Need advice on housing! I am so frustrated.

[wanderlust99]

Ok, so I have completed 2 travel assignments with American Mobile. On to my 3rd next week. My problem is housing. I feel they house me in crappy run down apartments that just aren't good enough.

If AMN will offer me a stipend of 1600-1800 dollars for housing, shouldn't the apartments they try to put me into be equal to this? I understand furniture rental, electricity bill will add a few extra hundred. So I expected an apt that was listed as 1400/month to be fine. They are telling me they no longer house travelers there because it is too expensive!

For this area, 1400/month is a bargain. They are looking to house me in an apt that goes for about 1200/month and is just an embarrasment to call home. I'm not looking to stay at the Ritz, but I think I should be housed in an apt complex with other professionals, not the lowest available rent in the area you know?

What do you think I should do? I feel like they are cheating me.

[amy0123, BSN, RN]

Take the stipend. Look in the papers for a furnished apartment or room close by the hospital. Sometimes hotels offer discount monthly rates like the Ramada or Extended Stay. You could speak to the person who set-up the housing but they may take longer to arrange for a new place.

[caliotter3]

Take the stipend and find your own place. I lived at a Homestead Suites (same company as Extended Stay) for over a year and it was ok for professionals. You have to look for one that is in a good part of town. You can also rent a room in a home and really save money on housing.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I have gotten really deluxe housing on my contracts. On my last assignment, I got a 4 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2 car garage house- in a really nice neighborhood- and I travel by myself. I saw it on Craig's list, and forwarded it to my recruiter. He had the agency rent it.

I am currently on a short contract with a different agency and staying at the Hilton Extended Stay Suites.

You deserve, clean, safe, comfortable, nice housing. Don't accept anything less.

[Maryann RN]

I traveled for 2 1/2 years and always took the stipend. Would stay in a motel when I first arrived and if not satisifed with that I would then start looking for something else. My husband traveled with me on 3 of my 4 assignments. I took an assignment in California which extended into a year. We lived in 2 different motels until finding a small, unfurnished house. We furnished it with some cool, deco furniture we found at Salv. Army. When we left we donated the "cheap" furniture to a family who were having a very hard time financially due to medical expenses. They were thrilled and we wre happy to recycle our treasures. I found that when traveling it was helpful to look at each new assignment as an adventure. It was fun to be creative and to find ways to make the best of sometimes less than desirable circumstances. Flexibility and being able to "go with the flow" are key elements to be able to travel and enjoy it.