Madison Friends of International Students

HOUSING

MFIS offers temporary housing. International students are invited to stay as guests for up to three nights in a Madison-area home when they first arrive. Students live with a local American family for a few days while they get orientated and seek permanent housing.

For on-campus housing information, contact the University Housing Office, http://www.housing.wisc.edu/, 262-2522.

For off-campus housing, contact theCampus Information and Visitor Center (CIVC)Office of Off-Campus Housing located on the first floor of the Red Gym, via telephone at 263-2400, or visit their website at http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/. The web site lists available housing, which can be searched by different categories (e.g. the area you want to live in, the number of rooms, the length of the lease etc). Other ways to find off-campus housing, are: bulletin boards in University housing areas, libraries, and local stores, the housing section in the classified ads in local newspapers (Isthmus and Onion are free), and "For Rent" signs outside apartments.

Madison Campus and Downtown Living: http://www.cdliving.com

Housing Co-ops are houses controlled by the people who live in them. Madison Community Cooperative (MCC) owns ten houses, ranging in size from 8 to 34 members. Cost to members are kept down by volunteer labor; if you live in a Co-op you are usually expected to participate in cooking and cleaning, maintenance, bookkeeping, and other house related duties. Co-op living can be a great way to get to know people from different backgrounds and make friends. To join a Co-op, or to find out more, call or visit the MCC office, 1202 Williamson Street, 251-2667. There are two international Co-ops in Madison, where American and international students live together:

• International Co-op, 140 West Gilman St., 255-0818
• Rochdale International Co-op, 138 West Gorham St., 255-9260 or 255-2779

There is no program of homestays with American families for international students. If you are looking for contact with Americans, you might want a room or apartment in a house where an American family lives.

For more information about housing options in Madison, see the ISS web site at http://www.iss.wisc.edu/

If you rent an apartment or a room off campus, you will probably have to sign a contract called a "lease." Be sure you understand what it says. You are legally responsible to observe all the terms of the lease once you have signed your name to it. Along with signing the lease, you are usually required to pay a "security deposit." This money, which is usually the same amount as one month's rent, will be returned to you if you leave the lodging clean and undamaged at the end of the lease period

If you have questions about the lease or problems with your landlord, contact the Tenant Resource Center (TRC), 257-0006, http://trc.studentorg.wisc.edu/. TCR provides help and information and has a free booklet, Student Renter's Guide for UW students.

There are numerous options for short-term stays in the Madison area, see Yellow Pages, "Hotels," "Motels," and "Bed &038; Breakfast Accommodations" or http://www.visitmadison.com/visitorinfo/index.php?category_number=3 for listings.

There are several places on campus, listed below, offering short-term accommodation, including the two unions. For more information see the "youth hostel" link on http://www.iss.wisc.edu. Rates change frequenty.

Below are some short-term housing options on and near campus:

Lowell Center / Wisconsin Center Guest House / Lowell Hall
610 Langdon St
Madison, WI 53703
(608)256-2621 Guest House
(608)262-5445 FAX
E-mail: wcgh@admin.uwex.edu
Web: http://conferencing.uwex.edu/lowell.cfm
Overnight accommodations (single and double rooms) for people affiliated with the university, i.e., attending a conference or meeting sponsored by the state or university. Pool and sauna available for guests. 79 guest rooms available. Limited parking provided for guests. Can accommodate prospective UW students--must mention that they are a prospective student and what department they are visiting.

Memorial Union Guest Rooms
Memorial Union
800 Langdon St
Madison, WI 53706
(608)262-1583 *Guest Rooms Reservations
(608)265-3000 *Info Desk / Essentials
Web: http://www.union.wisc.edu/guestrooms/
Hotel rooms are available to anyone but students and Union members get a $7 discount. Rates are different for member/students, non-member/non-students and UW departments. Check in and out at Info Desk. If arriving after building closes, ring door bell at Langdon St. entrance and night watchman will show you in.

Union South Guest Rooms
Union South
227 N Randall Ave
Madison, WI 53706
(608)263-2600 Union South Info Desk / Corner Store
(608)263-8119 FAX
Web: http://www.union.wisc.edu/guestrooms/
Hotel type rooms available to registered students, union members, or anyone attending a university related function or doing business on campus. A student or member can 'sponsor' a person--they must give their ID number when reserving the room. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance.

Short Course Dorms / Humphrey and Jorns Hall / Agriculture Residence Halls
Madison, WI 53706
(608)262-2270 Office/Reservations
(608)265-5905 FAX
E-mail: m.vance@cals.wisc.edu
Web: http://www.cals.wisc.edu/students/house.html
Hours: M-F 7:45-11:45am and 12:30-4:30pm (Office)
UW Short Course Dorms provide short-term housing for persons associated with the University: alumni, friends and parents of students, and visiting faculty and staff. Dorms are conveniently located on the west end of the UW campus, less than 1/2 block from Lake Mendota, at 650 Babcock Dr. Rates range from $12-$28 per day, depending on accommodation; weekly rate available and contract rates available for stays of 4 weeks or longer. Payment is by cash or by travelers' checks. Walk-ins are accepted with proper I.D.; identification cards from other colleges are accepted. Availability is limited between November 1 and April 15.

Madison Hostel
141 S. Butler St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608)441-0144 Madison Hostel
E-mail: madisonhostel@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.madisonhostel.org/
Hours: Office Hours: 8-11am and 5-10pm.
Rates: Hosteling International Members: $15/night for dorm style accomodations and $33/night for private rooms. Non-members: $18/night for dorm style and $36 for private.
Family rooms available (children under 18 are half price). Discounts available for groups of 5 or more, seniors, non-profits, UW referrals and bicycle tourists.