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off-campus housing

Portland is a unique and vibrant city, and each neighborhood has its own feel and personality. The city is divided into four quadrants: Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest. You will frequently hear people referring to these quadrant names when describing the city. For example, the neighborhoods on the west side of the Willamette River are the Northwest and the Southwest; the Southwest is traditionally considered “downtown”, and is also where PSU is located.

Southwest
West Burnside Street is the boundary on the north and the Willamette River is the east boundary. The south boundary going from east to west is Lake Oswego and Tigard. The city of Beaverton is the west boundary.This also includes the downtown core west of the Willamette River. The Downtown core & PSU Campus, South Waterfront, OHSU, and surrounding areas are in this area. The Southwest section is home to Downtown Portland, the heart of the city and home to modern commercial towers, condominiums, converted lofts, beautiful green space, luxurious hotels, and amazing architecture. In the center of it all is Pioneer Square, where festivals, shopping, restaurants, and people meet to hang out. The area of southwest is home to many great attractions including the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Gardens, Hoyt Arboretum, Children’s Museum, and the Oregon Zoo; all are within minutes of downtown.There is also a large variety of restaurants and entertainment options.People who choose to live in SW generally like the hilly terrain, the closeness to downtown, the parks, schools, and neighborhoods.

Northwest


The Northwest is a combination of residential and industrial neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Nob Hill and the Alphabet District. “The Pearl”, a neighborhood of converted lofts, shops and restaurants, straddles both the Southwest and Northwest neighborhoods. Across the bank of the Willamette River lie the North/Northeast and Southeast neighborhoods.

Northeast


Much of the inner Northeast is widely considered to be a developing neighborhood, with lots of renovations and remodeling going on throughout the area. Many of the houses in the area are larger family homes that have been converted into multi-resident accommodations. There are some beautiful parks in the area, as well as some of the oldest historic homes in Portland. The Northeast is also known for such micro-neighborhoods as the Alberta Arts district and the Hollywood district.

Southeast


The Southeast is an energetic and eclectic neighborhood, home to a variety of coffee shops, boutiques, music venues and restaurants, and is known for such micro-neighborhoods as the Hawthorne and Belmont districts.

Questions to ask yourself when looking for off-campus housing:

What type of environment are you looking for?

    What part of the city do you want to live in?

    • Is it near public transportation? How long will you have to commute for school? You can vist TriMet to plan a trip and see how long a commute will take.
    • Is the neighborhood safe?
    • Is there a grocery store nearby?

    What is your budget?

    • Things to consider in your budget may include rent, utilities, security deposit, personal items, food, emergency funds, savings, cell phone, internet, credit card payments, car insurance or other transportation costs such as gas or TriMet pass.
    • You may want to calculate an estimated budget.

    Do you want to live with a roommate?

    • Pros: Meeting new people, companionship, larger apartment, shared expenses, sharing chores.
    • Cons: Less privacy, more noise, unwanted long-term guests, sharing your belongings, keeping track of shared expenses.
    • Things you want to consider in a potential roommate may include study habits, pets, are they financially secure? Will you share food or shopping responsibilities? Do you prefer a nonsmoker/smoker? You can search for roommates here.

    Information You Might Want to Know

    These websites provide important background information when applying for housing. Many landlords will want to check your credit to make sure you meet their minimum finincial qualifications. A co-signor, someone who is willing to take responsiblity of the lease if you are unable to, might be needed for students or young individuals to qualify for some housing.

    Who can help?

    Student Legal and Mediation Services is available for free to full or part-time PSU students for legal advice and representation. To call and schedule an appointment with a SLMS attorney call (503) 725-4556. Their office is located in Smith Memorial Student Union room M340. SLMS walk in hours regarding landlord/tenant issues are Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30pm - 3:00pm.

    Where to Search For Housing

    Portland State University has partnered with Places4Students.com, a company that specializes in providing off-campus housing solutions for post-secondary students. This service is free for all PSU students to use as an effective method of finding a place to live off-campus. Landlords can list properties at rates that are very competitive and less than most other mediums of adverstisting. Students can click here to view rental listings. Landlords can visit www.Places4Students.com to place ads or call 886-766-0767 toll free.

    Housing Northwest, Inc. (HNW) was founded in 1969 by Portland State University students as a Not-for-Profit Corporation governed by a Board of Directors. In every aspect of its operation, HNW focuses its energies on providing a living environment in which residents can attain their goals. For more information visit www.chnw.org.

    Disclaimer
    This document is meant to provide assistance in locating off-campus housing. Inclusion of any property or rental unit on this website does not constitute, and shall not be construed or reported as an endorsement or approval by the University Housing Office or Portland State University of the landlord, its properties, or its business practices. The University Housing Office or Portland State University expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any problems that may arise with regard to such property or rental units or with regard to disputes between landlords and tenants concerning such property or rental units. All prospective tenants are encouraged to exercise their own good judgment when evaluating a prospective rental unit, roomate, or landlord.