NW Portland International Hostel
A great alternative to a PELA homestay is to stay at the NW Portland International Hostel!
This award-winning hostel is located within walking distance of downtown Portland in the Nob Hill neighborhood in Northwest Portland, a fun place to live and explore!
The hostel is an easy commute to PELA on the Portland Streetcar or MAX train.
The hostel has many private rooms (with shared bathroom), with options for single or double occupancy. At the hostel there are common areas, outdoor gardens, a courtyard, and a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals.
They also have 24-hour live-in staff ready to help you whenever you need assistance.
Renting your own Apartment
If you want to rent your own apartment, here are some websites which you can use to find apartments in Portland.
You can download PELA's "How to Rent an Apartment in Portland" flier. This is a PDF flier providing information for students looking to rent an apartment in Portland.
Below are the most commonly-used websites for PELA students to find apartments or home rentals in Portland.
Portland Neighborhoods – Where should you live?
You may also want to learn more about different neighborhoods in Portland at https://portlandneighborhood.com/portland-neighborhoods/ to find out what you can enjoy in each neighborhood and what they offer!
Here are some neighborhoods that are overall good neighborhoods for housing (for safety, transportation, & amenities):
Northeast Portland
- Irvington
- Rose City Park
- Grant Park
- Alameda
- Sabin
- Laurelhurst
Southeast Portland
- Sellwood-Moreland
- Eastmoreland
- Reed
- Parkrose Heights
There are neighborhoods in North Portland and Southwest Portland which are also nice places to live, but they can be harder for students because they are not as convenient for public transportation.
Also, you might find good housing near downtown Portland or Northwest Portland, but we recommend only looking there if you are comfortable living in a ‘very urban’ environment.
Some students even find housing in the cities of Beaverton (west of Portland), Gresham (east of Portland), and Milwaukie (south of Portland), but you want to be careful to find a home close to a MAX train station.
Renting a Private Room in a Shared Apartment or House
You might also consider searching for a ‘shared house/apartment’. There are several websites that list those:
With a shared house or apartment, you have a private room in a house or apartment, and share the rest of the space with a host or other renters. You would be responsible for your own food, and may be asked to also help pay some utility costs.
A shared house or apartment is a good option instead of a homestay, because you will often be sharing a home with an American and improving your English conversation!