Center for Equitable Higher Education South 

Studying and promoting economic, food, and housing justice

Student Resources

Financial

  • This network is a portal for college students affected by COVID-19 to seek assistance. Applicants will be connected to a case worker who will help them find emergency financial aid, apply for public benefits, and connect them with local resources.
  • In support of the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, CSULB’s Basic Needs Program connects students with food, housing, and financial resources and services
  • This document helps college students address emergency needs related to COVID-19. It covers such topics as: unemployment benefits, healthcare, CalFresh, and utility assistance.
  • The Resilience Scholarship provides women within Los Angeles County the support to achieve their educational goals. Click the link to apply
  • Lambda Theta Alpha is providing stipends up to $250 for those needing immediate financial assistance due to COVID-19
  • Provides small emergency grants or grocery gift cards for CSULB students requiring immediate assistance
  • This automatic sign-up tool is for people who lose their jobs or have hours cut due to COVID-19. Students in this situation may be eligible to have their student loan payment reduced - check the link to determine your eligibility  
  • JFLA is offering interest-free and fee-free loans to those impacted by coronavirus, to cover childcare, lost wages, and student homelessness. You do not need to be Jewish to apply
  • USBG is offering loans to bartenders who may be out of work
  • One Fair Wage is offering cash assistance to service workers and tipped workers
  • CRAF is offering financial assistance to restaurant workers in crisis. Click the link to find relevant COVID-19 resources or to apply for a grant
  • CORE is supporting food & beverage service employees with children, who have been medically diagnosed with COVID-19
  • The Coronavirus Care Fund (CCF) provides $400 emergency assistance for qualifying home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic
  • California Social Services - Access to general relief/unemployment benefits: please click the links corresponding to your county to apply for general relief, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and/or CalFresh
  • Provides general guidance as to what programs are available and what situations may be applicable to your circumstances

Food

  • Click the link to check your eligibility and apply for Calfresh benefits
  • Second Harvest Food Bank is hosting weekly drive-thru food distribution of shelf-stable items and produce. Pop ups are held on Saturdays from 9:00AM - noon in the Honda Center Parking Lot
  • Enter your address in the page above to find your local LA food pantry
  • Visit auntbertha.com for food bank locations or food resources (along with other free or reduced cost services such as medical care, housing, financial, etc.)
  • Refers people across U.S to food pantries, soup kitchens, and government nutrition programs
  • This article details the online EBT programs of major grocery stores along with how to place an online order for delivery
  • Click the link to see available child nutrition, WIC, and SNAP waivers available during the COVID-19 outbreak

Housing

  • This subsidy program was created to assist LA’s tenants and landlords affected by the current pandemic and prevent displacement of renters. The program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the link to apply by July 17th.
  • U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage to college students facing unforeseen moves or schedule changes
  • For survivors of domestic abuse, staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may further compromise survivors’ safety. The link above provides specific tips for survivors in regards to creating safety plans and reaching out for help
  • COVID-19-related Suspensions on Foreclosures and Evictions:
  • This is a notice that tenants must give to landlords if they cannot afford to pay rent due to lost income. To avoid evictions, tenants must submit the document above

Mental Health

  • Link above leads to tip sheet that provides information for taking care of behavioral health during times of social distancing, quarantine, and isolation
  • Disaster Distress Helpline (800-985-5990)
  • Provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress relating to natural/human-caused disaster
  • Includes links to various websites and apps for virtual AA meetings to respond to suspensions in in-person meetings
  • CDC provides general guidelines for coping with stress, anxiety, and grief during emergencies like COVID-19
  • Read the article above to help take control over your health anxiety
  • OC-Links - Information and Referral Line (Orange County)
  • (855)-OC-Links (855-625-4657)
  • The number above provides telephone and online support for individuals seeking information or linkage to behavioral health services
  • The free and confidential hotline above provides non-crisis emotional support for anyone struggling with mental health concerns
  • Individuals can call or text from 9AM - 3AM Mon-Fri; 10AM - 3AM Sat-Sun
  • Includes different guided meditations and mindfulness resources to help stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic
  •  AMR Therapy is offering sliding scale mental health therapy and 30-minute phone sessions for donation only. AMR is operated by licensed professionals donating their time and expertise to whatever you are able to afford
  • LACDMH provides helpful resources for coping with anxiety and stress during the pandemic. The site also lists various resources for families, parents, children, healthcare providers, and community and peer support
  • CredibleMind provides medical information, practical tips, and mental health and wellbeing support in their COVID-10 Resource Center
  • Headspace is offering a collection of meditations and sleep/movement exercises to help you find some space and kindness for yourself and those around you
  • Wysa is an AI chatbot with exercises to help with stress, depression, and anxiety. They have developed activity packs for Isolation Stress and Pandemic Stress and are currently offering those for free to the public. They are also offering their entire platform for free to frontline healthcare workers
  • Sanvello is an app that provides exercises for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. They are providing premium access- all content, coping tools, and peer support, for free during the crisis
  • Happify is an app and website designed to help users overcome negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges using evidence-based solutions. They are offering a free set of tracks during this time to help users care for their mental health

Information

  • LA County has launched this new WiFi locator tool to help residents get online during the pandemic
  • During COVID-19 pandemic, dialing ‘211’ will connect you to a local responder who can give assistance related to food, housing, and childcare concerns
  • Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days for households with K-12 and/or college students who do not currently have Spectrum broadband subscription
  • NAFSA provides links to various resources surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on international education
  • EDD details how workers and caregivers can apply for disability, unemployment, or family leave during pandemic
  • The USC Price Center for Social Innovation has created this map to help the Los Angeles community understand where cases of COVID-19 exist as well as the underlying vulnerabilities faced by Los Angeles residents

Advocacy

  • Add your name to the petition to support a bill to provide $1.2 million in emergency aid to college students affected by COVID-19-related campus closures
  • When the government declares an emergency, increasing the price of goods & services by 10%+ may be price gouging. The link above provides general guidelines for identifying and reporting instances of price gouging
  • CIYJA compiled this crucial resource guide (in English and Spanish) for undocumented Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide provides information to help undocumented individuals access healthcare, food, and family resources
  • Allows individuals to request that their Members of Congress provide funds to homelessness and housing programs during the pandemic
  • Links to a Google Doc petition by Rent Strike 2020 to temporarily suspend rent, mortgage, and utility payments during COVID-19 crisis to protect workers who must skip work for the sake of the health of their community
  • This guide details the rights individuals have as renters in Los Angeles

Faculty/Service Providers Support Resources

Student Services

  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
  • NASFAA created this web center to keep the financial aid community updated on COVID-19 related news
  • The Hope Center: Meeting student basic needs and keeping them enrolled during COVID-19 – Webinar
  • The Hope Center will hold this webinar on March 19th, where they will provide an overview of what students need to remain enrolled during the pandemic and how institutions can best support students. Click the link to register  
  • o   Update: Webinar Recording
  • Provides information about how institutions may respond to federal work-study students who are directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19 (quarantines, travel-abroad recalls, internship and/or employer suspensions, etc.)
  • Update: 5/15
  • EAB created this comprehensive resource center to help individuals navigate their institutions’ responses to COVID-19
  • Includes resources guides to best meet students’ basic needs (resources guides focus on students in Los Angeles and New York)
  • Update – Webinar Recordings

Donations to Support Students’ Basic Needs

  • Click the link to make a one time or recurring donation to help support CSULB students facing food and/or housing insecurity during the pandemic
  • In partnership with Dr. Crutchfield and students from CSULB, For The Child has established this scholarship of emergency grants or grocery gift cards for CSULB students. Click the link for information about the fund and ways to donate
  • To help Cal State students in need during this critical time, visit the link above & look for the ‘donate’ option. You can also support a student food pantry to have essential items shipped directly to a CSU campus

Housing: Educators/Service Providers

  • The Alliance is continuously updating this blog post with takeaways and relevant resources for navigating homelessness during COVID-19 pandemic
  • This guide provides tips and resources to best support the health and educational success of students who are homeless or with experience in foster care during the COVID-19 crisis
  • Infectious Disease Preparedness Among Homeless Assistance Providers - Webinar Recording
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released a webinar recording from March 10 that provides the most up-to-date information and resources available to support local response efforts
  • SchoolHouse Connection/National Network for Youth (NN4Y) – Federal Policy Update: Webinar Recording
  • Directors from SchoolHouse Connection & NN4Y held a federal policy update on April 1st to discuss updates in funding and legislation on child and youth homelessness. Click the link to register to view the recorded webinar
  • Upcoming Webinars 
  • This article details vital questions to consider as schools and administrators work to support students and youth experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak

General Resources

  • Provides self-care resources, articles, book recommendations, and more in response to the current worldwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism
  • This vital resource list, applicable to all California college students, ensures students have access to vital federal and statewide COVID-19 updates and resources to best support them through the pandemic
  • This guide serves as a crucial reference for those able to support students’ basic needs in their attainment of food, housing, financial, healthcare, and emergency aid services
  • CLASP: Supporting young adults with transformation, reentry, and connecting to employment - Webinar
  • Join CLASP on April 1st for a webinar where they will be discussing how communities connect young adults who have been impacted by the criminal justice system to employment, educational opportunities, and supportive services
  • Update: Webinar recording

Rashida Crutchfield

Yasmine Shahbaz