Lakes Region Community College offers student housing options

LACONIA — Housing options in New Hampshire's popular Lakes Region can be hard to find and expensive, given the consistent influx of visitors over the course of the year. Lakes Region Community College has a new option for students and others that use the school's facilities and require short term housing.

LRCC can now offer a full residential life experience to its students and will be welcoming them to brand new, fully furnished apartments just a mile off campus this fall. In addition, some of these apartments will be available for use by businesses working with LRCC on training sessions or retreats.

The brand new building includes 40 two and three bedroom apartments with full kitchens and common areas. Resident assistants and a residence director will live among the students and design educational programming aimed at creating memorable experiences and supportive communities for the LRCC residents. The building incorporates security features including cameras in hallways, common areas and the exterior of the building. Campus safety staff regularly walk the building, and provide important information programming for students, such as substance abuse education.

"The marketplace for rental housing is challenging in our region, and short terms stays can also be quite expensive. Having quality, affordable housing to serve students as part of the residential life experience will help us attract and retain students who did not want to commute or could not find or afford other housing options," said Nicholas Walton, residence director for LRCC.

In addition to student housing, some apartments will be reserved for guests of the college. LRCC regularly runs and hosts training programs for businesses and can now provide short-term housing options for multi-day events.

"We're really pleased to offer the housing alternative to our current and future corporate partners and believe it will be a popular option for those who work with us on multi-day training sessions. We've set aside a few of our apartments for this purpose and can make others available on a space needed basis," Walton added.

To date, 70 students have reserved apartments for the fall semester. Over the summer, the apartments have been used by actors who participated in the Winnipesaukee Playhouse and by seasonal workers who came to the area through the J-1 Visa Exchange Program run by the U.S. Department of State.

Students can learn more about housing options and reserve housing online. Businesses that want to plan training programs and consider the housing option should contact Elizabeth Lawton in Student Affairs at elawton@ccsnh.edu or 366-5299.