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Housing in Toronto

Finding the right place to live is an important part of your student experience. OCAD U does not have its own residence, but there are several nearby housing options to consider.

Residence-Style Housing

For students looking for a residence-style experience, these privately-run student residences offer amenities, furnished accommodations, and a community of students:

Address: 111 Carlton St. Toronto, ON M5B 2G3   

Contact: https://live-parkside.ca/contact 

Distance from OCAD U: 1.6 km  

Book a Tour 

Watch a webinar about Parkside

Go to website

 

About Parkside: 
A purpose-built student residence located in downtown Toronto, designed for domestic and international students. Enjoy state-of-the-art accommodations with a full dining program, 24-hour fitness centre, dramatic study & lounge spaces, and an active social calendar – all in a perfect location in the heart of the city.  

 

Community features 

  • New all-day, unlimited dining program
  • 24-hour fitness centre with private yoga space
  • Dramatic study and social space overlooking Carlton Street
  • Social lounge with fireplace
  • Recreation center with billiards and ping pong
  • 24-hour secure entry, electronic key-fob controls
  • Secured bicycle storage and on-site repair station
  • Community kitchens
  • Specialty Lounges: Lego room, Create room, Dance studio
  • Multimedia room with available gaming consoles
  • New card-operated laundry center
  • Outdoor activity space
  • Across from Allan Gardens
  • Private meeting and study rooms
  • Social events for residents and friends
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
  • 24-hour on-site management
  • Underground in-building parking available
  • TTC streetcar stops outside the front door 

 

Residence features 

  • Private, furnished bedrooms
  • Shared bathroom and living room
  • Fully furnished
  • High speed Wi-Fi internet
  • Hydro and water included
  • In-suite heating and air-conditioning controls
  • Electronic locks and locking bedrooms
  • Monitored fire alarms and sprinklers
  • Per-person contracts
  • Roommate matching system 

(Formerly Campus Common) 
Address: 50 Gerrard St. E. Toronto, ON M5B 1J6  
Email: avant [at] peakmade.com 
Distance from OCAD U: 1.3 km  

Book a Tour 

Watch a webinar about Avant

Go to website 

About Avant:
Located at the corner of Church & Gerrard with major attractions surrounding, including the Eaton Center, the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, and more! Our student community is based in the heart of the city and welcomes students from all over the world. With 12 floors of renovated, fully furnished units & a variety of amenities, Avant is a modern residence that houses 342 students each year. 

Rental rates include: 

  • High-speed Wi-Fi
  • Furnished units (double-bed, desk, kitchen table/seating, etc.)
  • Full-sized kitchens with stainless-steel appliances (dishwasher, stoven/oven, fridge/freezer, etc)
  • Access to our renovated amenities (Game Lounge, Café, Courtyard, Gym, Study Lounge, Bike Room)
  • Intercom, parcel room and laundry access via mobile apps
  • CCTV surveillance cameras on all floors/common areas, on-site security and management team
  • Resident programming and outings 

(Formerly Campus Common) 
Address: 50 Gerrard St. E. Toronto, ON M5B 1J6  
Email: avant [at] peakmade.com 
Distance from OCAD U: 1.3 km  

Book a Tour 

Watch a webinar about Avant

Go to website 

About Avant:
Located at the corner of Church & Gerrard with major attractions surrounding, including the Eaton Center, the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, and more! Our student community is based in the heart of the city and welcomes students from all over the world. With 12 floors of renovated, fully furnished units & a variety of amenities, Avant is a modern residence that houses 342 students each year. 

Rental rates include: 

  • High-speed Wi-Fi
  • Furnished units (double-bed, desk, kitchen table/seating, etc.)
  • Full-sized kitchens with stainless-steel appliances (dishwasher, stoven/oven, fridge/freezer, etc)
  • Access to our renovated amenities (Game Lounge, Café, Courtyard, Gym, Study Lounge, Bike Room)
  • Intercom, parcel room and laundry access via mobile apps
  • CCTV surveillance cameras on all floors/common areas, on-site security and management team
  • Resident programming and outings 

Other Housing Options

Beyond residence-style housing, there are many rental options in Toronto, including shared apartments, student rentals, and homestays.

Co-op housing offers a residence-like experience in smaller or mid-sized apartment buildings, houses or townhouses. 

You'll live alongside students from various post-secondary schools in Toronto, with a built-in sense of community and security. Amenities may be included, and meal plans are typically not included. 

 

Neill-Wycik Cooperative 

Address: 96 Gerrard St. E. Toronto, ON M5B 1G7  
Contact: 416-977-2320  
Toll Free (North America): 1-800-268-4358   
Distance from OCAD U: 1.4 km 

Neill-Wycik is a 700+ room co-operative in the heart of downtown Toronto. We are not affiliated with any one particular school, so students attending any College or University in the city can become a member. During the months of May through August we also operate as a summer hotel, offering affordable accommodation to budget conscious travelers from around the world. 

Amenities 

  • Roof decks
  • Hanke Lounge
  • Games Room
  • Sauna
  • Party Room
  • TV Room
  • Laundry Rooms
  • Computer Lab
  • Photo lab
  • Sewing Room
  • Weight Room 

 

Campus Co-Op 

Address: 395 Huron St. Toronto, ON M5S 2G5  
Contact: 416-979-2161  
Distance from OCAD U: 1.8 km 

Campus Co-op is a self-funded, student led housing co-operative located in the heart of downtown Toronto, with a variety of accommodation within walking distance of George Brown College, OCAD U, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), and University of Toronto (St. George Campus). 

We provide students not only with a place to live, but with the opportunity to create and sustain a non-profit organization that upholds values of community, responsibility and awareness. Although our focus is and will remain supplying students with affordable housing, there is much more to a Co-op than paying rent on time. In essence, the Co-op is what we make of it: it gives us the opportunity to actually make a difference in the way we live. 

Home sharing options allow you to stay within someone's house during your studies. Staying with a family or an older adult will provide you with companionship and is typically affordable. 

 

Canada HomeShare 

Contact: toronto [at] canadahomeshare.com (toronto[at]canadahomeshare[dot]com) 
Phone: Call 1 (800) 786-9773 ext 2 

Canada HomeShare is a program run by HelpAge Canada that matches older adults (55+) with a spare room in their home who would benefit from receiving additional income and/or help around the home with university and college students seeking affordable housing.  
 

 

Home Stay Services 

A popular choice of accommodation if you are from outside Toronto or Canada. Home Stay users enjoy the hospitality of a host family and often get help adjusting to a new lifestyle, a new neighborhood, transit system and more. 

Studio on Richmond 
Address: 199 Richmond St. West Toronto, ON M5V 0H4 
Email: oakwoodamericas [at] oakwood.com (oakwoodamericas[at]oakwood[dot]com) 
Telephone: 866-730-8916 

Distance from OCAD U: 800m 

Studio on Richmond doesn't only offer space and comfort, but also practicality. This conveniently located building prides itself on offering maximum usable space for today's living routine along with in suite laundry facilities and gourmet kitchens. 

IN UNIT 

  • Air Conditioning
  • Cable TV
  • Fully-equipped kitchen
  • In-unit washer and dryer 

COMMUNITY 

  • Fitness centre/gym
  • Free parking
  • Outdoor grilling/BBQ area 

The following are online community pages where students can seek or list housing options, find a roommate, sublet, and more.  

Housing Support

Navigating the rental market can be challenging, we are here to help! 

 

 

Note: OCAD U staff do not inspect any of the external homes or housing options, and do not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any information provided by third-party websites. It is your responsibility to judge their suitability and location. OCAD U cannot and does not accept responsibility for housing arrangements made by persons using any of these services.

HOUSING RESOURCES

Indigenous Student Support

Native Youth Resource Centre - Info Session
The NYRC supports Indigenous community members aged 16-29 with housing advocacy, viewings, first/last month’s rent supports, acquiring furniture, viewings, tenant rights and more!
Link to Native Youth Resource Centre - Info Session

Moving to Toronto or living outside of the city? If you would like assistance with locating a housing coordinator or resources in your area, please contact the ISC's Student Success Coordinator Reagan Kennedy (rkennedy [at] ocadu.ca (rkennedy[at]ocadu[dot]ca)) to set up a virtual appointment.

Link to Indigenous Student Centre Supports

Indigenous community members ages 25+ can receive support with housing, holistic wellness, service navigation and financial support. 

Link to Native Canadian Centre of Toronto

Wigwamen is a non-profit and charitable organization, is Ontario’s oldest and largest urban Aboriginal housing provider. 

Link to Wigwamen
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Note: With the exception of OCAD U at Parkside, OCAD U staff do not inspect any of the external homes or housing options, and do not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any information provided by third-party websites. It is your responsibility to judge their suitability and location. OCAD U cannot and does not accept responsibility for housing arrangements made by persons using any of these services.