South African student accommodation marketplace DigsConnect has received funding for its #1000digs initiative to house higher education students. The company received funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. It’s headquartered in Texas in the US, the foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to assist children living in urban poverty.
“Safe and affordable accommodations are essential to a successful university experience,” Foundation Programme Director, Dr Thashlin Govender, said in a statement. “The partnership with DigsConnect.com further allows students to be integrated into supportive communities while away from home, creating opportunity for them to focus on and succeed in their studies.”
DigsConnect and Dell Foundation partner to house NSFAS and bursary-funded students
Through the partnership with the foundation, DigsConnect is rolling out its #1000digs initiative to accommodate students from low-income backgrounds. The company has already welcomed the first cohort of 160 students who will receive assistance with accommodation. Its goal is to place over 1 000 students in housing.
The initiative targets NSFAS and bursary-funded students with a combined family income lower than R350 000 a year. The students will also receive hands-on support from the company’s team. Those signing their first lease will also benefit from a dedicated legal support line.
“Alexandria Procter and I started DigsConnect when we ourselves were students at UCT, when we were just overcome with the extent of the student housing crisis,” company COO and co-founder, Greg Ramsay-Keal said. “Helping students that need us the most speaks to the mission and vision of those founding days, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Since launching in 2018, the company has listed tens of thousands of beds across the country. It has also connected over 65 000 landlords with students.
Any NSFAS or bursary-student seeking accommodation can email DigsConnect at hello@digsconnect.com
