ORANGE COUNTY, FL — Corporate off-campus housing places are not budging for UCF students who are unable to pay rent, after being told to return home.
University of Central Florida student, Monique Trevett, told News 96.5 WDBO her family has been forced to charge her monthly $620 rent to credit cards, while her Campus Crossings apartment sits empty.
Campus Crossings is one of several UCF-affiliated complexes near the University’s main campus.
“All these apartment complexes exploit students and UCF by using the UCF name and colors and claim affiliation, to gain residents but don’t support the students or UCF during times of crisis, such as COVID-19,” said Trevett.
Trevett’s younger brother was also living at Campus Crossings when they returned home on March 16th. Trevett was laid off from her job since the pandemic began.
“I wasn’t expecting to go more into debt upon graduating from college. It’s going to be very frustrating to have to pay out of pocket for my brother and I,” Trevett said.
Following Governor Ron DeSantis' executive order March 17th, UCF shifted all of its classes online through the fall semester. In response, Interim President Thad Seymour wrote a letter to off-campus housing managers:
“Please consider granting early lease terminations and flexibility with rent payment plans, security deposits, and guarantees.”
On April 3rd, two state lawmakers, Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) wrote to the governor urging him to issue an executive order to allow students enrolled in-state colleges, public and private universities, the right to end their lease, during this State of Emergency.
“We have had conversations with the Governor’s staff, and they continue to look into the issue,” Eskamani told News 96.5 WDBO. “We have heard of no cooperation from these apartment complexes, they refuse to allow students to break their leases,” Eskamani said.
Rep. Smith says students are especially vulnerable.
“Many of them don’t qualify for a federal stimulus check that came from the CARES Act because they are dependent on their parent’s tax filings status.”
This isn’t just an issue that affects Knights, Rep. Smith noted.
“We have heard from students and parents across the state of Florida, many of them who attend FSU, UF, and USF….They need protection from Governor DeSantis through an executive order.”
UCF’s Board of Trustees approved a plan to refund housing costs to students living on campus.
Campus Crossings did not respond to our inquiry.