About HFS

UW Housing & Food Services (HFS) is an integral partner in the University of Washington's drive to provide vibrant student life and educational opportunities. HFS provides students with housing that meets their needs, promotes community, supports their academic success, helps develop leadership and social connections, provides services and operational support, and facilitates campus engagement.

Our Passion

We are here to foster holistic learning. This is our passion. This drives everything we do individually, in teams and as an organization. Everything we do is with the intent of creating opportunities for our students to grow in all aspects of their lives. To be successful at this, we must be willing to be learners ourselves and have an innovative mindset. 

Our Convictions

HFS is a self-sustaining department

HFS is a self-sustaining department, meaning we get no funding from the UW but instead generate funding through billing for our services. HFS operates without outside financial assistance, including UW or state funds. As a result, the services we provide are paid for by those who directly benefit from them (i.e., our residents, customers and guests). HFS does not make a profit for owners or shareholders like the private sector.

The prices and fees HFS charges directly relate to:

• The amount of money it takes to provide food, rooms, amenities and residential programming.

• Meeting all financial obligations.

• Collecting enough money to pay for its capital and operating expenses.

• Maintaining a responsible reserve fund for emergencies and future capital costs.

While the cost-of-living in Seattle is very high compared to most parts of the country, HFS finds ways to mitigate those costs to keep your rent and dining costs comparable to, or less than, other universities in the state. HFS does things like operating sustainably to cut down on utility costs, exploring other revenue streams during the summer months to offset academic year expenses and getting the best food supply costs to keep food prices as affordable as they can be in Seattle.

As an integral part of the UW, HFS proudly provides you with the most affordable on-campus living experience possible while still delivering the quality and range of services you expect.

Housing and dining bills

Why are housing and dining bills separate from tuition bills? Doesn’t the University use the same money to provide on-campus housing and food as it does to offer classes and other things on campus?

While you might think the UW pools all the money it collects through bills and fees together to fund everything, it instead has several auxiliary departments and units to handle specific responsibilities. Auxiliary departments are part of the UW, but they have separate funding sources, usually generated from the service they provide.

Visit StarRez Portal X for more information about your housing and dining bills.

HFS’ support for student success:

• Offers seven Living Learning Communities housing 1,680 students

• Provides 150 study spaces in HFS facilities

• Employs over 1,000 students

• Provides student-leadership opportunities, including 200 residential student staff members responsible for building community, and over 200 leader volunteer roles

• Advises student programming boards, which coordinate over 100 events for residents each year

Residence halls and apartments

• 2025-26 Total Housing Capacity = 9,114

Amenities

• Three residential dining venues—Local Point, Center Table, and Cultivate

• Three student community centers and makerspaces—Area 01, The 8 and The MILL

• Fitness Center West

• Two District Market grocery stores, one on West and one on North Campus

• See all amenities

Partnerships

HFS partners with a number of UW academic departments and programs, supporting class space needs, enhancements to course offerings, co-curricular activities and research.  

Read more Facts and Figures about our student's success.

Who we are

We believe that care is the most essential ingredient of our business. It makes us work as people, for other people. It helps us create experiences that are meaningful for our students. Care adds value to the lives of the people we serve.

A great outcome or experience for a student is a great source of pride for us. We have gathered a short collection of student stories about their lives and Husky Home experiences that make us very proud to say we’re UW HFS.