In accordance with the Illinois Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act, the University of Chicago is committed to supporting students that may be at-risk of housing insecurity. Staff from Student Support Services and Student Case Management, in collaboration, have been designated as HOUSE Liaisons to support students by connecting them to on and off campus resources and removing barriers to encourage persistence and completion.
The HOUSE Liaison Process
The Higher Education Housing and Opportunies Act supports “students experiencing homelessness” or “homeless student[s]” defined as: “An individual enrolled in an institution who lacks or is at imminent risk of lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose parent or legal guardian is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and care and includes a homeless individual as defined under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Likewise, HOUSE liaisons support "student(s) in care," which is any person regardless of age who is or was under the care and legal custody of the department of children and family services.
HOUSE liaisons serve as a liaison for students experiencing housing insecurity by connecting them to on and off campus resources. This includes but is not limited to: area Dean of Students, Office of the Bursar, Office of Financial Aid, Housing and Residence Life, social service agencies, apartment rental services, and shelters. For additional information on what happens when a student is referred to a HOUSE liaison, refer to the HOUSE liaison process above.
- Tania Boisson Sainvilier, Assistant Dean of Students in the University and Assistant Director of Student Case Management
- Thomas “Lee” Cravens II, Assistant Dean of Students in the University and Assistant Director of Student Case Management
- Cindy Agustin, Director of Student Support Services
To submit a referral, please click here: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofChicago&layout_id=59
For all students the HOUSE liaison will work with you to develop a plan to mitigate your housing insecurity. For undergraduate students in The College, enrolled students who are deemed as a “homeless student” or “student experiencing homelessness” during a designated academic break (e.g., winter & summer breaks) may be eligible for on-campus housing should the residence halls be open.
The HOUSE liaisons work with UChicago faculty and staff to identify students experiencing homelessness and to refer those students to the liaison. The liaisons are also responsible for gathering and reporting key data on this student population to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, including the graduation and retention rate and the number of homeless students and students in care enrolled at UChicago each year.
To submit a referral, please click here: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofChicago&layout_id=59
Below is a list of campus and community resources available to support students who are experiencing homelessness or do not have stable housing.
UChicago Resources:
UChicago HELP is a collaborative program within Campus and Student Life made up of a robust set of systems and practices, including some resources that are available 24/7, that support and care for our students. UChicago HELP assists students in navigating academic and personal difficulties, while also ensuring that University community members (such as faculty, staff, and students) can connect students needing help with assistance in a timely manner.
UChicago HELP is comprised of the Deans-on-Call, the Sexual Assault Deans-on-Call, the Bias Education and Support Team (BEST), Student Case Management, and High Profile Events.
Emergency Assistance Programs:
Emergency Assistance Programs include Emergency Grants, Living Expense Advances, and Emergency Loans. Specific definitions, award Information, eligible circumstances for each type of assistance can be found here. All Emergency Assistance Programs can be applied for at my.UChicago.edu. Go to Finances -> MyAccount-> Emergency Assistance.
Students are eligible to receive limited meal swipes during the academic year to be used across the UChicago Dining Commons. This is intended to be short-term support for students experiencing food insecurity. If you or a student you know could benefit from longer-term support, please contact the Center for College Student (ccss@uchicago.edu) or Student Support Services (studentsupport@uchicago.edu) to explore additional options.
Local Community Resources:
If you or a student you know is seeking information about local area shelters, drop-in centers, food pantries, and other resources, below you will find searchable guides with customizable filters, including zip code and eligibility requirements.
Streetlight Chicago is a project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless that provide up-to-date information on critical resources like shelter, food, and health care.
Findhelp's network connects people seeking help (Seekers) and verified social care organizations that serve them. Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.