By Róise Collins

A LEAFLET drop organised by the Students’ Union at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal has led to a surge in offers of spare rooms from local homeowners, with close to 200 applications received ahead of the new academic year.

The appeal by the university urged homeowners across the county to register their spare rooms under the national Rent-a-Room scheme, an initiative which aims to relieve pressure on student accommodation while also giving hosts the opportunity to earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free.

Behind the campaign is the university’s newly appointed Welfare and Equality Officer, Nasya Mc Jyn Lgelige. She took up the role in July and has hit the ground running.

Nasya told the Donegal News that the appeal began slowly, with posters placed in shops and on noticeboards across the county.

But applications were only trickling in and as the academic year grew closer the team at ATU decided to take a more traditional approach – leaflet drops to homes near both the Letterkenny and Killybegs campuses.

“There has been such a good response, we have had so many people reach out.”

“We get a new application from a landlord every single day,” Nasya said.

As of yesterday afternoon, 169 homeowners had completed the landlord application form.

“It has been great because we understand you can’t reach everybody by putting a poster in a shop,” she said.

“But if you have something dropped through your door with the number and email to contact, it’s more accessible for people to reach out.

“And it has really worked.”

The applications have been sorted through and compiled and added to an excel spreadsheet which is accessible to all students. It has the contact details and addresses of everyone who has offered up a spare room in their home.

The accommodation drive has already helped ease pressure on the Students’ Union, which regularly supports students struggling to find somewhere to live.

The housing shortage has been particularly challenging for first years and those relocating from other parts of the country.

Nasya, pictured below, shared the experience of one student who had travelled all the way from Kilkenny in search of accommodation.

“You feel that sense of pressure because you want to help, especially when someone has travelled almost six hours,” she said.

“Thankfully she found suitable accommodation on the list.”

The applications received so far have come from every corner of the county with offers from homeowners in Killygordon and Ramelton to Bundoran and Lifford.

“It really is dependent, because the Killybegs campus needs people too,” Nasya, explained.

“Some landlords might be hesitant to apply because they think they live far away, but their home might be suitable.

“There’s always something for someone. You’ll find some students might drive or some might be apprentices.

“Anything is better than nothing.”

The Students’ Union is also preparing for an expected surge in demand after Leaving Cert results are released this Friday.

“There will be another big wave,” Nasya said.

For incoming students and their families, Nasya offered a word of advice:

“Go through the accommodation list, because there is a lot of names there and a lot of people offering,” she said.

Students or parents with housing queries can visit atusudonegal.ieaccommodation, where they will find a list of available rooms and further support for transitioning into third-level education.