Home Life REsources
Image: Students walking on campus in the fall
The aim of this page is to connect students with resources that revolve around home life. This means resources for students looking for housing both on and off campus, homeless shelters and food banks, steps on how to apply for food stamps, etc.
ACCESS: ACCESS is dedicated to addressing the plight of homeless women and children in our community.
Alliance for Children and Families: We, Alliance for Children & Families, Inc. —through direct services, advocacy, education, prevention, intervention, supportive services, and the development and implementation of innovative and productive programming—are committed to empowering children, individuals and families to restore them to lives of stability, self-sufficiency and enhancement. We do this by treating all persons with dignity and respect, while embracing their diversity.
Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Haven of Rest: Founded in 1943 as a small storefront Rescue Mission, Haven of Rest is now one of the largest private social service agencies in Northeast Ohio. Filling a vital community role, Haven of Rest responds to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of homeless men, women and children.
National Alliance to End Homelessness: The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.
Project Hope for the Homeless: Homelessness has long been a problem in Lake County. In 1992, the Catholic Commission of Lake and Geauga called together a roundtable discussion of area churches and leaders to address the situation. Under the direction of the Ecumenical Shelter Network of Lake County, Inc., Project Hope for the Homeless has since been renewing hope and restoring the lives of thousands of homeless men, women and children.
Akron-Canton Food Bank: The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food to our neighbors in need. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to member hunger-relief programs in eight Northeast Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne. These member programs operate nearly 500 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food. Call 855.560.0850
Center of Hope: The Center of Hope provides hot meals and food assistance to disadvantaged residents of Portage County. Address: 1081 W. Main Street and Family & Community Services, 705 Oakwood Street, Ravenna.
Feeding America: The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Together with individuals, charities, businesses and government we can end hunger.
Food Pantries: This is a directory of Food Banks, Soup Kitchens, and non-profit organizations committed to fighting hunger.
Ohio Association of Foodbanks: Our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.
The Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, is a federal program that provides individuals and families with funds that can be spent on food. This site has an excellent explanation on how to apply as a student and the requirements you would need to meet.
If you are struggling to afford food, talk to the Res-Ed staff, Financial Aid, or Commuter Services. All three of these departments can provide assistance or point you in the direction of other help.
Phone: 330.569.5232
Email: ResidenceLife@hiram.edu
Location: 1st Floor of Hayden
Ed Frato-Sweeney: Director of Residential and Citizenship Education
Phone: 330.569.5239
Email: SweeneyEA@hiram.edu
Kelly Johns: Coordinator of Housing Operations
Phone: 330.569.6108
Email: JohnsKM@hiram.edu
Commuter Services:
Nicole Gatrell: Director of International, Study Away, Commuter, and Out of State Student Services
Phone: 330.569.5388
Email: gatrellnr@hiram.edu
Location: Kennedy Center, across from the Welcome Center
Requirements to become a commuter (you must meet one of the following):
- Senior Status (over 90 credit hours completed)
- Age 23 or older
- Live at home with parent(s) or guardian, within 30 miles of Hiram College
- Married
- Student Teacher (actively teaching)
- Other – you would need to provide answers and submit documentation answering the following:
- Explain any medical or physical reasons why living off campus would be beneficial. Attach doctor’s note stating issue(s).
- How has your situation changed from the previous year to now?
You must also meet with Financial Aid to be advised on how your financial aid would change if you live off-campus and with Student Accounts regarding any adjustments to your charges, refunds etc.
After submitting the “Withdrawal from Housing” form to Res Ed, provided you meet the above requirements (apart from other), you will be granted commuter status after the paperwork is filed. If your only selection is other, the process goes through a review board where your request may be denied.
Although you can talk to the Res-Ed staff or Commuter Services for help, the following are some sites that may be helpful in finding off-campus housing while still being able to afford to live:
