Finding housing for traveling healthcare workers is an important part of this career. Some people will have help from their recruiter with housing, while others will take the offered housing stipend and find their own place to stay. Either way, it can be overwhelming to filter through ads of furnished housing.
It’s a relief once you secure housing for your next assignment with your travel healthcare companies. It takes a lot of time to find short-term housing with everything you’re looking for. You might want furniture, utilities included, a safe and convenient location, a good price and maybe even pet-friendly policies. Where do you even start? Here are some tips on the various housing options for healthcare travelers!
Temporary furnished housing
You can find housing for traveling healthcare workers on sites like Furnished Finder and Travel Nurse Housing. These sites are specifically for travel nurses and other travel professionals to find temporary housing. With this option, you will use the agency-provided stipend. Each agency has a different type of housing stipend for their travelers. Talk with your recruiter to fully understand yours.
You can also use sites such as Apartments.com, VRBO and Tripping to find housing options. It’s important to keep in mind that these sites are not made specifically for healthcare travelers, and you will need to be more wary of housing scams. Most healthcare travelers end up opting to find their own housing.
Airbnb
Vacation rental websites like Airbnb are also a great option, as they come furnished and with utilities included. Airbnbs are found in over 81,000 cities. Many Airbnbs are rented for a few nights, and the owners are often happy to rent out their housing longer and may offer a discounted rate. Be sure to discuss this with the owner.
Extended stay hotels
A perk of extended stay hotels are all the amenities that are offered. Oftentimes you will receive free breakfast, free wifi, fully equipped kitchens, bed linens, a swimming pool, a hot tub and workout facilities. Some hotels also offer a discounted rate for traveling professionals.
Agency-placed housing
Most agencies do not provide housing, but there are a few who do. With this, there are fewer options. Agencies who offer housing typically work with certain property managers and owners in different locations. It’s up to you to decide to what degree you want to be in charge of your housing. If you choose this option over a stipend, you’ll have less control. A pro is that you don’t have to allocate a lot of time toward searching for housing, but a con is you don’t get much of a choice in where you live for the next few months.
Staying with friends and family in the area
If you have a friend or family member in the area you’re traveling to, it might be a good idea to live with them for the duration of your contract. Most contracts are 13 weeks long, so you’ll want to be sure your friends and family know the extent of the stay. If there is a guest bedroom and bathroom separate from the person already living there, it may work better. They may even appreciate you offering to pay them a small amount during your stay.
Secure your housing with travel healthcare companies
RTG Medical wants to ensure you’re able to find housing for traveling healthcare workers. We want you to be safe and comfortable wherever you are. Whether you’re looking for a studio apartment or a beachy house bungalow, feel free to reach out to your recruiter at your travel healthcare companies with any questions; they’re here to help. Contact us today with any other questions you may have!
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