Helping Students find Homes

Housing insecurity and homelessness have long been persistent challenges faced by students in Tacoma and its surrounding areas, presenting significant barriers to their academic success. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the University of Washington Tacoma has taken proactive steps to ensure that students have access to reliable and consistent housing throughout the school year.

The Office of Student Advocacy and Support (OSAS), a vital part of UWT's Student Affairs division, is dedicated to providing comprehensive support services to address these housing barriers. OSAS offers a range of resources, including information on housing for homeless youth, rental assistance, Husky2Husky Homesharing, and various other available options.

Two housing resources that have made a substantial impact on UW Tacoma students are Koz at the Dome and Koz on Market. These apartment complexes, conveniently located downtown near campus, emerged as collaborative projects between UWT, the local housing authority, and a private developer. Their aim was to provide subsidized units to local students experiencing housing insecurities at affordable rates. Together, these developments offer a total of 116 subsidized units, with 70 of them currently occupied by UW Tacoma students. Since February 2019, these housing initiatives have assisted a total of 103 students.

Currently, both apartment complexes have waiting lists, and students interested in availing themselves of this housing assistance are encouraged to complete an application to secure their spot in line.

For more detailed information about the wide array of resources available through the Office of Student Advocacy and Support, including housing options, emergency funding, counseling services, and support for food insecurity, click here.

Written by Madeleine Porter