Our Story

In the early 2000s, several international students at a local church discovered that they all went to UNR, but never new each other before. They realized that they instantly had a connection, being new to Reno and looking for help and support in the area. Out of this group, can a ministry to help international students and immigrants find housing. This later grew into a collection of community homes and local network of apartments. Later, events, activities and support groups grew from these connections, serving the needs of internationals within the Reno-area.
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Mission
The Reno International House serves the academic, emotional and spiritual needs of international students and visitors in Reno Nevada. The Reno International House is a business-as-mission company organized by local volunteers who enjoy welcoming international friends to the Reno-area.  As a social enterprise, we work together with local groups, including charities and faith based organizations to assist immigrants with transportation, cross-cultural friendships, family, life skills, and housing.  Our team has a desire to love international students in practical, everyday life.  Applicants and members of the homes come from many faiths and beliefs.  We desire to create a place of acceptance and diversity while displaying the hospitality found in the Bible.

Our Vision
The Reno International House is made up of volunteers from local organizations, churches, and housing providers. We assist international students and new immigrants in the Reno-Sparks, Lake Tahoe and Northern Nevada region with social community, along with safe, affordable and achievable housing. We also advocate for greater housing availability and services for immigrants and refugees.

Our Legacy and Diverse Community

Since 2005, The Reno International House is proud to have hosted and assisted international students from:
China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Uganda, Ghana, Austria, United Kingdom, Russia, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, Russia, Iran, Italy, Germany, France, and many more!

In addition to our own houses, we also have a network of homestay families, and partnering apartment complexes that are "international student friendly". 

But we are way more than just a housing service. We are a community of friends. The Reno International House has been the connecting point between lifelong friends, lives changed, and even families made, simply through doing life together.

We have a full year calendar of social activities, designed to create community and friendships.

From housing, to community events and activities, and fellowship resources, we also strive equip international members in our community to help other fellow members. Friends helping friends.

We also work with other campus groups like Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and International Jesus Fellowship (IJF).

While it all starting with a house, it is now a network of homes, apartments, community volunteers, churches, teaching faculty and many more that form a community bond together. 


​Ready to Join Our Community? Click Here

Internationals Caring for Immigrants

We seek to help fellow international students reach fellow students. Rather than rely only on volunteers, the Reno International House is a place where internationals can volunteer themselves to help refugees, immigrants and other international students. Empowering leadership and community. Whether it is driving lessons, shopping trips or simply welcoming a new friend to the Reno area, contact us to find out how to serve and lead together. 

International Women's Connection
Friendships with other international women and moms. Click Here to Learn More.

Housing for me?
Whether you are an incoming international student coming to study at the University of Nevada, Reno, immigrating to the USA through the Reno area, or a graduated student moving to Reno for your OPT work, the Reno International House may be able to help you during your housing search.

We help and assist internationals in our region with three kinds of housing options.

​Household Items and Furniture Request

Free and low-cost furniture, cookware, beds, desks, and other household items are available for international students and immigrants in Reno.  Submit this form to be matched with a volunteer who help you. 

Meet Our Team

The Reno International House as an organization is made up of primarily volunteers. As demonstrated in the Bible, we know that God cares about the many nations and ethnic groups within our midst. We are passionate about seeing a more diverse community within the Reno-Sparks area. We desire to not only create a place that provides for the practical housing needs of internationals in our city, but we also want to see a community that does life together.

Between volunteers, international students, refugees, recent immigrants, exchange workers, the Reno International House desires a cross-cultural movement of people equipped to help each other with daily life needs, and friendship.

​Learn More about Our Team Here

International Community Houses and Apartments

Living life together, including cooking, cleaning, and sharing in a community atmosphere. Directly managed by our volunteers, these homes offer bedrooms or apartments for rent, often furnished, and including utilities and wifi internet, ready to move in. Close proximity with other international friends. A good start for single international students coming to Reno for academic studies.

Benefits of Living in A Community House
  • Learn English quickly
  • Experience multi-cultural living
  • Support and Friendship
  • Become prepared for a growing international society and workplace
  • Added life/work experience for resume building
  • Personal growth in human Interaction, creating an ability to work in teams and shared community

Social Activities in Our Community Houses and Homestay Families
  • Weekly Sunday Dinners
  • Small group fellowship, life discussions
  • Trips to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, California Coast, Pacific Northwest and more
  • Summer BBQ backyard picnics
  • Cultural cooking nights
  • Skiing/Snowboarding
  • and more

Community House Member Options
Rents are affordable and competitive with other apartments. The house is fully furnished with all bedroom and bathroom essentials to help you save money.

Community House Membership Terms Are
5-month, 10-month, and 12-month.
Starting August 1st or January 1st. Shorter membership stays are typically only available after a term has started for an added fee.

Community House Pricing
See Housing Options page for pricing information.

Community House Utilities
Homes include all major utilities like power, water, sewer, garbage removal, and wifi internet. If a power bill is to high, the overage amount may be shared among the members of the house.

Community House Apartments
We have a couple of private-entrance apartments suitable for families, contact us early, by clicking the Apply to Live link here to be on the waiting list.

Your Stay at Community House
Whether you are coming to Reno to learn English at TMCC, undergraduate, graduate, researcher, scholar or exchange student, or immigrant, the Reno International House welcomes you

Some expectations and rules commonly observed
  • Participate in regular house meetings
  • Always clean up after cooking
  • Respect the quiet hours during the late night
  • More customs and rules will be shared after your application

Housing Locations

See Our Homes section for a detailed description of each house. They are near UNR. As for homestay families and referral partner apartments:

Homestay Families

Local Reno-area families have bedrooms for rent, typically furnished and with utilities included. Ideal for younger single international students and exchange students looking to experience life with an American family, senior citizen or local resident. Helpful for short-term “starter” housing, until you can become familiar with the city and other long-term housing options.

Area Referral Partner Apartments

Apartment complexes, property owners, landlords and property managers who have accommodated other international students and immigrants in the past.

Homestay Experiences

Experiencing life with a local homestay resident or family can be an amazing experience during your stay in Reno. You'll get to do everyday life in a local American home. On the housing contact form on the Join Us page, be sure to indicate if you are interested.

If you are a local family or resident, and would like to rent a room and host an international student, submit our homestay family application.

Management and Support

Our community houses are directly managed by our team or volunteers, and help support our program. Residents of homestay families and referral “partner” apartments pay those landlords directly, but we can assist with providing contacts if they are available.

In addition, we work with International Friends of Reno ( www.internationalreno.org ) to offer a household items and furniture garage, along with airport pickups and moving help.

How to Start
If you are an international student, scholar or immigrant looking for housing, fill out our Application Here - It’s free, and one of our volunteers will follow up with you by email within a few working days.

Contact Us
Because we do not have an office that is regularly staffed, use the form below to have one of our staff or volunteers schedule a time to call you.
Or send us an e-mail:[email protected]

Are you a local Reno-area property owner or family that would like to rent to internationals?