Single Parent at American University

[Anonymous]

sbenjams wrote:yes I have a separate expense for living costs. I am in the process of search for child care but would really need to narrow down where I would live before I can make final decisions. Is anyone aware of income based housing in DC or has anyone raised children while going to school?

Is this all being paid for by loans?

Will you have loans for tuition also?

If so, I think you seriously need to rethink your plans. Even in DC where there are plenty of legal career opportunities, it's still a tough market for lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sbenjams wrote:yes I have a separate expense for living costs. I am in the process of search for child care but would really need to narrow down where I would live before I can make final decisions. Is anyone aware of income based housing in DC or has anyone raised children while going to school?

I raised a child as a single mother while going to grad school. However, my situation was much different. For one, I didn't relocate, so finding housing, figuring out childcare, etc were not issues.

No, I do not know about income based housing. Perhaps you can contact the HUD-- or whatever the federal income-based housing program is-for a list of places in the area. You may also be able to find that info on their website. Have you googled something along the lines of "low income housing in DC" or "low income housing near AU"?

PS: One thing I do remember from those days of single parenting/raising a child is that 2-3 year olds get sick A LOT, especially after a relocation for some reason. Be sure to have back up childcare in place as sick children are not allowed to attend daycare.

Same Poster here...

I'd also like to add that you'll need names for the Emergency Contact list just in case you're in class and cannot be reached. Someone will have to pick up your children early from school or daycare.

I don't mean to crush your dreams, but having been there, I really, really, REALLY think you should consider school in your own state and keep AU as the VERY LAST resort or something you do when the kids are older. For one, the poor 6 year old will have to become acclimated to a new area/school and you'll be too busy with law school (after hitting the ground running) that you'll have little time to help the kids adjust.

If your support system here is strong and can be counted on 1000% (ex: your mother) then go for it--but still proceed with extreme caution.

You know, the OP has a six year old. She probably has a pretty good idea what it's like to raise children. Wherever she lives, and whether she's working or attending school, her six year old will need to have an emergency contact, and wherever she lives she'll need to spend time with them. Of course she probably already knows that, having gotten her kids to their current ages, and having sufficient intelligence to get into a JD program.

I don't understand why people are attacking the OP. She asked a specific question about housing.

-- The single mom who suggest the Fields of Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you borrowing money to live on and to pay law school tuition at American University? That law degree is not worth anywhere near its sticker price. The DC job market is absolutely saturated with unemployed and underemployed lawyers from much better schools. Not trying to be a jerk, but I'm really hoping you got a full ride b/c otherwise: not worth it AT ALL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

sbenjams wrote:yes I have a separate expense for living costs. I am in the process of search for child care but would really need to narrow down where I would live before I can make final decisions. Is anyone aware of income based housing in DC or has anyone raised children while going to school?

I raised a child as a single mother while going to grad school. However, my situation was much different. For one, I didn't relocate, so finding housing, figuring out childcare, etc were not issues.

No, I do not know about income based housing. Perhaps you can contact the HUD-- or whatever the federal income-based housing program is-for a list of places in the area. You may also be able to find that info on their website. Have you googled something along the lines of "low income housing in DC" or "low income housing near AU"?

PS: One thing I do remember from those days of single parenting/raising a child is that 2-3 year olds get sick A LOT, especially after a relocation for some reason. Be sure to have back up childcare in place as sick children are not allowed to attend daycare.

Same Poster here...

I'd also like to add that you'll need names for the Emergency Contact list just in case you're in class and cannot be reached. Someone will have to pick up your children early from school or daycare.

I don't mean to crush your dreams, but having been there, I really, really, REALLY think you should consider school in your own state and keep AU as the VERY LAST resort or something you do when the kids are older. For one, the poor 6 year old will have to become acclimated to a new area/school and you'll be too busy with law school (after hitting the ground running) that you'll have little time to help the kids adjust.

If your support system here is strong and can be counted on 1000% (ex: your mother) then go for it--but still proceed with extreme caution.

You know, the OP has a six year old. She probably has a pretty good idea what it's like to raise children. Wherever she lives, and whether she's working or attending school, her six year old will need to have an emergency contact, and wherever she lives she'll need to spend time with them. Of course she probably already knows that, having gotten her kids to their current ages, and having sufficient intelligence to get into a JD program.

I don't understand why people are attacking the OP. She asked a specific question about housing.

-- The single mom who suggest the Fields of Bethesda.

Who's attacking? Yours is the first negative post in this thread. Mine was practical and helpful advice.

Sure OP's raised a child in her hometown for 6 years. But that has nothing to do with relocating with said child and 2 year old to another town to attend law school. I was pointing out some things that are quite obvious but easily lost in the details as you contemplate a BIG move. The whole 'sick child' is one of those things you may not think about until it happens to you.

And academic intelligence has NOTHING to do with raising children. Some would question the wisdom of going to law school AFTER the 2 kids as a single mother. Let's be real: Law school is challenging enough as a single, childless person. Add in single parent and a 2 year old...OP has more to think about than just housing.

[Anonymous]

sbenjams wrote:hi guys,

I am a single parent soon to attend AU (coming from down south). I am having a hard time just looking at the rent prices in DC and of course my allotted room and board is based on shared housing...well I share housing with my beautiful kids that unfortunately aren't paying room mates LOL. I am hoping someone has some advice on how to afford housing in D.C or if you are aware of any income based housing around AU. Any advice would be AWESOME!


Thanks

It'll be tough, but not insurmnountable, in spite of what some of the other posters are saying.

You'll have to commute. Find a small apartment in the outer 'burbs, preferably near a Metro stop. AU is a few blocks from the Red Line, and offers a shuttle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

sbenjams wrote:hi guys,

I am a single parent soon to attend AU (coming from down south). I am having a hard time just looking at the rent prices in DC and of course my allotted room and board is based on shared housing...well I share housing with my beautiful kids that unfortunately aren't paying room mates LOL. I am hoping someone has some advice on how to afford housing in D.C or if you are aware of any income based housing around AU. Any advice would be AWESOME!


Thanks

It'll be tough, but not insurmnountable, in spite of what some of the other posters are saying.

You'll have to commute. Find a small apartment in the outer 'burbs, preferably near a Metro stop. AU is a few blocks from the Red Line, and offers a shuttle.

Tough but not insurmountable? Sounds like what everyone said. I don't see one post that suggests it's impossible and OP should absolutely not do it! Just stay down south and forget her dreams of law school and American U!

But she does need to count the costs and decide whether or not it's going to be worth it.

[Anonymous]

There are some income based apartments in Bethsda. However, I think you have to be a Montgomery County resident in order to qualify. Check the Montgomery County website.

If you have a car, I suggest you find a place to live in Montgomery County -- schools are much better than DC. There are some nice basement suites in the neighborhoods close to AU. Check Glen Echo Heights, Westmoreland Hills, Westgate, Fort Sumner, Brookmont, etc. Apartments are REALLY expensive in the areas surrounding AU. You may have to move much further out to get affordable and safe housing.

How many kids do you have?

[Anonymous]

Check out The Fields Apartments in Bethesda. They are income based, and the location is excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see one post that suggests it's impossible and OP should absolutely not do it! Just stay down south and forget her dreams of law school and American U!

Are we reading the same thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see one post that suggests it's impossible and OP should absolutely not do it! Just stay down south and forget her dreams of law school and American U!

Are we reading the same thread?

I know, I'm reading a thread where the very first reply starts off like this:

My, I wished you'd thought that one through much more before making the decision to move into DC with children and no support system in place (an assumption given that you're asking strangers on a msg board for advice on housing).

And yet, I got accused of being the first person to post anything negative.

-- The mom who posted the Field of Bethesda the first two times it came up.

[Anonymous]

Op, I think it is great you are trying to further your career by going to law school.

However.

Please do not do a JD/MBA program at AU, unless you are getting full funding (not loans). Please. At the very least drop the MA - those are a scam and will do nothing for you but put you further in debt.

AU is not a high ranked school. It is not worth the price. The job market for lawyers is never good for AU law grads, but it is particularly bad given how bad the legal job market is. It is not worth debt.

Check out abovethelaw.com

[Anonymous]

OP, I'll try to say this in the most positive (least negative?) way I can, but your circumstances present a tall order, perhaps one that can't be met. You have received some good suggestions. In addition though, I'll bring up the question of logistics. With a toddler and a school-aged child, where you live versus where they go to school/daycare, and the proximity to AU is a huge factor. I don't see the logistics working unless you live (and your kids go to school, and daycare) close to AU. On your budget it seems really unlikely that you'd be able to afford to do that, and housing subsidies in that neighborhood seem unlikely. I think it would become even more difficult in your second and third years, when you have Law Review/journal/research assistant responsibilities (which you WILL need to undertake to give your WSL JD legitimacy and more cachet in the current legal job market).

Frankly, I feel like AU's inability to provide grad school housing or family housing should be a red flag (or at least a yellow flag) to you. Let's assume the best, and say that the university would love to provide family housing, but just can't find the money or the real estate close to the campus to make that happen. To paint a darker picture, if family housing isn't a priority to the university because it focuses on supporting undergraduate student life, why would you choose to wed yourself and your kids to an institution that has no interest in supporting students like yourself, who aren't the single child-free typical law student? Either way, I think that it says something about the institution's priorities, and you might want to consider that.

All that said, if you're comfortable with you and your kids being a members of a group house, I know childless people who lived in North Arlington, VA in group houses while they attended WCL, nearly 20 years ago. Then it was an easy commute by car over the Chain Bridge during off hours, but because you'd be doing school/daycare drop-offs I don't know that your commuting experience would be the same. Best of luck to you, OP.

[Anonymous]

People wait years for section 8 housing vouchers and other income based programs. I don't see why someone should be allowed to get in line for such things when they are relocating from another state.

I'm not saying this to be mean, but you keep asking about income based housing like it really exists. It does and it doesn't. It exists but only after a long wait. That apartment in Bethesda is a great price. I don't think you could do much better than that unless you live in an (illegal) basement apartment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People wait years for section 8 housing vouchers and other income based programs. I don't see why someone should be allowed to get in line for such things when they are relocating from another state.

I'm not saying this to be mean, but you keep asking about income based housing like it really exists. It does and it doesn't. It exists but only after a long wait. That apartment in Bethesda is a great price. I don't think you could do much better than that unless you live in an (illegal) basement apartment.

There are several different types of income based apartments in this area. Section 8, public housing, and temporary housing like shelters, are for families in crisis. They often have long waiting lists and prioritize families who truly have no other choices. OP would not qualify for these programs, at least not in the short term, because of the waiting lists. Frankly, even if she did qualify, the quality of housing is so low that I would sacrifice my education before subjecting my child to it.

Moderate income set asides, where builders receive tax credits and other benefits for saving a portion of their apartments for rent at below market prices to working class and lower middle class families, are a very different thing. They aren't targeted at the poor, but at making communities affordable for people who work in them, and they generally set income guidelines at about 60% of the local median for a given family size. That's what the Fields of Bethesda is, and it seems like a good match for the OP. Arlington has plenty of buildings in this category as well, but I didn't suggest them because the commute would be hard. While there may be short waiting lists for a family who wants a specific type of apartment, there's no need for someone to feel guilty about utilizing this kind of housing as there isn't a severe housing crunch for this category in MoCo or Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Law school sucks. I can't believe we're still having this conversation.