Frequently Asked Questions about Steiner House
Frequently Asked Questions about Steiner House
What is required of me to live in Steiner House?
Please fill out our application under the "Apply" tab above. If we feel your application is a good fit for the house, we will invite you to a Zoom interview for further consideration.
You must be a graduate-level student, have a fellowship or post-doctoral position, or be enrolled in a post-baccalaureate certificate or training program (like CWRU's PRIME program).
You must live in the house full-time; based on the responsibilities of the house, we cannot consider residents who will consistently be absent from the house multiple days a week.
We ask all residents to live in the house for at least one academic semester, but ideally longer.
What qualities do you look for in applicants?
At Steiner, we work to create a welcoming environment and we value receiving applications from a diverse range of prospective residents, but there are a few qualities we especially appreciate:
We look for those who are interested in investing in the house by building relationships and being considerate of others. Though we all have individual preferences and and self-care needs, we must also recognize that Steiner is a community and is built upon mutual respect among residents and the efforts contributed by each residents toward the good of the house.
Steiner also thrives on the ability to communicate frequently and effectively, and the ability to problem-solve by sharing your opinions in a calm and respectful way. As such, we look for applicants who can articulate how they approach interpersonal dialogue and how they develop solutions to group challenges.
When will I hear back about whether I am accepted?
The Admissions Manager is a Steiner resident who volunteers in this role. Because they are a busy student, please allow up to 7 days for them to review your written application and share it with their fellow housemates.
If your written application is liked by the house, please allow another 7-10 days to schedule a Zoom interview, and another 2-4 days following the interview to receive a decision on your acceptance.
What responsibilities will I have at Steiner House?
All residents have four duties that are required of them, which include doing a weekly house chore, cooking, cleaning the kitchen, and sorting our weekly grocery order. Combined, these will only take about 2-3 hours of your time each week. Please visit "About Steiner House," click on the page called "What is a co-op?" and view the section titled "Co-operative Operations at Steiner" to learn more about these duties.
If you bring a car to the house, we will ask one additional responsibility of you, which is to take turns with other car owners to complete shopping trips at Costco for house-related supplies.
Do I have to be a student to live in Steiner House?
Essentially, yes. Steiner is meant for graduate-level or professional students, but with multiple medical facilities in the area, we also welcome those with fellowship, research, or post-doc positions or those who are enrolled in post-baccalaureate certificate or training programs.
Though our house is practically on CWRU's campus, we also welcome graduate students from the Cleveland Institutes of Art and Music, as well as Cleveland State University. Visiting scholars or researchers from foreign institutions may also be considered.
Is there an age limit?
No, there is no age limit on residents, but nearly all residents are in their 20s or early 30s.
Regardless of age, residents should also be prepared to initially share a room (see "Do I have to share a room with someone?" below).
Can I live at Steiner part-time?
No, we only accept applicants who intend to live at Steiner full-time; residents are free to leave for trips and during school breaks, but due to the nature of the house duties required of every resident, we cannot accommodate residents who will consistently be away from the house for part of each week or for long stretches of time on a frequent basis.
How many people live at Steiner?
We have capacity for up to 21 residents. Steiner has 11 single rooms and 5 double rooms.
Do I have to share a room with someone?
Most likely, yes. We have both single- and double-occupant rooms, but virtually all residents have to begin their time at Steiner in a double room and will have the chance to move into a single room as more senior residents move out. On average, residents are typically able to move into single rooms after one semester, but this is not a guarantee.
What do the bedrooms look like?
Steiner House is a very old home. It was built in 1910 as a single-family home, and when it became a co-op, many of the large original rooms were converted into smaller bedrooms to be able to accommodate 21 residents. As such, most of the bedrooms are comfortable, but not overly spacious.
Please see the heading at the top of the site titled "Life at Steiner," and visit the "Room Photos" page to see potential bedrooms.
What if I don't like how my room looks?
We do allow residents to paint their rooms, and the house will pay for paint. However, care must be taken to paint properly and to avoid staining other surfaces. If you have never painted a room before, existing residents who have done so can provide guidance.
You may also decorate your room, but please be courteous of future residents by only using removable "Command" hooks and other non-permanent fixtures.
Are the bedrooms furnished?
Yes, the bedrooms are furnished with the basics. All rooms come with a closet, desk, desk chair, bed frame, box frame, and mattress (all the components of the bed are twin-/single-sized). Some rooms may have dressers or shelving units that previous tenants have left, but this is not a given.
Please see the heading at the top of the site titled "Life at Steiner," and visit the "Photos" page to see photos of potential rooms.
What are the bathrooms like?
We have six bathrooms within the house, five of which have showers. This means roughly three to four people share each bathroom. These are all normal household bathrooms, not like dormitory or gym bathrooms.
Though residents tend to shower in whichever bathroom is closest to their room, you are technically free to us any bathroom you choose. You may leave your toiletries in the bathroom, provided there is room, or you can store them in your room.
Some residents choose to wear flip-flops or rubber sandals in the shower for sanitary purposes (prevents the spread of skin viruses) but this is not required. All bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized weekly.
How much does it cost to live at Steiner House?
It will either cost $670 or $710 dollars per month, depending on whether you have a single or double room. This includes rent, food, all utilities, internet, and parking. Please hover the tab above titled, "About Steiner House" and click on the "Cost" page for more detailed information.
Do I have to pay utilities?
Utilities are included in your monthly board fee, which is part of the $670 or $710 per month, listed above. No other fees will be charged beyond the $670 or $710 per month. Please hover the tab above titled, "About Steiner House" and click on the "Cost" page for more detailed information.
How do I pay my rent fee and board fee each month?
All residents must pay rent and board fees via check. Sorry that we're a bit old fashioned! Please ensure that you have checks available to you upon move-in.
There are a number of ways to obtain checks for free. If you are accepted to Steiner, the Admissions Manager can advise you on how to do so.
Each month, residents write one check for rent fees and one check for board fees; this totals to 24 checks per year.
So dinner is cooked every night...what about breakfast and lunch?
While breakfast and lunch are not prepared for you, there are plenty of breakfast and lunch foods available for you to assemble on your own. We have many communal food items. These include cereal, oats, bread, milk, eggs, yogurt, coffee, tea, lunch meats, cheese, vegetables, and more. We also have a number of staple ingredient items including flour, rice, potatoes, onions and garlic, sugar and baking ingredients, spices and seasonings, condiments and sauces, etc.
What if I have food allergies or dietary restrictions?
We can accommodate certain allergies and dietary restrictions, but because the kitchen is a shared environment, we cannot ensure safety for those with severe food allergies; additionally, because we have so many mouths to feed, we cannot accommodate broadly limiting dietary restrictions.
This means that unfortunately Steiner house is not a good fit for those with Celiac's disease, those with severe airborne food allergies, those who are vegan, and those who keep kosher.
Historically, we have had residents with shellfish allergies, vegetarians, and residents who abstain from eating pork, beef, and/or alcohol for religious reasons; we are able to accommodate these types of allergies or dietary preferences because they encompass a singular food/category of food that can easily be avoided and are not associated with severe risks to one's health.
If you are interested in applying to Steiner but have a food allergy or dietary preference, there is a place to note it on the application
If you have an allergy, please provide thorough information on your allergy, a complete list of food(s) you must avoid, and a description of how severe your allergy is.
The admission manager will then be able to determine whether Steiner can cater to your allergy or dietary preference.
What if I'm not good at cooking?
Don't worry! We don't expect gourmet meals in this house. You can start with simple meals and build your skills from there, and everyone will be very understanding if you don't have much practice in the kitchen. Existing residents are also usually happy to help new residents get the hang of things.
The basic requirements are that every dinner must contain a carbohydrate, a protein, and a vegetable; as long as a meal has each of those items fits with residents' dietary needs, cooks have free range in their recipe choices.
Is it hard to cook for so many people?
Surprisingly, it's not much harder than cooking for a regular-sized family because it's more efficient to cook for a larger number. It may seem intimidating, but existing residents are always willing to provide advice on the quantity of food needed and about which types of recipes work well on a large scale. Plus, you only have to cook once every two to three weeks!
How does the house get groceries and supplies?
Each week, we get our grocery order delivered to us from Walmart, so residents do not have to go out to a grocery store to get food. This includes all the communal food items, the ingredients needed for that week's cooks, and resident's individual food orders. Please mouse over the tab at the top of the site labeled "About Steiner House" and visit the "What is a Co-Op?" page, under the section "Co-operative Operations at Steiner" for more information.
We also get certain shelf-stable foods and household supplies, like paper goods and cleaning products, from Costco. Every three weeks, those who have cars at the house take turns making the trip to Costco.
Both the weekly groceries and the Costco supplies are paid for through residents' monthly board fee, so residents do not have to pay extra for them. The treasurer and ordering managers handle making the payments, so residents do not have to individually contribute money toward these supplies.
Can I live at Steiner without contributing to communal dining? Can I just make my own food?
No, residency without communal dining is not an option.
Residents are more than welcome to purchase their own foods for any meals they choose, but this will not result in a reduction of their board fee.
Residents commonly keep their favorite snacks or other foods that the co-op does not provide on hand, and residents may store such food in their allotted pantry and refrigerator space, or in their bedrooms.
Residents are encouraged to attend dinner each night if available, but if residents will be out of the house during the time the meal is served, they are welcome to request a serving to be set aside for them.
Do I need to bring anything when I move in?
There are a few essentials you will need to bring, including bedding, pillow(s), bath towels, toiletries, and closet hangers for clothing.
The rest of what you bring is up to your discretion. The house is very well-stocked with cooking equipment, we have a furnished living room with a projector and sound system, a furnished dining room, and the bedrooms have basic furniture (as described above). You will not need to provide anything else, apart from your personal items and any shelving or storage units that you want.
Most of our residents are traveling from another country or state when moving in, so we welcome new residents to have items shipped to Steiner ahead of their arrival. We will store them until the resident arrives.
Is there room for storage?
Yes, we have a basement and storage closets, and residents are permitted to store items that won't fit in their rooms such as luggage, moving boxes, etc. Just make sure items are labeled with your name and not forgotten about!
Can I bring a car?
Yes, we have ample room for parking, and it is included in your monthly board fee. You do not have to pay extra for parking. The only caveat is that we usually do not have many car owners, so if you bring a car, you will be asked to go to Costco about once every two months on behalf of the house; the upside is you will get a free tank of gas when you do so.
Is the house air-conditioned?
Unfortunately, no, but residents are welcome to bring their own window air-conditioning unit or a standing portable air-conditioning unit. Be prepared for common areas like the hallways, bathrooms, kitchen, and dining room to be quite warm, but we do have a portable air conditioner in the living room.
When it comes to the winter, we have radiant heating. Each bedroom has its own radiator, as do the common areas, bathrooms, and hallways. Because we live in a communal environment, you will not be able to control the temperature of your room to your personal preference, but we keep the thermostat at a temperature that is generally tolerable for all.
Can I have a pet?
Unfortunately no. Most of us at Steiner are animal lovers, so this is a disappointment to many, but considering we live with so many people, we do not allow pets for allergy and hygiene reasons.
Can I have visitors?
We love visitors at Steiner! You can have friends over whenever you like, as long as you announce their presence and comply with the policies outline in the house Operations Manual.
We also allow overnight visitors, just as long as you ask ahead of time! If your guest will be staying multiple nights and wishes to eat with us, that is fine, we just ask the guest to pay a small fee to cover the cost of additional food and utilities if they stay beyond a week.
Are residents friends with each other?
Yes! This is one of the great aspects of Steiner. We have both formal and informal social opportunities. Each month, the vice president plans a group activity that all residents are encouraged to attend, but in between those formal events, residents often casually spend time together within the house or invite each other to activities outside the house.
Is it noisy with so many people in the house?
Despite the fact that there are a lot of people under one roof, we are a studious group, and we believe in creating a culture of respect in our house. We may socialize and get a little loud around dinner time, or on weekend evenings, but never too late at night. If a resident were trying to study or sleep and found the house to be too loud, we expect other residents to comply with each other's requests about volume and house leaders can enforce this, if needed.
Is there space to study in the house?
Yes, we have a designated study room in our basement with tables, chairs, and a printer. Many residents also informally use the living room and the dining room as places for casual studying as well.
Are there rules for living in the house?
Steiner House is very organized, so we have many procedures that outline how we create a respectful, clean, and productive environment. All rules of operation and conduct are outlined in our two guiding documents: the house manual and the constitution, both of which will be provided to you upon acceptance to Steiner.
Is Steiner safe? Do I get keys to the house?
Steiner is in the heart of University Circle, a neighborhood composed mostly of students and university employees which surround CWRU. Our house is located on Bellflower Road, so is practically on campus, and both the CWRU and University Circle police departments are only a block away from the house. This neighborhood is very safe and generally fairly quiet. You will have great access to campus amenities, while also being close to many restaurants, a small grocery store, and public transportation.
All residents are given a traditional key to the house, which works at both the front and back doors. Both doors automatically lock when shut, so they are secure 24/7. No one can access the house without a key.
All residents are also given a key to their room, and should they have a roommate, the roommate will also have a key. Residents are free to lock their bedroom door whenever they choose.