Finding Housing
Housing, your #1 Priority
If you are lucky, your school will provide you with housing. If not, then finding a permanent place to stay should be your #1 priority. Without a permanent place to stay almost everything will be more difficult as you'll need an address for your phone, insurance, OFII validation, and more. Equally important is saving money. Hotel, AirBnB, or hostel fees add up quickly, and the sooner you can find housing the sooner you can receive CAF benefits which I explain below.
CAF Benefits
Because the assistant salary is so low, you should be eligible for housing subsidies from the Caisse d'Allocation Familiale (CAF for short). If you have school provided housing and it costs you 100€ per month or less then it may not make sense to apply. For everyone else, CAF is likely to provide substantial aide. The calculation for how much aide depends upon many factors such as your salary, your rent, and the type of housing among other factors. If you have a joint lease with others CAF may consider their salaries as well. A calculator for estimating your monthly assistance is available online.
You should attempt to apply for CAF as soon as possible even if you know your application will be incomplete as you will only receive CAF benefits starting the calendar month after you apply. Send the application early and fix mistakes later. If you manage to get housing and apply for CAF at the end of September, you'll save a substantial amount on October's rent. The CAF process is very slow so don't rent a place that you can't afford without CAF, but if you stick with it, you will eventually be reimbursed. CAF assistance can provide up to 350 € per month. Most people I know receive about 250 €.
As I said the CAF process is slow and is further limited by documents that you will need from your académie. For instance you'll need a pay stub, but I was not able to get one until December. My personal data point: I applied for CAF at the beginning of October and I received my first CAF payment at the end of January.
You should attempt to apply for CAF as soon as possible even if you know your application will be incomplete as you will only receive CAF benefits starting the calendar month after you apply. Send the application early and fix mistakes later. If you manage to get housing and apply for CAF at the end of September, you'll save a substantial amount on October's rent. The CAF process is very slow so don't rent a place that you can't afford without CAF, but if you stick with it, you will eventually be reimbursed. CAF assistance can provide up to 350 € per month. Most people I know receive about 250 €.
As I said the CAF process is slow and is further limited by documents that you will need from your académie. For instance you'll need a pay stub, but I was not able to get one until December. My personal data point: I applied for CAF at the beginning of October and I received my first CAF payment at the end of January.
School Provided Housing
When you first receive the information for your school contact, you can ask him/her if the school provides housing. Many schools provide shared apartments that are much cheaper than anything else you will find, sometimes the apartment will even be free. Some regions are more likely to provide housing. See my previous post here.
Apartments / Colocation
Searching for an apartment or a colocation in a house is probably the most common housing choice. I suggest searching for open apartments and colocation arrangements on Leboncoin.fr. In addition see if you can ask for the locations previous assistants lived or get their contact information and ask them directly. One of the other assistants in my city found her apartment this way.
Finding a place before arriving in France can be a bit difficult. I've found that French landlords are pretty terrible at responding to emails and calling will get you a much faster response.
Finding a place before arriving in France can be a bit difficult. I've found that French landlords are pretty terrible at responding to emails and calling will get you a much faster response.
Living with a Host Family
Another option you have is to live with a host family. You might also find this kind of arrangement on Leboncoin. Living with a host family can be a good way to improve your French and learn more about French culture. I personally appreciate cleanliness and I find that families tend to be cleaner than anyone my age.
Some assistants also tutor the family's kids in exchange for free or cheap rent. Though if you decide to do so, I would suggest that you negotiate the rent price and the payment / discount for tutoring separately in such a way that if you ever find the additional teaching to be too burdensome or if the family wants more of your time than you are willing to provide you can just stop on more amicable terms.
Some assistants also tutor the family's kids in exchange for free or cheap rent. Though if you decide to do so, I would suggest that you negotiate the rent price and the payment / discount for tutoring separately in such a way that if you ever find the additional teaching to be too burdensome or if the family wants more of your time than you are willing to provide you can just stop on more amicable terms.
Foyers de Jeunes Travailleurs (FJTs)
An interesting French social structure are the Foyers de Jeunes Travailleurs (FJTs). FJTs provide housing specifically to those aged 16-25 (or up to 30). FJT housing varies from apartment style, and studios, to more dormitory style housing with a shared kitchen. FJTs are generally affordable and have renter friendly policies such as not requiring payment of the rent until the end of the month, CAF benefits covered during your first month, and only requiring an 8 day notice to cancel your lease. Renter's insurance and utilities are included in the rent as well. In addition to low rents, FJT's are considered a type of social housing that allows you to benefit from an APL CAF subsidy that is greater than the normal ALS subsidy from CAF. A 400 € studio could end up costing you less than € 50 per month utilities included. FJTs will also host a number of organized events and activities that you can participate in and get to know other young people.
Of course your mileage may vary. When I lived in an FJT, most of the residents seemed to keep to themselves and weren't very sociable at events. However, I still found some very friendly French people. Cooking was a pain since I didn't have a kitchen in my room, but the money I saved meant that I could eat out more. Overall I was glad to live in my FJT, but if I were to do it again I might prefer an apartment.
Of course your mileage may vary. When I lived in an FJT, most of the residents seemed to keep to themselves and weren't very sociable at events. However, I still found some very friendly French people. Cooking was a pain since I didn't have a kitchen in my room, but the money I saved meant that I could eat out more. Overall I was glad to live in my FJT, but if I were to do it again I might prefer an apartment.
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