Associated Students, Inc. last week passed legislation to develop a student housing Web site to provide up-to-date information and access to local rental resources.

“We needed something done immediately because of the housing crunch that we are facing at Sac State and concerns from students advocating finding a place to live before they came to the campus,” ASI President Artemio Pimentel said.

The Web site will allow students to look up the locations of different apartment complexes, contact them and get information on availability. It will provide a link between students and apartment complexes so that students will be able to find housing in advance of the school year, according to Pimentel.

“Students will not be looking for a place to live on a last minute basis, a lot of students will now be able to find a place a couple of months in advance,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel, who ran for office promising to increase affordable housing for students, hopes that the Web site will put pressure on apartment complex owners and managers around campus.

“It is necessary to develop a relationship with the apartment complexes around Sac State to make sure they are committed to serving the students,” Pimentel said.

The overall cost for maintenance of the Web site will be $350-$400 per month, and there will be no cost associated with student use of the site, according to Pimentel.

“The cost is going to be minimal for ASI, but absolutely free for students. The only cost we see having is upgrading on a monthly basis, and the university is more than willing to help us out in this situation,” Pimentel said.

The idea was promoted by the ASI Student Access Center, which is an extension to the ASI Government office, located on the first floor of the University Union.

“Not a lot of students know that you can look in the Student Access Center for apartments, but the Web site will make it easier for students and hopefully more people will utilize it,” ASI Postbaccalaureatte Director Mohamad Hamada said.

The Web site will be on a trial basis for the first six months, then ASI will evaluate its success to determine whether the service should be continued, according to Hamada.

“The Web site will be far more convenient for students,” Hamada said.

ASI hopes the site will be up by June.

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