There are three housing options available to ELI students:
- homestays arranged
through OvECS
- apartments
in the university area and nearby neighborhoods
- residence hall in Downtown Pitttsburgh
- university
dormitories (May - August only)
Homestays
The ELI
is partnering
with OvECS to arrange homestays for students who prefer to
live with
a family. Homestay families are supervised by an experienced
homestay
coordinator. The student will pay the family a monthly fee
that includes
airport pickup, a private room, and two meals per day. Please
note that
you cannot cook your own food if you live with a family, and
you must
be willing to share a bathroom. Also, many families have pets,
such as dogs and cats. Pets usually live in the house with the family,
not outside. Please see the OvECS
website for details.
Apartments
Apartments near the university are available and reasonably inexpensive.
Although students are responsible for making their own apartment leasing
arrangements, the ELI Housing Assistant can help students to locate
suitable apartments. The ELI Housing Assistant cannot
find an apartment for students before they arrive. Students MUST make
hotel arrangements for at least 3-4 days. Please
fill out an online
housing questionnaire if you need help from the
ELI Housing Assistant.
The ELI Housing
Assistant can help students...
- locate an apartment
- make telephone
calls to landlords
- visit apartments
- arrange utilities
(such as phone and electricity)
- take care of
housing problems that develop during the term.
If
you plan on working with the ELI housing assistant and looking for an apartment when you get here, you MUST make hotel reservations in advance. You can expect to stay in the hotel for three or more days while you look for and sign the papers for an apartment. Go to the ELI's arrival
page for hotel information.
More information about renting an apartment can be found be on the University of Pittsburgh's Housing Resource Center web pages:
Neighborhoods in
Pittsburgh
Most students who
choose to live in apartments live in the Oakland
(North, South, Central, or West), Shadyside
or Squirrel
Hill areas of Pittsburgh. Other neighborhoods that also are convenient
and affordable but not as close to the university are Greenfield,
Bloomfield,
Friendship,
Highland
Park, or Regent
Square. Frequent buses go to all of these areas, and you will be
able to ride the bus for free with your Pitt ID.
To see maps of
these areas, go to the Neighborhood
Maps website. To find the location of an apartment, go to Map
Blast and enter the address.
Penn Commons Residence Hall
The ELI is partnering with Penn Commons Residence Hall for students who prefer to live in a dormitory with other students. Penn Commons is located in Downtown Pittsburgh, in the middle of the historic cultural district, and a short ride to the ELI. Students will be in a suite with a shared kitchen and bathroom, but private bedroom. There is a recreation room, and Penn Commons plans many activities for its residents each semester. Students come from a variety of colleges and universities in Pittsburgh.
Private, furnished rooms are reasonably priced, and leases are for a semester. Please see their website at www.penncommons.com for more information and to apply.
University
Dormitory - Summer Only
During the
Summer Term (May- August), housing usually is available in the university dormitories.
A minimum stay of 4 weeks is required.
Send requests
for Summer Term room reservations to:
Housing Office (Click
here for website)
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
