall academic term, an influx of students will be looking for places to rent in the Victoria region.
“It can be difficult for students to find off-campus accommodations that meet their needs—including affordability and proximity to campus,” says a UVic spokesperson.
More on-campus beds:
In September, the opening of Sngequ House, UVic’s newest residence building, will bring the number of on-campus student beds to more than 2,900 – the most ever, says UVic. That covers for about 13.5% of the total student population in Fall 2023.
“For the coming 2023-24 terms, we have a first-year guarantee, and will be able to accommodate all first-year students who applied by the May 30 deadline,” says UVic in a statement to Island Social Trends today.
“In addition, we will be able to accommodate more than 500 upper-year undergraduate and graduate students – more than ever before,” the university has stated.
First housing building opened a year ago:
- The first of UVic’s two new housing buildings, Cheko’nien House, opened in the fall of 2022 and provided about 398 new beds. The $229.2 million project was supported by funding from UVic, the Government of BC ($127.9 million) and the University of Victoria foundation, as an investment in sustainability.
- Sngequ House will provide about 385 additional beds.
- These projects add a combined 621 net new beds to campus – increasing UVic’s on-campus housing supply by 25%.
Still some rooms available on campus:
Students looking for accommodations in September are encouraged to contact UVic’s Residence Services, as there are still some rooms available on campus due to cancellations and deferrals. | LINKS: UVIC RESIDENCE SERVICES | OFF CAMPUS HOUSING
Demand exceeds supply:
Even with the opening of the new residence buildings, demand for housing continues to exceed supply, so many students will be looking for off-campus accommodations, says a UVic spokesperson.
UVic has a website dedicated to helping students with off-campus housing, including information on tenancy rights and resources and tools, including a webinar, about how to find places to live.
The UVic campus is based in Saanich bordering Oak Bay. Some students find housing in locations further away from there, such as in the west shore area or even Sooke, and thereby have a long daily commute.
More rental housing needed:
The University of Victoria’s five-year Capital Plan recognizes the acute regional need for additional rental housing to meet student demand for on-campus living and free up rental space in the community for others.
“We are listening to students and will continue working with our partners, including all levels of government, as well as the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) and Graduate Students’ Society (GSS), to address this regional issue and advocate for longer-term solutions,” says UVic.
“Improving housing options is essential if we want to recruit the best and brightest students, staff and faculty to our world-renowned university,” the University of Victoria says.
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends offers news insights through a socioeconomic lens. Daily news posts at IslandSocialTrends.ca . Based in the west shore of Greater Victoria, on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia. Editor & Publisher: Mary P Brooke
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