How Does Housing Work?

Housing is provided by all travel companies in one form or another. You basically have two main choices. Either you already have your own place to stay - like an RV, or a relative's house, or you need the company to provide you with housing.

If you have your own place to stay, then you get what is called a housing stipend from the company. This is an amount of money every month, that the company pays you that is normally what it would have paid on your behalf. This money is tax free and you should talk to you accountant about it to make sure you get the maximum benefit. Some travel companies pay more then others. The amount varies based on the location of the assignment.

Your other option is to have the travel company provide the housing for you. This is where it can get tricky. Our advice is to insist on your own private housing. They might try to pair you up with another travel nurse and stick you in a two bedroom apartment. This makes you roll the dice to see if you get along with this person or not.

Different companies also provide different housing benefits. Some pay for all your housing, some pay for most of it.

Included in your housing should be all utilities paid. You should also try to get cable and local phone paid for as well.

Another thing to ask is if there is a washer/dryer in the unit or will you have to use a community laundry room. Having them in your apartment is always easier.

You might not get an apartment at all. I have heard horror stories of companies putting travel nurses in motels for weeks at a time. Make sure that your contract states exactly where you will be staying. Do not sign your contract unless all the details are listed.

You also want to find out well ahead of time the exact location of the apartment. Do NOT take your recruiter's word for it when she tells you that you will get housing near your hospital. They try, but do not always succeed. And you do not want to drive one hour each way to get to work every day.

When your recruiter tells you where you will be staying, check out the community on the Internet and see if it is suitable to you. You can always say no to an apartment and have them arrange for another one.

Or if you know of an apartment complex where you want to live, you can put some pressure on your recruiter and have them get you an apartment there. This is usually the best way to get a nice apartment.

Your apartments should also be completely furnished. For most companies this means furniture. For others, this means everything including pots/pans and a TV.