About 25 UCF students whose off-campus homes at Tivoli Apartments were destroyed by a Sunday afternoon fire have turned to the university for help with finding temporary housing on campus and also for emotional support and assistance.
About 75 residents of Tivoli Apartments, located just north of campus off of McCulloch Road, were displaced by the fire. There were no reported injuries.
Representatives of UCF Housing and Residence Life, as well as Victim Services, responded to Tivoli and remained late into the night until all university students received needed assistance.
There were an estimated 75 Tivoli Apartments residents affected by the fire. Of those, about 25 are UCF students. Ten of them stayed Sunday night in Lake Claire, an on-campus university housing community.
The rest chose to stay with family and friends, or like other non-UCF students affected by the fire, received temporary lodging through the Red Cross.
University officials are working with the bookstore to help replace lost textbooks. In addition, the university is making alternative arrangements for affected students who have mid-term exams this week.
UCF is also making personnel available to international students who may have lost passports in the fire.
Victim advocates will be back at the apartment complex at noon today. And representatives from Apartment Finders will be at Tivoli at 10 a.m. to help displaced residents find other rental housing.
“Thank you to many of our outstanding faculty and staff members, especially those from Housing and Residence Life and Victim Services, who are working with the affected students,” wrote Provost and Executive Vice President Dale Whittaker in a note to faculty and staff members.
“Events like these not only cause added stress in our students’ lives, but also remind us to be supportive of each other in difficult times. Thank you to our faculty and staff members for giving these students extra consideration and helping them to remain academically successful during this tough time.”
Those who wish to help can donate food, toiletries or Publix and Walmart gift cards to Knights Pantry in Ferrell Commons. Donations will be accepted from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Students impacted by the fire can call the following phone lines for assistance:
Housing: UCF has temporary housing available for displaced students. Housing and Residence Life can be reached 407-882-5000. UCF can provide displaced students staying on campus with bedding and linens, and the Red Cross is helping them obtain other personal supplies that they will need.
Victim Services: Students who would like to speak with a UCF victim advocate can call 407-823-1200. That phone number is staffed 24/7 every day. Advocates can provide students with assistance as well as connections to other resources they may need.
Emotional Support: Those seeking emotional support can call Counseling and Psychological Services at 407-823-2811. For calls outside of regular business hours, press ‘5’ to be connected with a licensed therapist.