NY Nuns Turn Convent Into Home for Homeless College Students

Grace Pavlock dreamed of studying public policy in New York City, but even with financial aid, she couldn't afford a place to live. The Texas native faced a reality shared by millions: being academically capable but too housing insecure to focus on school.

Then she discovered Dax House at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. For just $250 a month, the program gives housing-insecure college women a private room, year-round stability, and a case manager to help navigate everything from health insurance to career planning.

The secret behind Dax House? The Sisters of Charity of New York offered the first floor of their convent building, Rosary Hall, to students who needed it most. After fresh renovations including new flooring and an upgraded kitchen with Hudson River views, eight women moved in last August while the nuns continued living upstairs.

The numbers tell a sobering story. According to the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, nearly half of college students are housing insecure and one in seven are homeless. Many are first-generation college students who've already overcome barriers just to enroll, only to discover their financial aid doesn't cover room and board.

Pavlock, now a 22-year-old rising senior, spent this summer at Dax House updating her resume for fall internships with state lawmakers instead of worrying about where she'd sleep. Students can stay for up to 24 months during their studies, plus an additional year after graduation to bridge the gap between school and career.

The program goes beyond providing a bed. Case managers meet with students twice monthly to help them access SNAP benefits, create budgets, and develop life skills that prevent future housing insecurity. Unlike traditional dorms that close during breaks, Dax House remains open year-round.

The Ripple Effect

The University of Mount Saint Vincent already serves housing-insecure students through its Mott Street Scholarship Program for former foster youth. But Dax House expanded that mission to students who didn't qualify for the scholarship yet still faced homelessness.

The Dax Program now operates four residences in New York City and serves more than 90 students annually nationwide in cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Each location partners with local universities and the nonprofit Depaul USA to replicate the wraparound support model.

"Students may be absolutely academically capable, but can't fully engage in college because they're worried about where they're going to sleep," said Susan R. Burns, the university's president. Her school's student body of 4,225 includes far more women than men, making Dax House a crucial resource.

For students like Pavlock, the support means everything. She's no longer on the cusp of homelessness but building a foundation for the rest of her life, one internship application at a time.