Housing

HOW DOES TRAVEL NURSE HOUSING WORK?

The biggest concern for most nurses considering travel jobs: Where am I going to live? Our Travel & Housing FAQs explain what travel nurse housing options are, who pays for it, and how the accommodations are arranged. Find the answers to these questions and more in our FAQs.

Travel and Housing FAQs
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How Does Travel Nurse Housing Work?

The biggest concern for most nurses considering travel jobs: Where am I going to live? The Travel Nurse Academy explains what travel nurse housing options are, who pays for it, and how the accommodations are arranged. Find the answers to these questions and more in our FAQs.

Travel and Housing FAQs

We have a different approach to Travel & Housing. While we love setting up company provided housing, we also want our nurses to enjoy the perks of the tax-free housing per diem – it is a huge financial advantage of traveling.

We realize finding short-term housing can be tricky, and we want to help in a way that fits your needs! Our dedicated Travel & Housing team is available to provide housing recommendations, set up housing, give exclusive hotel and rental car discounts, answer questions, and more.

We believe you have more important things to worry about than housing, including improving lives at the hospital. Below are all the ways our team can help you feel confident about your housing situation regardless if you took company provided housing or the housing stipend.

Company Provided Housing

Sit back and allow our team to put all the work into booking housing! We will provide fully furnished accommodations for the entire length of your assignment – you only need to bring your clothes and any personal belongings.

Why take company provided housing?

  • Saves you time in researching and setting up housing.
  • Simplest way to take a travel contract – you can focus more of your efforts on patient care.
  • Eliminates upfront costs for housing.

Per Diem Assistance Program

Where most companies limit Travel & Housing assistance to company provided housing, we extend help to all our nurses, including those taking the tax-free per diem. Our team will provide housing research, discounts, answer questions, and provide advice no matter where your assignment is.

Why utilize the Per Diem Assistance Program?

  • Allows you to take full advantage of the financial benefit of the per diem without the burden of finding housing alone.
  • Saves you time researching housing.
  • Resource for questions you may have about the area, housing set up, etc.
  • Access to exclusive discounts on many hotels around the country.

Temporary Company Provided Hotel

Do you want to take advantage of the per diem, but need company provided housing the first few weeks while you get settled in? Not a problem! We can provide housing at a local hotel while you find your preferred housing to utilize the stipend on for the remainder of your assignment.

Why take a temporary company provided hotel?

  • Eliminates immediate upfront housing costs until you find something else further into your assignment.
  • Allows you to get acclimated with the area and affords you the ability to physically visit housing before committing.

Company Provided Rental Cars and Flights

Need of a way of traveling to your assignment or around your location for the duration of the assignment? Our Travel & Housing Specialists are happy to book a round trip flight to get you to and from your assignment. A rental car can be provided for all or part of an assignment if ground transportation is needed while on assignment.

Why take company provided cars or flights?

  • Hassle-free way of traveling to and from an assignment – our team will set everything up!
  • Eliminates high upfront cost of purchasing means of transportation prior to assignment.
  • Our car rentals are insured and covered for any potential damage – you don’t need to provide your own coverage.

How Much do Travel Nurses Get Paid for Housing?

Travel nurses who choose not to use the company-provided housing will receive a tax-free stipend to pay for their travel nurse housing, utilities, and furniture. The amount of the stipend is dependent on the length and location of the contract. Short-term contracts may pay more or less depending on the needs of the hospital as well as the time of the year. Hospital census and markets can fluctuate, which can also be a factor in determining how much a facility is willing to pay for travel nurses. The cost of living within a large city may be more expensive than in a rural area. Utilities and rent may be more costly in a downtown area versus living on the perimeter of a large city or small rural areas. It is essential to discuss travel nurse housing options and the stipend with our agency housing department so you can find the best fit for you.

How Much Do Traveling Nurses Pay for Housing?

Travel nurses pay different amounts for travel nurse housing based on many factors. As a travel nurse, one of the benefits of your contract may be a tax-free stipend for housing if you chose not to use the agency provided travel nurse housing. Some travel nurses may travel with their significant other, kids, or pets. These nurses may want a two-bedroom apartment versus a nurse traveling alone and only needing a one-bedroom apartment or condo. Assess your particular travel situation and consult with our agency housing department to find the best option for you and your travel needs.

4 Best Travel Nursing Places to Stay

One- or two-bedroom apartment- furnished vs. unfurnished
Townhome- furnished vs unfurnished
Long-Term Hotel- furnished
Airbnb, VRBO house/apartment- furnished

Travel Nurse Agency Housing Department

Health Carousel Travel Nursing’s housing department will help the travel nurse taking the tax-free per diem by providing the travel nurse with housing research, discounts, answering questions, and advice no matter where the assignment is. Our housing department wants to help our nurses find the best option for them and their particular situation so the travel nurse can be successful and enjoy their assignment.

Staying with Friends or Family

Depending on the assignment, travel nurses may be able to stay with local friends or family. This arrangement would allow the travel nurse to take the tax-free stipend and save money while staying for a free or reduced cost with friends or family. The travel nurse would have the support system provided by those friends or family, which can be helpful in a new work and living environment. 

Things to Consider When Finding Your Own Travel Nurse Housing

If you are starting your first travel assignment, it might be wise to take agency-placed housing. Travel nursing is full of firsts: first time in a different hospital, first time traveling, and first time being away from friends and family, so taking the stress out of finding housing might make things a bit easier  However, some travel nurses like the freedom to find their own accommodations. Travel nursing is full of wonderful new opportunities and adventures just waiting for you to take advantage of them.

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