Housing

If you are arriving in the United States without a place to stay, book housing before arrival. Start with an extended stay hotel or a short-term rental for the first 1-3 months of your stay. To rent long-term, you usually need to show the landlord stable income in the amount of 2.5-3 times monthly rent and a good credit score. So you may not be able to rent an apartment long-term until you get a job in the U.S. and acquire credit history.

Use these resources to find housing.

Short-Term Housing

The best options for short-term housing are extended stay hotel chains or short-term rentals. Short-term rentals can be found on the following websites. Most require payment upfront.

For single adults, the cheapest option is a hostel bed which you can book at HostelWorld.com.

Co-livings are usually available for a 1-3 month minimum rental term. Check CoLiving.com, Common.com or google co-livings in your city.

Long-term apartment rental sites listed below may also have variable lease apartments available – look for a “month-to-month lease” in order to find shorter-term rentals.

Long-Term Housing

Use websites below to find an apartment for rent. Long-term leases are typically 6-18 months long, with a penalty for breaking the lease sooner.

Most landlords will require you to show credit history, a reference from a previous landlord, and proof of income in the amount of 2.5-3 times monthly rent. If you are unable to provide these, you have several options:

  • Find a co-signer: a friend, family member or supporter with high income who signs the lease with you as a guarantor. If you cannot make rental payments, the co-signer will be obligated to make them for you;
  • Buy a guarantee from TheGuarantors.com, Insurent.com or Rhino. The guarantee works like insurance: if you are unable to pay rent, the guarantor company will pay it for you. Not all landlords will accept purchased guarantees, so inquire with your landlord before buying one;
  • Stay in shorter-term rentals until you find a job with stable income;
  • Some landlords will forgo income and credit history requirements if you are willing to pre-pay lease for several months or put down a bigger security deposit.​

Be prepared to pay at least your 1st month’s rent upfront along with a security deposit: a security deposit is money that the landlord holds to pay for damages to the apartment. If there is no damage when you move out, the money is returned to you. Some landlords also require the final month’s rent upfront.

The Process of Long-Term Renting

Beware of Housing Scams!

Housing scams are common in the United States. Scammers will post pictures of an apartment that does not exist or does not belong to them with the hopes that someone will “rent it” sight unseen – and then take off with your money. This scam is common on all major apartment rental sites.

  • Never send money to a landlord without first seeing the apartment in person – both inside and outside.
  • If renting from an individual landlord, always request proof of ownership of the property.
  • If subleasing from a tenant, always request their rental agreement with the landlord and proof that they are current on their rent to the landlord. If the rental agreement prohibits sublease or requires the landlord’s consent, make sure to obtain the landlord’s permission. Otherwise you may be evicted on short notice.
  • Do not send rent or security deposit to the landlord before you sign a rental agreement. Always insist on signing a rental agreement, even if renting a room from your friends or subleasing. Free templates for simple rental agreements for apartments and rooms can be found online.
  • Always opt for a secure payment method. Many landlords will utilize an online portal for credit card payment or will accept a check. Be wary of landlords that request cash, money transfers (Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, etc.), or a money order as payment. 

Apartment Tour

Do not rent any apartment without seeing it in person first. This protects you from housing scams and helps ensure that the apartment is in good condition for living in.

During the tour, try to check the following:

  • Does the apartment have hot water?
  • Do all windows open and close as they should?
  • Is there evidence of mold?
  • Are any electrical fixtures damaged or wires exposed?
  • Is there sufficient garbage collection?

During the tour, you may also ask the landlord about any policies or restrictions related to the apartment, such as restrictions on pets, number of occupants, or guests, as well as any amenities provided by the landlord, such as laundry, utilities, and community amenities.

Depending on where you live and how in-demand apartments are, be prepared to rent an apartment the same day you tour it.

Rental Application

When renting an apartment, the landlord may require you to fill out an application indicating your interest in renting. This application often includes a low fee (around $70) for performing a credit check and may request information such as driver’s license number, rental history, proof of income, and information about every occupant who will live in the apartment.

Signing the Lease

If the landlord is satisfied with your credit and background check, they will offer you to sign a lease. There is no standard from for it – apartment complexes usually have agreements that are many pages long, while private landlords may sign a simple short rental agreement. If the landlord does not offer you to sign an agreement, insist on signing one – it protects your rights. If you need a template, sample lease and sublease agreements for apartments and rooms are freely available online. The agreement should specify:

  • Lease commencement/move-in date
  • Lease term, or that the lease does not have a fixed term (“month-to-month lease”)
  • Monthly rent and the date by which it must be paid
  • Penalty for late payments
  • The amount of security deposit
  • All rental restrictions
  • Utilities included in rent
  • How far in advance you must give a move-out notice

Rental Restrictions

Pets: Many landlords restrict whether pets are allowed on their property and how many pets are allowed. Even if pets are allowed on the property, be prepared to pay a fee for each pet.

Family members:  It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against people with children. However, landlords may have limits on the number of occupants allowed in a rental unit. This means if you are a family of 4, for example, it may be challenging to find a one-bedroom apartment. Due to federal guidelines, these limits cannot be lower than two people per bedroom of the apartment.

Landlords may have additional restrictions, such as a limit on the number of overnight guests, noise restrictions, and others. Make sure to ask about these during the apartment tour or when speaking to the landlord. Any restrictions must be included in your rental agreement.

Utilities

Whether utilities are included in the rent or paid separately varies by the landlord. Be sure to ask the landlord about which utilities are included.

Typical utilities are:

  • Garbage collection
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Gas for cooking or heating
  • Internet
  • Cable TV

If utilities are not included in the rent, it is up to the tenant to contact the utility company and create a new account with them. Contact the utility company to create a new account and inform them of your move-in date.

Rental Insurance

Landlords often require you to bear renter’s insurance when renting their apartment. The insurance policy covers: 

  • Damages to your personal property
  • Liability if someone gets hurt in your home
  • Damage to the apartment itself

Even if it is not required, it is a good idea to obtain renter’s insurance as a tenant. It is inexpensive – around $15 a month. 

Move-In

On the commencement date of your contract, you will receive keys from the landlord and be allowed to move in. If electricity is not included in the rent, contact the electric company prior to your move-in date and inform them of the date you need power enabled. Do the same for the internet.

Be aware: In the United States, apartments are unfurnished unless indicated otherwise. At the move-in, the apartment will be empty – apartments typically include only a refrigerator and a stove; some may additionally have a microwave and laundry. See the Other Help page for information on finding furniture for your new apartment.

Housing Assistance

Homeless Shelters

If you have nowhere to spend the night and no money for a hotel room or a hostel bed, find the nearest homeless shelter in your locality. How to find it:

  • Call 2-1-1 hotline for information about shelters near you. Interpreters are available;
  • Google “homeless shelter near me”;
  • Use national directory of homeless shelters https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/;
  • Inquire at the closest social services agency.

Family shelters for parents with kids are usually separate from shelters for childless adults. When inquiring about shelters, be sure to specify whether you have children with you.

Help with U.S. Housing from Nova Ukraine

Our Emergency Housing / USA team can find free accommodation for Ukrainian citizens, mainly rooms, from one month to a few months. We provide help to Ukrainians already in the United States and to those just planning to arrive. Be prepared to move to the city/state where housing is available.

We help Ukrainian citizens find housing in the United States using the following sources:

  1. Free housing from our database of verified hosts in select states and cities
  2. Referrals to local government and non-government programs that may help with housing
  3. Long-term rental housing, including from refugee-friendly landlords

To get our help:

Contact our team

Government Assistance to Refugees

Ukrainians paroled in the United States before September 30, 2023 may be eligible for housing assistance from government-affiliated agencies. If you are getting evicted or cannot afford to pay for housing, contact your closest social service agency or refugee resettlement agency. See Welfare Aid page for more information.

Subsidized Housing

Certain apartment complexes offer a limited number of government-subsidized apartments (so called “affordable units”) to low-income residents at a lower price. Affordable units are in high demand. Inquire about availability and apply directly at the apartment complex. Complexes offering subsidized apartments can be found using the following websites:

Local rental assistance programs may also be available from city or county housing authorities. Google “rental assistance in my city” to find out about options in your locality.

The U.S. has federal housing assistance programs called Public Housing (government-owned housing for low-income residents) and Section 8 (vouchers for housing assistance for low-income residents). However, wait times for both programs are several years in most localities. If you need affordable housing in the short term, subsidized apartments and local assistance programs may provide a faster solution.

Interested in Helping Refugees?

If you are in the United States and would like to help refugees with housing or otherwise, see this information:

Help Refugees in the U.S.