Priced Out:
Priced out: the struggle for safe and affordable student housing in Tallahassee
Priced out: the struggle for safe and affordable student housing in Tallahassee
By Haylee Thomas | Contributor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As rent prices continue to climb and new construction changes the city’s landscape, many students from Florida A&M University, Florida State University and Tallahassee State College are struggling to find housing that fits their budgets.
Many popular student housing complexes now charge over $900 per bedroom, pushing students to take on multiple jobs or rely on additional financial aid to cover expenses.
Landon Ivory, a senior at FAMU, said his housing experience has changed drastically since leaving campus.
“Now that I’m a senior living off campus near FAMU, I would say it’s convenient, yet some would say it’s not the safest place,” Ivory said. “They’re chopping off sectors of housing close to FAMU, which would be considered gentrification. It makes it tough for FAMU students, or even students looking for convenient living, to find a place to stay.”
For many students, finding housing forces them to choose between affordability and safety. Some have been forced to move farther from campus, live with multiple roommates, or settle for less-than-ideal conditions to make ends meet.
Tamerah Williams, a FAMU alumna now pursuing her master’s degree at FSU, said she’s experienced the difference firsthand.
“Moving around has been difficult,” Williams said. “As a recent FAMU graduate, the difference between FSU and FAMU housing is significant. It’s been simpler for me financially now that I’m a teacher and able to afford to live close to campus, but as a FAMU student, it was hard to find housing that fit what I needed long term and my budget.” Says Tamerah Williams
Housing expert Mia Akamu, who has managed Tallahassee leases for nearly a decade, said the shift began during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“The nationwide rise in inflation caused apartments to compete with market rent,” Akamu said. “Students got stuck with the repercussions. Rent increases made sense at first, but now investors are just trying to replace what they lost.”
Akamu added that much of the issue stems from investor control over the market.
“Don’t blame the office staff—it’s the investors,” she said. “They demand numbers and manipulate the market. There are two things investors care about: occupancy and residents paying rent.”
As construction continues and prices remain high, students are left wondering how they can afford to live in the same city where they study.
“If I were a student, I would choose accessibility over safety,” Akamu said. “If I had better financial support, safety would be my first option. But the way inflation affects us, accessibility comes first.”
Photo Caption:
Apartment complexes line Gaines Street, an area once known for affordable student housing.
(Haylee Thomas/FAMUAN)
