RRC Polytech has launched a new housing alternative for students attending its Winnipeg campuses — and is looking for community members to open their doors.

Offered in partnership with home-share providers SpacesShared, the new initiative connects students with safe and affordable housing through intuitive technology, scheduled check-ins and dedicated human support.

And with RRC Polytech students now able to access the service, a call has gone out to local residents to sign up as potential hosts.

“When a student comes to study at RRC Polytech, we want to ensure they are supported — not only in their studies, but also in navigating Winnipeg and learning what our city has to offer,” says Giselle Martel, Vice-President, Finance and Administration at RRC Polytech.

“We’ve entered into this partnership to provide students with safe, affordable and convenient options for housing off campus. Having this program in place will reduce the stress for students navigating the housing and rental market on their own, and allow them to focus on their training.”

RRC Polytech’s student residence at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute provides accommodations for 102 students, but there is a need for other options to support students coming from other parts of Manitoba and Canada, or from outside the country.

Enter SpacesShared, an organization with similar networks across Canada that’s committed to building, sustaining and supporting intergenerational home-sharing and fostering meaningful connections between students and hosts.

“RRC Polytech is the first partnership SpacesShared has in Winnipeg and we’re excited to provide students with a great housing option,” says CEO Rylan Kinnon. “We’ve seen success in cities across Canada and know that students at RRC Polytech will create lifelong friendships with their hosts. Bringing people together creates incredible opportunities for bonding and we love to hear from our hosts and students about the experiences they share together.”

Currently, there are eight people registered to host RRC Polytech students through the service, with hopes that more will register prior to upcoming academic terms.

Enrico Madrid and his wife are among the first local homeowners to sign up as a potential host through SpacesShared. He says he’s looking forward to building connections and maybe continuing his own lifelong learning.

“I enjoy seeing how young people now approach studies and how they learn, because then I learn a new way of doing things,” he says. “But hopefully I can help them learn too — math has always been my favourite.”

For Spila Lee, a graduate of RRC Polytech’s Hospitality Business Management program, sharing cultures and creating a sense of community was an important part of her experience living in residence as a student at RRC Polytech.

Lee says living with a host family would be a great way to integrate into Winnipeg’s way of life.

“The first year I was a resident I was quite impressed with all the activities I could join. I met a lot of different people, and I think it could be a similar experience for someone living with a host family,” she says.

“Living in a house with locals gives you the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood, go to favourite restaurants and try activities that you might not always hear about.”

She said the most important thing is that there will be a level of support from host families that can help students be successful in their training.

“Especially for newcomers — we came without any family support, so having someone be supportive really matters. Whether on campus or with a host family, it makes a really huge difference,” Lee says.

Learn more about accessing housing through RRC Polytech’s SpacesShared partnership, or sign up as a potential host.