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Special Interest Houses

Special Interest Housing at Messiah University

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.

SIHNote: 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.

 

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): Esther Moyo
  • Resident Assistant: Isabella (Isa) Espinosa Diaz

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
  2. Restoration Houses
  3. MUHP Harbor House

Additional Applications and Forms

Interested in applying to be a house advisor?  Apply to be a special interest house advisor. 

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)

House Floor Plans Photo(s)
Foreman (Resto Women) Foreman Foreman
Melhorn (Resto Men) Melhorn Melhorn
Schrag (Rafiki) Rafiki Rafiki
Woodland (MUHP Harbor House) Woodland Woodland

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