Living on Your Own

As you finish high school, you may start to consider living on your own. Housing is a basic need and one of the first things you will want to think about. There are many different living situations, and it is up to you to choose what is right for you.

Housing Options

Here are some different housing options:

• Rent your own apartment – this means you live in a separate apartment by yourself
• Rent an apartment with one or more people – this means you share an apartment with others. You will have your own bedroom, but may share your kitchen, bathroom, and living room
• Living in a college dormitory – this is an option for college students where you live in a room and eat meals in a cafeteria
• Live in a group home – this means living in a larger building, usually with many other people. Group homes have support staff that handle cooking, cleaning, and personal assistance
• Live with your parents, guardian, or other relatives, possibly assisting in paying some of the bills

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing between these options. You’ll have to think about how much money you have, what accommodations you need, where each is located, and which you would prefer. Here we’ll look at renting an apartment, which is a common option for young people moving out of their parents’ homes for the first time.

Finding Affordable Housing to Rent

Every community has some apartments and houses that are called “affordable housing.” That means that it costs less to live there than it costs in an average apartment. Affordable housing can be quite nice and can help you stretch your budget if you qualify for it. There are lists of affordable housing in your community. When you look for an apartment, you can ask apartment managers if they have affordable housing.

Here are some resources for finding affordable housing:

• You can search for all types of rentals on NCHousingSearch.org, including accessible and affordable units.
  
• The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency lists resources for renters.
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a searchable database of affordable housing organized by city, county, or zip code, type of apartment, and number of bedrooms. HUD also lists housing resources in North Carolina.
• Your local Center for Independent Living can provide you with phone numbers and addresses for affordable apartment complexes in your area, help you fill out rental applications, and help you find places that are accessible to you.

Basics to Remember about Renting

Renting an apartment isn’t always simple. You have to find one you like and that you can afford. Then, when you get an apartment, you’ll sign a lease, which says how much money you’ll have to pay each month and what rules the landlord requires. Leases are a type of rental contract and often last an entire year. It’s really important you make sure you read everything the lease says because you may find things you disagree with. You don’t want to sign something and pay lots of rent if you’re not satisfied with the terms!

Once you’ve signed your lease, make sure you have a photocopy of it for your records. Then, you’ll have to pay a security deposit, which is money that the landlord will return to you when you move out of the apartment. If you damage anything while you live in the apartment, the landlord will use money from your security deposit to pay for repairs.

When you move in, pay your rent on time every month. Pay by check or get receipts — you want to make sure you have a record that you paid, in case there’s ever any confusion. If you have any problems with the apartment, let your landlord know immediately. It is her job to handle basic maintenance, like making sure that the heat, water, and other important things are all working and well maintained.

Finding Roommates

You may be able to save money on rent by finding people you would feel comfortable sharing an apartment with. If you do this, make sure you have a written agreement with the other people you rent your apartment with, showing how much each person will pay for rent and whether you will share the expenses for utilities like electricity, water, cable, and internet.

Transportation

Being able to get around is an important part of being independent. If you can drive and have a car, that’s one good option for getting around. If you can’t or don’t want to drive, there are other options.

• Get rides with friends, family members, or co-workers. For example, if you have a job, you could arrange a carpool to work every day.
• Some areas have volunteer driver programs through local community groups or other organizations. These programs give free or low-cost rides to people with disabilities, to go to things like community events, medical appointments, or shopping centers (the rules vary). Ask your local Center for Independent Living if there are volunteer driver programs near you.
• Use public transportation. Many transit agencies offer accessible bus routes as well some form of Paratransit, which provides door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities. You may also qualify for discounted fares or a lower rate on a monthly bus pass.
  • If you’re a bit nervous or unsure about how to use public transportation or are worried about how to pay for it, agencies like the Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) or other job placement services can provide you with a public transportation pass and training on how to use public transportation.
  • Your local Center for Independent Living may also provide information, passes, and training, including details about what Paratransit options are available where you live and how to apply.
  • Disability Rights North Carolina answers frequently asked questions about paratransit services and accessible public transportation.
    
  • The nonprofit Work Together NC offers a 27-page online booklet on Transportation in North Carolina: A Guide to Transportation Services, Problems & Solutions.
• Use rideshare apps, like Lyft or Uber. They offer more flexibility, are usually cheaper than taxis, and both companies say they are committed to accessibility. And if you qualify for Paratransit services, you might also get vouchers to pay for rideshares. However, some people with disabilities report problems with rideshare services, including a lack of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, drivers refusing to accept guide dogs, and extra fees for needing more time to enter a vehicle. SafeHome.org has a Guide to Rideshares and Public Transport Safety for People with Disabilities.

New Responsibilities Checklist

The decisions listed below are topics discussed in this article. If you aren't sure about some of them, that's okay. This article and the resources it lists can help.

If you'd like, you can download this document and print it so you can fill it out.

You can also talk to your parents, a peer counselor, or another person you trust and see what they think. While you are the key person in directing your independent life, it's always good to get advice from people you trust.