International students are being denied housing at Harvard over winter break, leaving them with few options

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The college said it is committed to providing housing for those who need it.

After the Harvard College Housing Office unexpectedly denied a large number of winter break housing applications, international students on financial aid are scrambling to find places to stay.

The decision has left the undergraduate student body “outraged,” the Harvard Crimson reported. Nearly 300 people signed a petition calling on the college to address what has been dubbed “Harvard’s winter housing crisis.”

Students historically have been able to get winter break housing easily as long as they met certain criteria, according to Harvard senior Camilo Vasconcelos. 

“It was just a very simple, straightforward process,” Vasconcelos told the Crimson. “You ask for housing, you say you’re international, you’re on full financial aid, you get it. That’s how it used to be.” 

Harvard did not announce this year’s change in practice to students, and it maintained that it’s devoted to housing students over the break.

“We remain committed to working with all students to discuss any challenges they may face as they plan for the Winter Recess,” said Jonathan Palumbo, senior director of communication and engagement for the college. 

Palumbo, in a statement to Boston.com, said the college understands that some students may need to stay on campus, and that students “who meet the eligibility requirements will be approved.” 

The Crimson spoke with students hailing from countries like Brazil, India, and Zimbabwe who believed they should meet the eligibility requirements but whose applications were rejected. Now, they’re being forced to weigh their priorities.

“I’m coming from a group of students who are seniors from Africa and we’re full-need, and a lot of us are supporting our parents to come for graduation,” Langelihle Siziba told the Crimson. “This decision to not give us housing feels like we have to choose between going home and graduating on our own, without family.”

For these international students, plane tickets home can often run them more than $1,000. 

The college did not respond to questions about the basis on which students’ applications were being evaluated, or if it would reconsider the policy.