<p>I agree to stay away from the train station in Rome. I’m originally from Rome and my nephew worked at the homeless shelters around the station in place of Army duty. And I can tell you it is a seedy area and the hostels probably have quite a few transients that frequent in or around them. Don’t do it! Lots of drugs and crime. Very sad.
How about some sort of student housing through another university? Sometimes they do have room for other students. OR a religious pensione? usually run by nuns, they are extremely clean and albeit a bit strict with curfews at night though (sometimes they can close up the front doors at 11:00PM!) But you can check that before you commit.</p>