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What housing assistance is available for students ?
When you start college, finding good housing while sticking to a tight budget can quickly become complicated. Fortunately, there are several student housing assistance programs available to help tenants reduce their rent, whether they live in a university residence, a shared apartment, or social housing.
At GSA Résidences, we assist each applicant in their efforts to obtain housing benefits, particularly through the CAF (Family Allowance Fund).
The main types of student housing assistance
APL: Personalized Housing Assistance
APL is the most popular form of financial assistance among students. It is paid by the CAF (or by the MSA for agricultural students), based on several criteria:
- Your income (according to your tax household)
- The amount of rent
- The type of housing: subsidized housing, social housing or not, residential home
- Your professional and personal situation (for example, if you are a scholarship holder or a foreign student)
At GSA Résidences, most of our housing is subsidized, which allows you to benefit from assistance such as APL or ALS.
APL is calculated based on the composition of your household, the social nature of the housing, its geographical location, and the calculation method applied by the CAF.
ALS: Social Housing Allowance
If you are not eligible for APL, you may be eligible for ALS. This applies to tenants of non-subsidized housing, under certain conditions. It is also awarded by the CAF and calculated based on your rent, household composition, and income.
💡 Roommates or subtenants may also be eligible for this assistance, provided their name appears on the lease.
How do I apply for student housing assistance ?
You can apply for APL directly on the CAF website (caf.fr). As an applicant, you will need to provide a number of supporting documents, such as:
- A rent certificate provided by your landlord
- A rent receipt
- Your residence permit (for foreign students)
- A copy of your rental agreement
- Your tax notice
- A declaration of your household composition
📍 At GSA Résidences, we provide you with all the documents you need to apply for housing allowance, and we help you run an APL simulation to estimate the amount of assistance you are eligible for.
Good to know: effect on family benefits
When you receive housing allowance, it may have an impact on your parents’ family benefits (such as child benefits or certain types of assistance related to the family nature of the household). It is therefore important to run a simulation and discuss it with your family.
Special cases: shared accommodation, Crous, young workers
- Each roommate can apply for APL, provided that each has an individual lease.
- Students living in CROUS university residences or young workers’ hostels can also apply for the allowance.
- If you are in a work-study program or internship, your professional situation will be taken into account when calculating APL.
Why choose GSA Résidences?
By choosing GSA Résidences, you will have access to :
- Rental accommodation eligible for personalized housing assistance
- A safe and suitable environment for your studies
- Support with administrative procedures
- Rents adapted to student budgets, without excessive security deposits
- Solutions for students receiving grants, young workers, and students with reduced mobility
Our residences are located close to campuses and offer excellent value for money, while complying with the standards of decency required by law.
In summary
Student housing assistance such as APL or ALS is essential for reducing rent costs and facilitating access to housing. Whether you are sharing an apartment, living in a private residence, or in social housing, there are solutions tailored to your personal situation.
👉 At GSA Résidences, we help you obtain assistance, put together your CAF application, and run an APL simulation to optimize your housing budget.