At universities nationwide, homelessness is having an impact on student retention rates, which affects students’ ability to matriculate and earn a college degree.
According to the Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS) Office in the Division of Student Affairs, some UNC Charlotte students are experiencing housing insecurity, with some reporting living in their cars or couch-surfing at the homes of friends and family members.
To assist those students, SASS and the Office of Housing and Residence Life have partnered to create an on-campus housing solution for students displaced from homes/apartments or who are experiencing a significant housing crisis.
The Student Emergency Housing Program (SEHP) was developed to address reported barriers to students’ personal and academic success. The program is not a substitute for a long-term housing, but it does provide short-term emergency housing for up to 60 days for $35 a night. Maple Hall will be used for the program.
Larry Gourdine, associate dean and director of SASS, stated, “Having the Student Emergency Housing Program at UNC Charlotte shows a commitment to be a part of addressing how housing insecurity is affecting our students. The University is dedicated to and invested in the long-term and short-term success of our students, and the SEHP is a way for us to remove barriers that could impact a student’s ability to be successful.”
Read More about the on-campus housing solution at UNC Charlotte.
Originally published March 12, 2019.