SOS hosts: emergency housing for students, fast

Sometimes a student cannot wait for the usual search for a room. For those situations Hospi Housing runs an SOS network: over 250 SOS hosts and host families across the Netherlands with space available for emergencies.

What is an SOS host?

An SOS host is someone who has told us they have space available for emergencies. Think of a student who:

• has been scammed while looking for a room;
• is in urgent need because there is no housing to be found;
• does not feel safe where they currently live.

Why this network exists

Over the past few years we noticed how many people with a spare room want to help someone else. For some of them, long-term rental turned out not to be an option: they did not have permission for it, or they did not want to rent out for a long period themselves. That group is a natural fit for the SOS network, so we made it possible for them to sign up as an SOS host — ready for the moment something goes wrong.

How does an educational institution request an SOS host?

Students and other house hunters can approach us directly, but most requests reach us through our partner institutions: universities, universities of applied sciences and other education providers we work with.

1. You send us an email explaining the situation, with information about the student involved.
2. We search our network for available SOS hosts in the location where the student is looking.
3. We put the student and the SOS host in touch and guide the match.

The more we know in advance, the faster and more precisely we can search. So do include at least the town or city, the preferred start date, and why it is urgent.

Most valuable in peak periods

Pressure on the housing market is highest around the start of the academic year, and that is exactly when most emergencies arise. Those peaks are when the SOS network matters most: there is almost nothing available through the regular route, while the need is at its greatest.

Using the SOS network

Does your institution already work with Hospi Housing? Get in touch with your regular contact person — they will connect directly with our team.

Not working with us yet? Our partnerships page explains what we do for educational institutions. We would be glad to talk.