Well, it is not that simple. You can deduct as a charitable donation itemized deduction, certain expenses paid for a student living with you. The rules are extensive and there are certain items that you have to file with your return (meaning that you will have to file it by mail). The maximum deduction is $50 for any whole month that the student lived with you.
To read the requirements and the info on what you can count as expenses, start on Page 4 of IRS Publication 526, at this link:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdfThe instructions on what records have to be filed with your tax return are on Page 20 of Pub. 526.
