Since its launch in 2022, the program has expanded to offer more resources and tools to guide decision-making. 

In real estate, finding a place to live is all about “location, location, location.” For Temple students, finding the right off-campus housing also means having the right information to guide their decision-making. 

Launched in November 2022, the Best Nest Program provides resources to help students and their families make informed off-campus housing decisions within Temple’s public safety patrol zone. Through the program, students can access a property visit inspection checklist, read and leave tenant reviews and view active rental listings that identify Best Nest-certified properties. The program operates year-round, supporting students searching for housing during the academic year, summer months or while looking for a sublet. 

In 2025, nearly 6,000 beds were certified as Best Nest properties through the program. 

“We’ve seen tremendous growth of the Best Nest Program,” said Jonathan Reiter, vice president of business affairs and administration. “Supporting our students as they move off campus is an important part of their transition to adulthood. As the program evolves, our goals have stayed the same to ensure that our students have access to resources to make the decisions that are right for them.”  

In November 2023, when Temple’s Off-campus Living Office was established, the Best Nest Program moved under its oversight—further expanding its reach and visibility to help students navigate off-campus living. 

Since then, the office has continued to add new ways to educate students about their off-campus living options through virtual and in-person events, including webinars, workshops and a housing fair each semester. The program has also expanded its online tools, offering enhanced property filters and expert guidance such as safety and security checklists, suggested questions for landlords, sample student budgets, roommate considerations and more. 

“We know that more than 80% of students live off campus, so building out our resources to help them navigate their decisions for off-campus living is crucial,” said Leah Paulson Dunmire, associate director of student advocacy in Temple’s Division of Student Affairs. “Our listings site is very robust. We partner with the branch of apartments.com that serves universities, so our website has all the functions of a top rental platform.” 

To be included as a Best Nest property, a residence must be located within Temple’s patrol zone and meet specific safety, security and good-neighbor criteria. Safety requirements include a valid and current landlord license, adequate outdoor lighting that illuminates the immediate surrounding area and ground surface, and outdoor cameras with retrievable video footage. 

Landlords self-certify and provide documentation annually that they meet the criteria. Depending on which criteria they meet, properties receive either a cherry or diamond badge on their listing and are added to the participating property list on the Best Nest page. 

According to Dunmire, nearly all properties listed meet the diamond category—the highest designation, which includes cherry certification plus additional standards for residential safety and good-neighbor practices. 

Dunmire notes that increased efforts to raise awareness of the office’s resources are paying off. 

“A lot of what we do is making sure students and families know we’re here for them,” she said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in web traffic. Before the Best Nest Program launched in 2022, about 13% of all enrolled Temple students were living within Temple’s Main Campus patrol zone. That number has now grown to more than 21%, which shows the impact that the program, with the support of Public Safety’s increased patrols and communications, has had over the last three years.” 

The Best Nest program is also gaining attention beyond Temple.

“In our research, what we’re doing is quite unique and innovative,” Dunmire said. “I’ve spoken at conferences about the Best Nest Program, and other schools are interested in learning from our model to implement similar programs in their communities.” 

In addition to supporting students, Best Nest is also strengthening Temple’s engagement with its North Philadelphia neighbors. 

“A strong place-based strategy is a priority for Temple and for President Fry,” said Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs. “The landlords we work with are deeply invested in the program. A majority recertify every year and display the badges on their websites because the recognition is meaningful to them. Continuing to build these community partnerships is an important part of what we do.” 

As the program continues to grow, Dunmire emphasizes the personal support her office provides. 

“I’ve been part of implementing the Best Nest Program ever since it began,” Dunmire said. “We are in a big city, and it can be overwhelming to think about where to live. Much of our work is helping individual students and walking them through their housing options. We have a touchpoint with every single property that lists on our website and require even more documentation from those in the Best Nest Program. Our goal is to build this into the culture—so that every student who wants to live off campus knows that our official website is the first place to look.”