Hello, I'm Sage.  I am a disabled student Columbia University, an Ivy League institution, and I am sharing my story so that no one else has to choose between education and having a home.

Currently, I am enrolled at Columbia University, working towards a future they promised, and are now acting as though it's no longer possible.  Their reason why?  Money.  They want me to find 12k in less than a month, otherwise I will be unregistered, unenrolled, and un-homed.

Fittingly, it all started with housing.

Their Office of Disability Services (ODS) can provide ADA-sanctioned Reasonable Accommodations, one of which was that I needed to live on-campus.  ODS, however, does not have any follow-through to ensure their Reasonable Accommodations are put into action; originally no rooms were available, and my school's housing department said to "just keep hitting refresh" and grab the first thing I could find.  I did, selecting the only room left in an ADA-compliant building that..and nowhere was it explicitly stated that this is housing was with a Columbia University affiliate.  That meant they don't have access to vital information such as safety protocols in an emergency (I am disabled and cannot take stairs) or approved Service Animals (when I moved in, they threatened to have my "unapproved" animals put down).

 None of this is acceptable legally or logically.  Moreover, Columbia University does not own their own housing, so they rely on students to help them,  a private and idolized beacon of Academic Standards – make the rent each month. 

Cunningly, they call their financial aid "Educational Financing," as they assist with tuition, whereas "financial aid" would imply help with items such as rent – the cost of which is not possible for a full-time student, a requirement for anyone living in this building.  Thus, living as a disabled person with no family let alone a wealthy one paying for my education and housing, I am destined to be evicted and homeless, all because this iconic university can't afford their own rent.

My Academic Hold of 12k needs to be paid in full before September for me to continue here.  Most of that is the cost of rent for Spring and Summer.  I moved in when I was in the middle of a flare of one of my auto-immune diseases, so I wasn't able to work more hours than was enough for food, and I have no way to find that amount before September.  I spent all summer pleading with them, and if anyone bothered to reply, no one really took in the ADA Violations, the reasonable complaints, the risks to their tenants and students, the legal requirements they were ignoring – all they saw was a soon-to-be drop out.

I came here to pursue degrees in Medical Humanities and Linguistics, so I could go to hospitals and medical schools and train doctors on what it feels like to be a patient.  Why language is so significant, how informing patients is empowering them with knowledge, and also teach those facing new illnesses with ways of advocating that don't require it to become a full-time job.

It's hard enough to fight to stay alive when I have my own body attacking me.  The idea that a prestigious and wealthy university is making that harder is reprehensible. 

That's why I am sharing my experience at Columbia University, an Ivy League institution that is struggling to afford it's own housing issues, and does not maintain nor prioritize concerns over ADA requirements for disabled students like me.  Columbia University advised me to live on campus due to my disabilities.  Columbia University told me to pick the only accessible option provided.  And now, Columbia University has placed a hold on my account that will take away my ability to be a full-time student with stable housing.

Accessible housing is not a luxury—it's a necessity. Columbia University needs to implement policies guaranteeing secure, affordable, and accessible housing for all students, especially those with disabilities. It's disheartening to see a prestigious institution unable to ensure the basic needs of its students are met. Housing should not be a barrier to education, and no student should face homelessness amidst their academic pursuits.

This situation highlights a systemic issue within university housing policies that requires immediate attention and change. Columbia must address and rectify these inadequacies to support its diverse student body effectively. By ensuring affordable, accessible housing for students with disabilities, Columbia would honor its commitment to inclusivity and excellence.

Join me in calling on Columbia University to implement a guarantee of accessible housing for students. It's time to transform this prestigious institution's housing policies and prevent any student from facing homelessness. Please sign this petition and help us make secure housing a reality for all at Columbia University.