One of the biggest questions people have about houseparenting is simple: What does it mean to live where you work?

At Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania, married houseparent couples live on campus in private apartments. Once a couple is assigned to a specific student home after the “flex” training period, they move into an apartment connected to that home, where they help support a group of eight to 12 students of a similar age and the same gender.

The setup keeps houseparents closely connected to the students they support while still giving them a private space of their own.

A Separate Space for Your Family

Houseparent apartments have their own entrance and include bedrooms, bathroom space, a living area, a kitchen with appliances, and a private patio. Utilities and maintenance are covered by the school.

Houseparents can also have their own children living with them. At MHS, up to three dependent children may live in the houseparent apartment. Those children attend local public, private, charter, cyber, or homeschool programs rather than MHS itself.

At MHS, a couple does not necessarily have to choose between the work and raising a family of their own. Their family life becomes part of the larger rhythm of living and working on campus.

What Happens When You’re Off Duty?

At MHS, the schedule includes nine days on, followed by three days off. The position is year-round, but houseparents also receive a three-week summer vacation and additional time off during holiday breaks. During the school week, there is unscheduled downtime while students are in school, while weekends tend to have a more relaxed pace.

The schedule is an important part of understanding the role. Houseparenting is immersive work, especially during on-duty stretches, but it also includes defined periods when couples can step away, spend time with their own family, and pursue their own interests or hobbies.

A Different Kind of Home and Work Life

Houseparenting asks couples to think differently about the line between work and home. Your job is closely connected to where you live, and the students you support are part of your everyday life.

But that does not mean giving up privacy, family life, or time to recharge.

For people considering the career, seeing the actual living arrangement can make the role much easier to picture. Milton Hershey School offers virtual tours of both its houseparent apartments and student homes so prospective candidates can get a better sense of what daily life on campus looks like. They also offer regular virtual info sessions and invite couples to on-campus Houseparent Open Houses.

Learn more about Houseparenting at Milton Hershey School.