Landing your first internship can be an exciting first step towards a fulfilling career. However, dealing with the logistics of student housing during the internship can be a major source of stress for many undergraduates. Many internships may be located in the city where living costs are significantly higher and far away from your home. The good news? Sourcing the right student housing options is more than possible to do without all of the stress and hassle. If you're preparing to intern for a major company, here are the best ways to find furnished internship housing.

1. Create a comprehensive budget (and don't be afraid to reach out for help).

Internships are rich in experience but are rarely lucrative. Students who have landed an internship close to their college campus can stay at the dorms and commute. However, not everyone has this option available to them and choose student housing. This poses a major problem for college students who need to move to expensive cities without the financial support they need to afford their short term lease. That being said, there are typically resources that will allow you to find the perfect short term apartment for a short term stay.

The first resource to turn to for help affording your student housing is your college. Colleges may offer financial assistance like loans and scholarships so that you can make the rent on your summer housing. You should also contact your employer to see if they may provide you with a monthly stipend that can go towards your rent. The more financial support you have, the better you can focus on your summer internship.

2. Reach out to fellow interns who are having trouble finding housing as well.

The struggle to find summer intern housing is not one that you're alone in. In fact, you may come across a slew of summer interns in your new city who are also experiencing some obstacles in their apartment search. One great way to circumvent these issues is to find something together. Although not everyone may not want a roommate, looking for someone else can greatly reduce your financial burden, especially if you're living in a big city like New York City, where rent for furnished apartments is known for being sky-high. If you can't find another intern to share a furnished rental with, make sure that you're careful when using platforms like Craigslist, as you can't vet the quality of these individuals before entering a short term lease with them.

3. Don't limit yourself to just furnished apartments; there are other options out there!

One of the great tips that you need to hear in your housing search is that furnished apartments aren't the only living situation that you can find for yourself. Just a couple of other recommendations that you should consider looking into if you're having trouble finding an apartment include:

Vacation Rentals and Temporary Housing: If you've landed your dream internship for the summer, you likely don't want to enter a year-long lease. Fortunately, there are platforms out there that help you rent out spaces month-to-month, so you don't have to make a serious commitment to a new space. Instead, look for a temporary housing platform such as https://www.housestay.com/ that offers affordable summer housing and includes everything you need like utilities (wireless internet, cable TV, electricity, etc.), a full kitchen, and furnishings.
College Sublets: Campus housing isn't just for students, especially when school is out of session. Reach out to colleges in the area where you will be staying to see if they have any dorms they're sub-leasing. Most dorms will come with enough space for your bed, your desk, and a closet, public bathrooms where you can shower and get ready for the day, and someplace where you can store your food (keep in mind that these facilities may vary from college to college). Although this may not be available to you, looking into these opportunities is certainly worth a shot.
Private Bedrooms: If you look hard enough, you may be able to find listings for private bedrooms and bathrooms, which are typically common in large cities where affording a whole furnished apartment or single-family home may not be an option for everyone. It's not ideal because you will be sharing a living space with a property owner you don't know, but it's a great opportunity if you need somewhere to stay last-minute.

If interns are anything, they're resourceful. Consider some of the options listed here if you can't find the right space for your needs.

4. Find someone willing to help you afford your internship.

Interns aren't limited to scholarships or monthly stipends when they're trying to rent furnished apartments. In fact, anyone can sponsor you during your internship to help you succeed and juggle your responsibilities with less difficulty. So, who may be willing to help you as you move into this next phase of your career? For most people, the answer is going to vary a bit. Some people worth reaching out to for help include friends, immediate family or extended family, or even individuals mentoring you in your career. This isn't a guaranteed source of income or one that comes with consistent income, but the more support you have from others who want to see you thrive, the easier it will be to reach your goals.

Begin your hunt for intern housing here at HouseStay!

Whether you're an intern in the US or an international student, we believe that temporary housing should be accessible to everyone. If you're looking for somewhere to stay during your summer internship, use HouseStay. HouseStay is a temporary housing platform that offers entire, fully furnished accommodations for 30 nights or more. With our seamless, fully automated booking platform, transparent pricing and listing details to help you make the right decision, and listings in major cities across the country, finding your next apartment or home has never been easier. Create an account to get started with us today!