News

The residents of Advanced Student Housing (ASH) apartments, an LLC managed through the Bloomsburg University Foundation (BUF), and Honeysuckle Apartments, which are owned and operated through and agreement with BU’s student Government Association also offered refunds to their residents who were displaced due to the pandemic.

“We feel it is our duty to offer these refunds for our residents,” said Jerome Dvorak, BUF executive director. “We adhere to the same guidelines as the university to provide safety and affordability, so we should also provide the same benefits and offers as they did to students living on campus as a result of this crisis. We will be offering the same deal in the fall if a similar situation should arise.”

Student residents of these apartments were given the option to terminate their leases early with no penalty and were issued cash refunds and/or reallocated funds that will be applied to their rent for the upcoming fall semester.

“When I first learned we weren’t coming back this semester, I was frustrated. I was really worried that we would lose all the money we paid for our apartment,” said ASH resident Victoria Boland, a junior from Chest Springs, PA. “I think it's great that they were willing to work with us. A lot of my friends who are staying in other off-campus housing didn’t have the same opportunity and didn't get any refunds from their landlords.”

“I am very thankful for this opportunity to move out with no financial penalty. As a student worker whose job is closed, this will greatly relieve my financial burden during this uncertain time.” Erin Newhart, a junior from Benton, PA and Honeysuckle Apartments resident.

“While it’s sad our residents had their time in Bloomsburg cut short this semester, we’re happy that we’ve been able to offer them some peace of mind during these uncertain times,” said Honeysuckle Student Apartments manager Diane King. “We look forward to having our Huskies back in the Bloomsburg community with us this fall.”

Honeysuckle apartments were built in 2005 on the location of the former Sesame Street Apartments in order to offer BU students safe and affordable off-campus housing. In 2019, the BU Foundation purchased several properties to do the same for BU students who were looking for off-campus housing alternatives located near campus and in downtown Bloomsburg. As part of their affiliations with BU, ASH and Honeysuckle apartments adhere to the same safety regulations and flexibility on costs for students as university student housing.