Special Interest Houses

Do you want to apply to live in a Special Interest House for 2025-2026?

We are looking for students who are passionate about living learning environments. The Special Interest Houses are living-learning communities where groups of students live together in a house and share in a common social interest. Within these communities you will build new relationships with other students, faculty, and staff while concentrating on your personal passions. The special interest program provides many opportunities for leadership development as well as mentorship opportunities through partnerships with academic or staff advisors that support the house mission and theme.

Note: To live in a Special Interest House students are required to have completed 57 credits (or be recommended by a Messiah University employee) by the end of spring semester (some exceptions for special circumstances), they must be free of any probations (discipline, chapel or academic) and they may not have any past alcohol or tobacco violations.

Applications for Fall 2026 housing need to be submitted by March 1st, 2026. Responses about acceptance or denial will be sent out by March 21st, 2026.

Information & Applications:

There are four houses on or adjacent to campus where students can live and learn together about a common theme. Some house themes have been around for several years and there are opportunities for new programs to be created. Check out the philosophy behind each special interest house, or check out the SIH Facebook page and Instagram Pages to learn more. We invite you to apply (click on the link labeled "application" underneath the SIH you are interested in)!

Staff

Special Interest Housing Assistant Residence Life Educator (ARLE): Megan Eich

Resident Assistant: Aaron Eaby

Any questions should be emailed to specialinteresthousing@messiah.edu.

The Special Interest Programs:

If you are interested in a program, you can find the applications below.

1. Rafiki House
   • Can't cook? No problem, you'll learn quick!
   • Gender of the Rafiki house for 2026-2027 will be contingent on applicants, but anticipated to be male.
   • Rafiki House application
   • Community Video
   • Advisor: Amy Nicols Villeda
2. Restoration Houses
   • Friends to the earth...and chickens.
   • Both male & female applicants (two houses).
   • Restoration House application
   • Community Video
   • Advisor: David Foster and Lori Chance
3. MUHP Harbor House
   • Home to intellectual conversations, connections, and hot tea!
   • Gender of the Harbor House for 2026-2027 will be contingent on applicants.
   • Harbor House application.
   • Community Video
   • Advisor: James LaGrand and Cristine Mizerak

Additonal Applications and Forms

Interested in applying to be a house advisor? You can find the application here.

To apply for a house with a new theme or reapply as a theme that has not been fully established (5 years consecutively in SIH):

• Applications are available online and must be submitted electronically
• Complete applications must be received by March 1st, 2026

House Floor Plans & Information (PDFs)

*Programs are not tied to any particular house and their positions are determined by Residence Life and the Cocurricular Education Committee.