HOUSE Liaison Process
In accordance with the Illinois Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act, Chicago Theological Seminary is committed to supporting students that may be at-risk of housing insecurity. Staff from Student Services 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.
Who qualifies for support under the Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act?
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.
What do the HOUSE liaisons do?
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.
Who is the HOUSE liaison?
Jason Frey, Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students
What if I need housing outside of the academic year?
The HOUSE liaison will work with you to develop a plan to mitigate your housing insecurity.
How does the HOUSE liaison educate the CTS community to better support students?
The HOUSE liaison works with CTS faculty and staff to identify students experiencing homelessness and to refer those students to the liaison. The liaison is 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.
How do I submit a referral?
To submit a referral, please email [email protected].
Additional 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:
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.