RhPAP Rural Housing Coordinators arrange furnished and conveniently located accommodations in rural teaching communities.
RhPAP has over 100 leased accommodations across all of Alberta which includes approximately 40 rural communities. These accommodations are primarily utilized for University of Alberta and University of Calgary medical students and residents while they train in rural family medicine for varying lengths of time. Other users of these accommodations include nursing students and other allied health students. RhPAP focuses on providing reasonable housing in these communities so the learners are comfortable and consider practicing rural in future years. This housing includes furnishings, house & kitchenware items and internet access to assist with their comfort and learning opportunities. This housing is provided on an honor system so we ask that all health professionals respect the accommodations, common landlord rules and standard cleanliness for the next rotations as they are often scheduled back-to-back for optimum cost effectiveness.
In order to provide these accommodations, RhPAP often leases apartments, condos, duplexes, townhouses or houses that are available in the communities where year-round learning is offered. Other options utilized on a short-term basis include room & board (preparing own meals), rooming houses, bed & breakfasts, etc. to best work with the communities and provide a stronger connection with the learners.
Learners are often scheduled one at a time in these accommodations but there are instances where multiple learners are assigned so sharing may be required.
Due to hygienic sensitivities, RhPAP does not provide food, linens (bedding or towels) or laundry products although there are often laundry facilities in-suite. We start each suite off with cleaning products, simple toiletries such as hand soap, toilet paper, etc. but we ask that each learner replenish the use of such products during their stay.
RhPAP housing coordinators work very hard to provide appropriate housing to learners so they have a good experience learning in rural Alberta to consider practice there one day. We also try to take into consideration special requests for immediate family, allergies, etc.