Housing Crisis Effects Students of Oxford School District

Most college students in search of housing here in Oxford are eager to find a new home to rent. With all of the new apartment buildings and neighborhoods under construction, it seems that glamor is not hard to find- especially when the parents are the ones footing the bill. Many students do not have to worry about monthly rent or even the over all cost of living, which allows developers to build expensive housing without fear.

The untold story that most people are not aware of, is what happens to the people who used to live in the newly destroyed low income housing. Recently, more and more low-income aparments are being destroyed to make room for new housing for students of Ole Miss. My close friend, and current student teacher in the Oxford School district has seen first hand how this housing crisis affects students of Oxford as well.

Due to the unaffordable apartment buildings replacing the housing for low-income households, these families are forced to relocate to more affordable areas. Often times, the more affordable areas are outside of the Oxford City Limits causing students to move school districts. Fortunately, Oxford Intermediate School has allowed students to finish out the year in the school district if they can find a ride to school every morning. Unfortunately, some students are not lucky enough to get that ride to school every day and they have to leave.

Moving school districts is very difficult on young students, especially half way through the school year. “It has been very hard watching my students finally adjust to the school, then be forced to leave before the end of the year” according to Maddie Kitchin, a current student teacher at Oxford Intermediate School. To most college students and new residence of Oxford, the new developments are happily welcomed, but to the life long residence living in low-income areas, this is a true crisis.