A Warm Friendly Residence Welcoming International Students
The History of The Charis House
In August of 2004, Steve and Lani Shade purchased an old Victorian row home in University City they intended on making into a home welcoming international students and researchers arriving at universities in Philadelphia from around the world. Over the years, several renovations have been made to provide a warm, comfortable and welcoming environment for the 185 students and researchers from 51 different countries who have come through our doors. Values such as caring, sharing, laughing, learning, helping, adventure, and having fun are what we are all about. We love our international family!
“The Charis house is a second home to me, my second family. It not only gave me a place to stay but also plenty of love, togetherness, knowledge about different cultures/ traditions, bonding and sense of belonging. Staying in a new country could make one feel lonely, but not at Charis House! Lani and Steve are amazing hosts. I made lifelong friends with the housemates from different parts of the world; every Sunday we have a community dinner where all the housemates sit together and eat. We also have some awesome events like game night, movie night, and short trips to places in and around USA. The rooms are quiet, clean and cozy and the house is in a safe neighborhood. Staying at Charis House was one of the best decisions of my life. I make sure to visit Charis House every time I visit Philadelphia.”
The map below shows the 51 different countries our students have come from. Submit an application and add your country to our map!
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