Resources for Students Experiencing Housing Insecurity

The Office of the Student Affairs provides support to students experiencing the continuum of housing insecurity. To connect with a staff member, please complete our Basic Needs Assistance Form.

Basic Needs Assistance Form
Campus Policies

On-Campus Break Housing

Housing and Residence Life has one residence hall, Studebaker East that is open 365 days a year. Students who anticipate that they will need housing when classes are not in session and/or the University is closed (Thanksgiving Break, Semester Break and Spring Break) should consider Studebaker East as their permanent housing assignment. If an empty room is available in Studebaker East, it may be used for temporary housing during breaks for a fee. Students currently living in a residence hall may work with their hall director on break housing logistics.

Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services can assist students with criminal law, all areas of civil law, including landlord/tenant, contracts, consumer, employment, tort, debtor, creditor, probate, real estate, traffic tickets, and family matters. They can also provide students with legal reference materials and fill-in-the blank forms for leases, subleases, housing inspection forms, and roommate’s agreements.

Students facing eviction or challenges with property owners and/or leases can consult with Student Legal Services. Your conference with a practicing attorney at Student Legal Services is strictly confidential. 

Understanding Housing Insecurity in College

Students experience housing insecurity on a continuum. Students may experience homelessness, wherein they lack fixed, regular and adequate residence. This includes students who have no other option, but to:

  • Couch surf or dorm surf, this describes when student who has no other choice but to find people who will allow them to stay for short periods of time in their dorm room, apartment, or house 
  • Live in a vehicle 
  • Live in a shelter 
  • Live in a hotel/motel 
  • Live in public spaces, for example on the street, in parks, campgrounds, and other outdoor spaces 
  • Live in locations not meant for human habitation, for example renting a shed, garage, or storage unit 

A student may also experience housing instability, meaning they have an unstable housing situation that will not remain fixed, regular, or adequate. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Students who live in a residence hall, but do not have anywhere to live during break
  • Students who live off campus, but maybe behind on rent and face eviction
  • Students who live off campus who have a roommate leave or an event occur that results in eviction or loss of housing

Students who have faced recent housing instability, within the past three years, but now have stable housing may continue to need support, even though they have secured a stable housing arrangement. Whereas, being housing secure means that a student has access to fixed, regular, and adequate housing and can reliably cover the expenses.