The Gender Non-Specific Housing (GNH) option allows individuals of any sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity to room together. GNH is a step towards making our campus a safer, even more accepting, and increasingly inclusive environment. Our residential buildings have the fourth highest rate of harassment and discrimination on campus, and GNH would aid in making them safer for our students. In this way, GNH aligns with UNC-CH's commitment to inclusion and contributes to recruitment and retention of students.

UNC-CH is not alone in this. At this time, over a hundred universitiesin the United States, both public and private, offer a GNH option, including six out of fifteen of UNC-CH peer institutions as well as three in-state institutions.

GNH would be implemented in a designated number of suites of a coed floor, with the possibility of expansion if the program proves successful. People who meet all other qualifications to be eligible for on-campus housing would be eligible to opt-in to GNH. Students under the age of 18 would require parental (or equivalent) consent. Procedures for roommate conflicts, sexual assault, contract cancellation or breach, and other situations already exist for on-campus housing and would apply just as readily to the corresponding situations in GNH. As the first goal of GNH is safety, it is likely that spaces will be awarded based on need; students who feel unsafe in their current housing will likely be the first to live in GNH.

GNH is a popular proposal among students at UNC-CH. Over the previous year, over 2800 signatures were collected in support of the proposal, 716 of which said that they would live in GNH if space became available. Additionally, GNH has 53 letters of support from various student organizations and committees.