Housing

axidgl · #1 11-16-2005, 01:03 PM

Hey guys,
I was just wondering for those of you with houses, or who advise chapters with houses, etc. how you raised the money for your house. The University of Tennessee is looking at building sorority houses and we really are leaning toward it, but we need to raise the money quickly. They are looking at the costs being around 1.5-2 million dollars, and from our estimates the "experts" say we can raise around $300,000 from our alums, leaving us with a huge mortgage. This really isn't feasible for our chapter, because our fees would go through the roof. Is there anything that you all have done that has helped in the past? I think that to stay competitive at UT, we really need to get a house. Thanks ya'll!

AXiDTrish · #2 11-17-2005, 11:01 AM

Go look at Gamma Eta's (GA Tech) website. They just dedicated their new house in April, but they have all kinds of information on their website about the building project. Who are the experts you are referring to that talked about donations? Tech had a consulting firm who gave the same type of advice and I want to say it was fairly accurate. Lots of $$ was poured into that housing project....many hours from many dedicated alumnae! I would suggest that if your chapter is serious about building a house, have your Corp Board get in touch with their Corp board to swap information as well as FHQ. I bet a lot of good information could be shared.

The first step in any housing project, I would think......and I haven't been through one before really.....is to make sure you have STRONG alumnae ties and your alum don't think you are just asking for money. You want them to still FEEL a connection with your chapter.

I will say it took Tech many, many years to acquire their own house and they are 50 years old. They always rented or alumnae purchased a house for them. I believe there house now is about a 1 million dollar home.

FuzzieAlum · #3 01-10-2006, 11:24 PM

Are the other chapters in a similar financial position as your chapter? Once the housing rush starts, any chapter that is behind is going to be at a serious recruitment disadvantage. Maintaining a house can really drive up membership costs, and it takes alumnae support away from other functions. (Additionally, it limits expansion options, because not all nationals are in the same financial position.) I know a house is part of the classic sorority experience, but your Panhellenic needs to really think long and hard about whether this is what it wants to do.

But if it's going to happen ... you'll have to do it too. There are a few fraternity/sorority consulting firms that can do a lot for you. Check with HQ too of course, but the housing foundation is relatively new. I don't know if they've dealt recently with a project the size I'm assuming y'all's would be.

flirt5721 · #4 01-11-2006, 01:49 PM

First check with NHQ. While at Convention this summer I learned that there are so many restriction on how we can rasie money for housing. I know that we can only ask for donations from the member of the chapter or the alumni, we can not ask for money from outside of the chapter, and a bunch of other things. If your chapter has a Parents group they can help raise money for the chapter easier then the chapter could. All the rules we really confusing.

AXiDSarahJ · #5 02-01-2006, 12:26 PM

Any update on the progress of the greek housing at the University of Tennessee?

irishpipes · #6 02-01-2006, 12:29 PM

Sorry to crash, but I had heard that some sororities were going to build houses, while others were going to build townhouses. This sounds highly suspicious to me, because I can't imagine NPC groups agreeing to be on inequitable footing like that.

OleMissGlitter · #7 02-01-2006, 01:05 PM

Sorry to crash as well but I heard the same thing. I think some groups are "breaking away" from the townhouses and building their own houses.

axidgl · #8 02-01-2006, 10:03 PM

As of now, there are no more townhouses. The "unified" Panhellenic housing complex has been discarded, and 8/14 groups have officially announced that they are building houses. As of April 1, we will know what everyone plans to do. We just had a meeting tonight on what we want to do, so people are still deciding on costs and things of that nature.

AXiD_ME · #9 06-23-2006, 03:45 PM

Obviously this is VERY SADLY now a moot issue for the girls at U. of Tenn. Again i'm so sorry for your loss... i feel like losing your chapter really is like losing a family member

But in terms of advice for chapters who want to start housing (any kind not just building which is pricey)... more would be great. especially for those of us with small chapters or small alumnae presences...

here at USM we used to have a house, and currently on campus, all but one of the boys have houses and none of the girls... and there's defintely a desire out there to change that trend...

how did you spark interest in a group of girls where people would like to have a house, but only about 50% are into doing the work to get us there... especially doing the dance with the alumnae to start a housing corp after an older one has collapsed...

HELP!