Many students are homeless as a result of the fire that broke out Sunday morning at 64 E. 17th Ave. The university and many members of the community, have been giving their support to the victims in need.

Karen Fisher, Director of the Student Advocacy Center, has been involved in assisting students who have lost their homes and possessions.

“We’ve gone out to the house to really try to find students,” Fisher said.

There are 33-37 displaced students, Fisher said. The center is providing students with bedding, toiletries, BuckID money for food and counseling services. Workers are also providing students with excuses from class because of the fire.

The center is working with area landlords to place students into new lodgings and has arranged for them to stay at The Blackwell Inn until permanent arrangements have been determined. Assistance will continue even after new homes are found.

Nichole Stevenson, a senior in sociology, was one of the students displaced because of the fire. Her apartment building, 58 E. 17th Ave., was unlivable after the roof caught fire from the neighboring house. She is staying with her sister at the Sigma Alpha sorority house.

“Pretty much everything was salvageable,” Stevenson said.

Her furniture incurred the most damage from water and smoke. She is working with her insurance company to replace her losses.

Stevenson has been in contact with Student Advocacy, but her situation is difficult since she will be graduating in June and does not want to sign another lease. She has made use of the blankets, towels and BuckID money from the center.

“They’ve been great with everything,” she said.

However, she has been hesitant to accept many of the services that are being offered.

“I didn’t want to take away from other students,” she said. “We were very, very lucky.”

Danielle Goler, a junior in psychology and criminology, was Nichole’s roommate and is staying at the Alpha Xi Delta sorority house, where she is a member. This living arrangement is permanent for the rest of the school year.

Goler has found a lot of support from the Greek community.

“As soon as the fire broke out, my sisters ran out to the house,” Goler said. “My best friend, Elizabeth, stayed up with me for 36 hours.”

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity have been very supportive, Goler said.

“I was outside and told everyone who was out there that my house was open,” said Sigma Phi Epsilon house manager Kevin Grady.

The fraternity house became a center of chaos, as it opened its doors for the Red Cross to set up headquarters and allowed police investigators and firemen to use the house as well.

“They basically took over the house,” said Sigma Phi Epsilon President Jeremy Carrier.

Throughout the tragedy, Goler found solace. “It felt good that so many people offered help,” she said. “We really came together like a community.”