Deputy Editor Lucy Warmington takes a look at the direct impact of the housing crisis on UCD students' mental health and college experiences.
As September marks the beginning of a new academic year in UCD, 35,000 students will return to campus to continue pursuing the ‘best years of their life’. However, for far too many, Summer was spent scrolling the pages of Daft.ie and Facebook housing groups, as students scrambled to find accommodation in Dublin - the EU’s most expensive rental market.
Year after year, stories arise of students facing extortionate rent prices, nightmare landlords, dilapidated apartments, and as a last resort, gruelling commutes. As the housing crisis is exacerbated by the current cost-of-living crisis, an increasing number of students are forced to endure these long commutes to college, or continue living at home well into their 20s - often both. The financial burden the housing crisis brings to young people and their families is well documented. Most students now work part-time jobs on top of their studies, with a growing number working more than 30 hours per week.
young people’s opportunities to socialise, to begin relationships, and to join clubs and societies are hindered, and there has been a detrimental impact on students’ mental health and personal development as a result.
In November 2023, the UCD Students’ Union conducted their annual Student Accommodation survey. It aims to gather information on the experiences and challenges of UCD students in securing suitable accommodation. With over 1,800 students filling out this survey, the responses give an insight into the social impact of the housing crisis on UCD students; young people’s opportunities to socialise, to begin relationships, and to join clubs and societies are hindered, and there has been a detrimental impact on students’ mental health and personal development as a result.
The search process for housing itself fills students with a collective dread, anxiety, and extreme stress. Returning students fear they will not find anywhere to live, and international students fear being forced to return home and drop out of their studies. One international student from the United States shared their concerns for incoming international students, stating that “finding housing has been by far the most stressful part of my academic experience, and I would advise other American students against applying to programs at UCD specifically, because it’s so hard to find housing. The combination of financial stress, uncertainty and difficulty in finding housing is extremely stressful.”
I was in constant floods of tears any time it was mentioned. It really left me in a bad place.
Over 49% of student respondents reported that finding housing, and the state of their current accommodation, has had a negative impact on their mental health. For one student, after failing to secure housing in UCD, the mounting pressure of the accommodation search was taking a toll. They shared, “looking for accommodation elsewhere in Dublin made my anxiety the worst it has been in over a year, I was in constant floods of tears any time it was mentioned. It really left me in a bad place.”
More so than anyone else, these students are aware of the intergenerational impact the housing crisis is having; unable to find cheaper alternatives, 62% of respondents are relying on parents and family members to contribute towards their rent. However, this does not come lightly to students; they recognise that these costs are not something their families can necessarily absorb, with one student saying “I constantly feel stressed and guilty about the amount my parents contribute to my rent.”
The result: a worryingly lonely and isolated demographic of students attending UCD.
For students who live far away, or are working long hours to cover living expenses, their social life suffers. There is simply not enough time in the day to hang around campus for a society or club event when your commute is more than an hour long. Many return to family homes, with the Irish Times revealing in 2023 that 68% of Irish people in their late 20s still live with their parents. Many more return to empty flats, uncomfortable environments, and incompatible roommates. Furthermore, students simply do not have the budget leftover for Dublin’s costly social scenes. The result: a worryingly lonely and isolated demographic of students attending UCD. One student notes that, for them, a social life has become a “luxury”, with another stating “It’s lonely. It’s not easy to make plans to meet up with people that don’t cost money. I’m not able to [get home] after a night out, so I don’t go.”
Those who do find accommodation on or near campus feel lucky to have done so; their accommodation has not come at the expense of their social life. However, throughout the 1,800 respondents, the overwhelming sentiment is one of despair at a housing crisis that permeates every aspect of their college years. The housing crisis has created a mental health crisis. One respondent, perhaps more brazen than the others, states “my ‘student experience’ is painted with anger at UCD and our government.”
All student responses were taken from the full dataset of responses from UCD Students’ Union ‘Student Accommodation Survey 2024’.
UCD offers various services and resources to support students struggling with their mental health. These services are available on Mental Health Support UCD. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, The Samaritans offer a free 24-hour helpline available at 116 123.