Housing: Should You Take Agency Housing or the Stipend?
What this post will cover
What agency housing actually includes (and what it quietly doesn't).
When taking the stipend nets you more money — and when it loses you money.
Furnished mid-term rentals, Furnished Finder, Airbnb monthly, and traveler-specific landlords.
How to budget for utilities, deposits, parking, and the gap weeks between contracts.
Why I never take agency housing
I have never taken the agency's housing. From what I understand, it means you do not get any housing stipend. That does not seem worth it to me. You are better off doing the research and reaching out to landlords for housing. Finding and planning housing and sleeping arrangements on your travels seems to be the most challenging part of travel nursing. Some areas are very difficult to find affordable housing in, and you have to trust people. I usually look at housing options before I even apply for a position. The contract could pay great, but the housing in that area could take it all away.
Where to find travel nurse housing
I have been at hospitals that let nurses have their own room to sleep in at the hospital, so it's always worth reaching out to the hospital to see if that is an option. A mobile home would be super ideal, but I never did it. Most of my housing is found on Furnished Finder — it is much more affordable than Airbnb. Using Furnished Finder, you have to be sure to vet the landlord to make sure they are legitimate. It is rare, but I have had people try to scam me. I always make sure that I FaceTime them, speak with them on the phone, and read any reviews they may have. Using platforms like Zillow or Airbnb reduces the risk of scams or bad landlords because the company acts as a middleman in the deal. That peace of mind does add a nice additional monthly cost, though.
Vetting landlords and reading the cancellation fine print
Regardless of what platform you use to find short-term furnished housing, always make sure the landlord is down to earth and understanding of the nature of our jobs. Sometimes contracts get cancelled — will they be willing to cut the lease short and save you a month's worth of rent with no job? Look at the fine print on the lease for cancellation policies. I had a contract fall through once after booking an Airbnb for three months, and the host did not refund any of my first month's rent even though it was a month before moving in.
Budgeting for the gaps between contracts
It is important to know how much you spend each month on average so you can save enough cash to get by between contracts. Lifestyle creep is real if you get a really good-paying contract for a quarter of the year and then transition into a lesser-paying one. I have spending and budget spreadsheets available for purchase if you're interested. But it takes time and commitment to track where every dollar is going.