The city of College Park has received its first applications for the student rent subsidy pilot program, which grants select University of Maryland students $1,250 to assist them with housing.
The city received 133 undergraduate applications and 225 graduate applications, assistant city manager Bill Gardiner said. Only 120 students will receive the subsidy, he said.
The city is currently reviewing the applications. The students, who will be chosen by a lottery, will “hopefully” have their checks by early November, Gardiner said.
According to former College Park City Council student liaison Gannon Sprinkle, the program reminds students that the city cares about their needs and is working to alleviate the cost of living.
Sprinkle was part of the council committee that developed the program last year. The council voted to approve the pilot in May.
The large application turnout, Sprinkle said, proves it is important for the city to cater to and reach out to students.
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But some city residents consider it unfair for students to receive aid for the few years they live in College Park.
At a Sept. 24 council meeting, District 3 resident David Dorsch expressed his concern with the council’s decision to provide financial aid to students who aren’t from College Park.
“As my other neighbors have said to me, I don’t know why we do this,” Dorsch said at the meeting. “I would think that there are better ways to spend our city’s money than just giving it away to students that happen to be living in the apartment buildings here for [the university].”
As a senior resident, Dorsch said, he doesn’t understand why students need more financial aid than him and his peers.
District 3 council member Stuart Adams acknowledged Dorsch’s concerns at the meeting, and said senior residents have legitimate needs.
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Adams emphasized the importance of the council helping families who may struggle with affording childcare — a group that includes graduate students.
“You’ll see that, across the country, child care costs have just skyrocketed during the pandemic,” Adams said.
University president Darryll Pines told The Diamondback that the student rent subsidy program will provide crucial help to graduate students at this university who may face different situations than undergraduate students, such as raising a family and paying for childcare.
Because housing costs play a role in students’ college decision, Pines explained, it is critical the university values the opportunity to expand housing options.
“We know that affordable housing is a challenge in our area,” Pines told The Diamondback. “We are grateful to partner with the city of College Park and … commend them for taking this initiative.”
Though there are no current plans to continue funding the rent subsidy program beyond this year, Gardiner said the city council will survey applicants to help decide whether to continue it.
