Student Story: Short-term solution for a long-term problem

Various “Limited Spaces Remaining” signs line the sidewalk of U Center at Fry Street on April 11, 2023. Maria Crane. UNT Fall 2022.

Story by Sarah Hogan, Maria Crane, Jami Hitchcock and Ruby Mejia

DENTON, Texas — It is a familiar situation University of North Texas Students know all too well. You sign your lease, you move in, but by the time you finish finals, you’re already trying to figure out where to live next year. At UNT, the problem is only magnified by new priority housing mandates.

As you struggle to shuffle through the off-campus options, including apartments, houses and rooms to rent, you find yourself faced with inflated rent prices and increased demand, not to mention the probable 12-month lease waiting for your signature. However, there is another option students may not be considering — short-term rentals.

For students like UNT incoming sophomore Omari Powell, the new university policies granting freshman priority housing was a devastating blow for his student living plans.

“My experience looking for off-campus housing has been horrible,” Powell said. “I feel that, as a freshman, I should be able to stay on campus another year. I did not want to stay in an apartment because […] I love to go home. I love to be around my family, and the leasing options are very bad.”