For college students in Kalamazoo, finding affordable housing has become a financial balancing act that’s becoming harder to manage. Between long work hours, academic commitments, and rising rent costs, students are being forced to sacrifice sleep, grades, and social lives just to keep a roof over their heads. What should be a time of growth and exploration has become a daily fight against housing insecurity.
Once known for its educational opportunities and strong community support, Kalamazoo is struggling to meet the housing demands of its growing student population. From rising rent, poor-quality options, to long commutes, affordable housing has become one of the most pressing challenges facing local college students.
Rising costs and financial pressures
Jaylen Brandson works long hours each week to afford her modest apartment, living paycheck to paycheck to stay housed. “The cost of living does affect my academics because sometimes trying to manage being a full-time student and having a job that doesn’t give you the most flexible hours can be time-consuming. I am having to work a lot to pay for my living situation, rent, and utilities,” She says. It can get really stressful, especially when you are living paycheck to paycheck,” says Jaylen.
Winter brings even higher costs, further straining students’ limited resources. Amber Burch, a senior at Western Michigan University (WMU), says her rent increases during the colder months because of heating. “It does get frustrating sometimes, especially during winter, because our rent price does go up for the furnace. You can’t really enjoy as many things because you are focused on the rent,” says Amber…