COPC Working Group on Housing

Meeting Minutes

February 10, 2005

2:30

 

In attendance:

Kelly Hoffman, Erin Ramsay, Jamie Cortazzo, Jim McCrea, Harry Burner, Jamie Rayman, Stacy Papa, Daniel Friedson, Tracy Soska.

 

Jamie Cortezza was introduced as the new off campus housing chair for Student Government Board.

 

Keep It Clean, Oakland Update: Kelly Hoffman and Erin Ramsay
Planning for the dumpster project (off campus housing student move-out) has begun. A meeting with the City Dept. of Public Works, Pitt, and OPDC was held to discuss initial planning efforts. ODPC will organize a meeting for the landlords to focus on additional planning as well as fundraising.

 

Off Campus Housing Survey

At the last meeting, it was suggested that we create an additional survey that is tailored to international students to get a better understanding of their unique needs and experiences.

 

Ms. Cortezza suggested that another way to get the survey out is to set up tables in the William Pitt Union.

 

Stacey Papa, a former Pitt law student with an interest in tenant/housing issues, said she could put together a booklet that educates students on what to look for in a lease or do an educational seminar.

 

Erin Ramsay said that OPDC has been working on getting info. out to students via the freshman studies classes.

 

Jamie Rayman said she will soon start planning for (international student) orientation and would be interested in having an educational session about off campus housing. Ms. Rayman would like to focus on improving pre-arrival communications to International students/scholars. The lack of short-term housing continues to be an issue. Often, when students arrive, they need a place to stay of for a week or two until they find permanent housing.


Jamie C. suggested that students could house students, similar to a process that the Pitt Pathfinders use. When students considering coming to Pitt visit, they are sometimes hosted by students. 

 

Ms. Rayman said that a youth hostel in Oakland would be great. The one that was in Pittsburgh (in Allentown) is closed.

 

Tracy Soska suggested Ms. Rayman talk to Sister Barbara Finch at the Carlow University Interfaith Center. Maybe they could be involved in helping to find a solution to the short-term housing issue.

 


Ms. Papa said that some larger apartment complexes offer short-term leases and have bus transportation to Oakland. Some offer furnished short-term leases.

 

Ms. Hoffman said that part of the problem w/ providing short term housing is what to do w/ the unit the rest of the year when it isn’t rented. By sitting vacant, the unit losing money.

 

Jamie C. again said she thought the idea of students serving as hosts would work.

 

Ms. Papa said students who do that should check their lease first to make sure there is no provision against doing this.

 

Ms. Hoffman asked what issues the group wanted to work on in the coming years. The following were suggested:

 

n      Sabina’s neighborhood database: we will invite her to the next meeting to learn about this project.

n      Block organizing for Oakland

n      Sidewalks – snow and ice, educating students about whose responsibility it is to clean the sidewalks.

n      Short term housing for International students

n      Employee Assisted Housing Programs

n      Off campus housing survey: expand, continue each year, publish the results, possibly develop on line survey.

 

Mr. Soska announced that the national COPC meeting will be at the end of April, in Chicago. See the www.oup.org for details.

The next Pitt COPC meeting will be Feb. 22.

The next COPC Working Group on Housing meeting will be March 17th at 2:30.