Kaitlyn

When Spanish teacher Kaitlyn needed a fresh start in Atlanta three years ago, she faced challenges many educators know too well—limited savings, no credit history, and the daunting task of finding affordable housing in a new city. After going through a divorce, she needed more than just a temporary place to stay. She needed a foundation to rebuild her life.

Through her church community, where she lived in solidarity with asylum seekers and helped translate immigration materials, Kaitlyn first heard about PadSplit. Church members who worked with refugees mentioned it as a stable, affordable housing solution. What started as a recommendation became the stepping stone that helped her establish her first credit score, access healthcare, and save money while teaching at Atlanta Public Schools.

Affordable weekly rent during career transition

Kaitlyn arrived in Atlanta with no credit score and limited financial resources. She was still paying court fees and student loans. The traditional rental market felt impossible—first month’s rent, last month’s rent, security deposits, and application fees that could easily drain thousands of dollars she didn’t have.

When she discovered PadSplit, she was initially skeptical.

“Parts of it seemed like too good to be true,” Kaitlyn admits. “No big deposit, no first month, no last month. Just a normal background screening and income verification, but they didn’t make me pay a $50 application fee that felt like a scam.”

The interface impressed her immediately. It felt intuitive, like using Airbnb, but designed for longer-term affordable housing. When she reached out with concerns about the application fee, PadSplit responded that same day with a waiver code.

“I said, ‘I want to sign up for PadSplit, but I don’t even think I can afford the $19 to sign up,’ and they sent me a code that same day. I just found it to be a godsend.”

Healthcare benefits during insurance gaps

When Kaitlyn transitioned from a salaried position to an hourly teaching role at Atlanta Public Schools, she temporarily lost her health insurance. PadSplit’s Teladoc benefit became a safety net during those anxious months.

“I was super anxious that I’d break my leg during the two months I didn’t have insurance,” she remembers. Instead of avoiding care, she used Teladoc for ear infections, neck pain, and therapy sessions.

“If I didn’t have the service from PadSplit, I probably would have waited till it escalated before I went to the doctor. But because I had that, I just thought, ‘I’m going to just make sure I don’t have a rare ear thing.'”

For context, an hour of therapy out-of-pocket can cost as much as a week’s rent at PadSplit—making this benefit genuinely life-changing for educators on tight budgets.

Community in Atlanta’s West End

Kaitlyn chose a PadSplit home in Atlanta’s West End, prioritizing good walking distance and at least one female housemate. The four-bedroom home became more than just affordable housing—it became a genuine community.

“I never had any issues with anyone. Everyone was respectful—it fit everything I was looking for,” Kaitlyn says.

Her three housemates developed a routine of spending time together twice weekly, whether watching movies, walking to local breweries, or exploring the neighborhood. Even neighbors were curious and supportive when she explained the PadSplit model to them as she moved in.

The practical aspects worked smoothly, too. When it came to shared expenses like dish soap, trash bags, and toilet paper, “everyone was super adult about it,” she notes. “Everyone pulled their weight very equally.”

Living in shared housing as a teacher

As a teacher, Kaitlyn needed a home environment that supported her work schedule. She used PadSplit’s map feature to strategically select a location near her school.

“I definitely felt like I could’ take phone calls or do Zoom meetings in the evenings, she explains. “My roommates were totally respectful of that—no one was blasting music.”

The privacy of her own room gave her a “quiet, little cozy sanctuary” to decompress after long days with students, while shared spaces prevented the isolation that can come with living alone.

Responsive customer support

Throughout her PadSplit experience, Kaitlyn—who holds a master’s in journalism—was consistently impressed by the responsive customer service.

“Every time I called PadSplit or sent an email, I could tell it was a real person on the other side,” she says. “That person read what I said, and I felt heard.”

In an era where many young people fear reaching out for help, Kaitlyn found PadSplit’s human-centered approach refreshing. “It’s great that there is a real company that is actually communicative. It’s not just one individual with a power trip that it can feel like working with a landlord—it’s a real team that wants to take care of you.”

Why she recommends PadSplit to teachers

Now living in her own apartment in Inman Park for $750 monthly—roughly what she paid at PadSplit—Kaitlyn credits PadSplit with helping her reach this financial stability. She wouldn’t have qualified for her current apartment without the credit history and savings she built.

She’s become an advocate for PadSplit, having referred about 10 people, including recent graduates from Georgia State, Georgia Tech, and UGA, as well as young professionals moving to Atlanta.

“I almost sound like the parent that really encourages their kid to go for community college before a four-year college,” she laughs. “Go to a PadSplit when you first move to a city before committing to something that ropes you into a year-long lease or $3,000 just to start living there.”

Her reasoning is practical: PadSplit offers flexibility to explore different neighborhoods, build credit, save money, and establish yourself before committing to a traditional lease. You can start looking for a place as early as three months before moving, or as late as a week before.

“It’s a wonderful solution to get to know different neighborhoods in a city,” she explains.

Planning for homeownership

Kaitlyn is thoughtful about what makes PadSplit different from other housing options.

“Temporary and affordable describe PadSplit, but having that also associated with home—it’s a temporary, affordable home—makes it extremely unique,” she says. “It’s not just a room. It’s very much a home.”

She acknowledges that even with higher education and no criminal record, finding housing felt like “a huge and intimidating obstacle” that was “anxiety-inducing.” The fear of facing homelessness while working full-time shouldn’t exist, but it does for many people.

“Whether you’re transitioning from maybe going into being single, or just a life transition, whether you’re moving within your own city or across the country, PadSplit will definitely help you just get on your feet.”

A helpful housing tool for any stage

The stability PadSplit provided—affordable weekly rent, healthcare access, and a supportive community—gave her the breathing room to focus on her teaching career and long-term goals. After her time at PadSplit, Kaitlyn moved into her own apartment in Inman Park, proving she could achieve the financial stability she’d worked toward.

Now, she’s choosing to move back to PadSplit.

“It definitely helped with a lot of stability, and I would recommend it to anybody,” she says. “Not just recommend it—I would highly encourage it.”

Her decision to return speaks volumes. Kaitlyn’s message is particularly emphatic for educators and anyone navigating major life changes: “PadSplit will definitely help you just get on your feet and reach your goals.” She’s working toward homeownership, hoping to buy by age 35 or 40, and she’s choosing PadSplit as her path to achieve her next goal.

Ready to build your future? Whether you’re a teacher, recent graduate, or navigating a life transition, find flexible furnished rooms at PadSplit.