There are several ways to prepare a student for taking in completing this course. What tends to be the biggest hurdle for students happens to be building their own housing portfolio. The housing portfolio would include such things as:

  • a copy of their ID,
  • a copy of their income information, 
  • a sample rental application, 
  • reference letters from others showcasing that they would be a good tenant, and 
  • a personalized cover letter from them stating what barriers they've had in their past and how to overcome those. 

Many students will need help collecting these materials, uploading the information into their digital housing portfolio, and drafting/ typing out their cover letter. The sooner that students can gather information such as their ID or income documentation, the better. 

If you have students who do not have identification, this is an excellent opportunity to start going through the process to get their ID. Some students' only form of income may be from state benefits. In those cases, a state benefit award letter would be sufficient for income documentation. Supporting a student to get letters from their caseworkers is also very helpful.