b"TEMPORARY HOUSINGCaligan, who will be chairing a sessioncinema rooms, games rooms and largercost, and is a barrier to widely embracing on temporary housing at the upcomingcooking spaces, enhancing social oppor- vacation rentals for corporate moves.CERC Conference, explains that eventunities amongst house guests, she says. Williams sees even more options being more than the usual amount of advanceParticularly common in Switzerland, theintroduced in the near future, such as planning is now required. She advisesco-living model is more geared towardstiny houses and repurposed shipping relocation professionals to reread reloca- younger assignees and not necessarilycontainers converted to small but func-tion policies to ensure that alternative[seen] as suitable for those with families,tional living spaces. Even RVs or motor options being explored are allowed.Foralthough were starting to see that becomehomes might be considered for special example, there may be a clause sayingmore common, especially when they arecircumstances. We do have a partner transferees aren't allowed to build a houselocated close to international schools,that has looked into RVs or motor with relocation support, and that they areWilliams says. homes, Williams says, pointing out that only allowed to buy a house. But today,while these are not necessarily a consider-as Caligan notes, Sometimes building aCost savings and the built-in social supportation under normal circumstances, they house is the only option youhave. offered for newcomers make co-livingcan play a vital role during an emergency Other alternatives include taking advan- accommodations attractive, and theysuch as an evacuation due to a natural tage of the sharing economy, such asare expected to increase. But Williamsdisaster like an earthquake.temporary housing options offered bycautions that weve had mixed levels platforms like Airbnb. This is particu- of experience with that housing type,Much like any component of a reloca-larly the case when it comes to youngerbecause the private space tends to be ontion, climate change and political unrest, professionals being relocated. Somethe smaller side, so if youre not wanting toalong with the associated costs stemming companies are carving out support forspend a lot of time in the communal areas,from those global issues, can impact the younger graduates, seeing them as ait may not be the best fit. types of temporary housing accommoda-category of their own, says Caligan.tions available, Williams sums up. Our They may provide them with cash soWhen it comes to vacation rentals,job is to ensure our clients understand they can take advantage of some optionsWilliams says that vacation rentals asthe choices available, both new and directly, like Airbnb or renting spacean accommodation option are becomingestablished, and help their employees from a friend, that the company mightmore of a solution since apartments arefeel well informed and able to settle in not normally sanction.becoming expensive. However, the potentialquickly and focus on their business at for problems, and the need for extensivehand, setting them up for success in the While safety and security remain of thedue diligence, does not always offset the lownewlocation.utmost importance, Caligan says this allows the employee to decide what works for them and takes away potential liability from the company. It is possible that the employee may still not be able to locate accommodation, but the technology now exists to keep workers well informed, so when theyre in a position to make a decision, they can make it quickly, Caligansays.SIGNIFICANT EVOLUTIONAccording to Gemma Williams, U.K.-based manager of Corporate Housing for Sirva Worldwide, The industry has experienced a significant evolution and expansion in the types of temporary housing options available in recent years, so it is important to keep clients updated on the new choices offered as they continue to morph.For example, says Williams, co-living is a type of corporate housing that has crept up, although it is more dominant in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), while single-family units are still more common in the Americas.Williams explains that co-living accom-modations tend to take the form of purpose-built apartment blocks, with small personal living areas containing basic sleeping and cooking facili-ties attached to a shared workspace. Co-living accommodations often have Fall 2024PERSPECTIVES23"