What's the deal with house moms?

[IheartAphi]

I noticed that some chapters have older women that live with them? How is that decided and how does it go about?

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

I bet it has something to do with chapter size, house size, and the "traditionality" (if thats a word) and size of the school. I'm not sure it's something that International delegates for us. Usually every housed chapter has a House Corporation Board, Director of Chapter Facilities, and those types of things that may or may not work with a "house mom" to make sure things run smoothly...since most college women have never owned a house.

Our chapter rents our house, which really sucks...and i wish we could just buy it already...but we don't even have a HCB cuz there are no Alumnae willing to be on it

[TechAPhi]

That's an interesting question. I thought all Alpha Phi chapters in which members are allowed to live in the house had to have a house mom -- is that not true?

The only exception I know about (and believe me, I am no expert) are chapters like Texas Tech (Gamma Iota), where the members have a house, but do not live in it. [At Tech no sorority or fraternity members are permitted to live in their houses, so they just have lodges.] In this case, they just have a person (an "adult" -- not a collegiate member) who lives there to take care of the house and protect it when members are not there.

I have known of Alpha Phi chapters that have a "house couple" or a house mom AND dad. My collegiate chapter was such a chapter and it was great. Our house mom basically ran the inside, while her hubby did handyman type stuff and made sure everything outside was perfect.

[a CA in CA]

For the most part it does have to do with number of occupants, as to whether or not there is a Housemother. For example, Chico, Sac State, and Davis do not have Housemothers and all are smaller facilities; but Cal and UoP do have Housemothers in their larger facilities.

Where a Housemother is in place, it is a compensated position, and there is a hiring process involved.

[TechAPhi]

That is very interesting CA! I had no idea. I guess it's the part of the country I come from (the south) where most schools I am familiar with have relatively big houses and all A-Phi chapters I knew about did have house moms, with the exception of the one I mentioned.

Ya learn something new every day! Thanks CA!

[lauralaylin]

You can also have a house father. URI has only had men in that position. It's great because they don't seem to mind moving furniture, putting up lofts, etc. I've always wondered how the chapters with 70 year old women survive!

[IheartAphi]

At NCSU, they have a room for someone to live, usually a grad student. We did not have a very big house and did not have a house mom. I think it varies by chapter at NCSU what the rules our.

I think Chi O here has a women that LIVES there all the time. I am not sure though, it was just the impression I got.