91ÊÓƵ

An Emergency Funds Grant, awarded through the Basic Needs Program, seeks to provide immediate financial assistance for students who encounter temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen or catastrophic life events that directly impact their ability to continue with their education. Please keep in mind that Emergency Funds Grant requests to pay expected expenses such as tuition bills will not be approved. 

All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, who are interested in Basic Needs resources are welcome.

A Childcare Grant, awarded through the Basic Needs Program, seeks to provide temporary, one-time support for parenting students who encounter financial hardship to cover the cost of childcare due to an unforeseen or catastrophic life events.

To be eligible for an Emergency Funds or Childcare Grant, applicants must:

• Be a currently enrolled and a matriculated 91ÊÓƵ student (students in between terms are not eligible for disbursement of the grant) with dependent(s); 
• Have not exhausted cost of attendance (COA) and meeting satisfactory academic progress (SAP);  
• Be able to demonstrate an urgent and catastrophic event (supporting documentation required; e.g. car repair estimate, eviction notice, etc.) has occurred within the past Academic Year.

Additional eligibility requirements for the Childcare Grant:

• Applicants must provide proof of dependent(s) either in the form of a copy of a birth certificate or other appropriate identification documentation; 
• Applicants must provide a receipt for childcare services such as daycare showing dependent(s) names and the applicant’s name. If a receipt is unable to be obtained, please submit your request and consult with the Basic Needs Case Manager; 
• Have one (1) or more dependent children age 14 or under 

In order to assist with determining your eligibility, in the most efficient and effective manner, please provide as much detailed information as you can about your situation and your need for funding assistance in your request for funds. If we are unable to determine eligibility via your request, you may be asked to meet with a Basic Needs staff member to determine eligibility.

To apply for any Basic Needs Financial Support, please complete the

Below are a few examples to assist you in determining if you may qualify for an Emergency Funds Grant. 

Eligible for Emergency Grant (examples of unforeseen urgent and catastrophic events):

• Severe illness or hospitalization (i.e. to assist with covering medical expenses)
• Temporary inadequate housing (i.e. needing to leave your permanent residence due to an unforeseen event, not to include lack of a permanent residence)
• Loss of fixed income (i.e. loss of primary financial support person, or loss of employment. If loss of employment is the reason for application, please ensure that all efforts have been taken to receive unemployment benefits prior to applying for the Grant)
• Car accident or unforeseen related car expense (i.e. car repair expenses; does not include foreseen expenses related to owning a car, such as DMV renewal fees, etc.)

Not Eligible for Emergency Grant:

• You are not a currently enrolled student
• You have lost your job, but you are eligible to collect unemployment as a source of income (must provide documentation that you have been denied or the amount received is minimal and still leaves you in need)
• You are requesting funds for expected or planned expenses like:
  • Permanent Housing (i.e. expenses related to your student housing contract)
  • Tuition
  • DMV renewals
  • Utility bills

Requests for the above will only be considered if payments could not be made due to unforeseen/unexpected urgent and/or catastrophic events which has caused a redirection of resources.

Emergency Funds Grants are sums of money (generally under $500) meant to help address an immediate need connected to the ability  for a student to continue with their education. There is a maximum Emergency Funds Grant amount each student may receive each academic year, and all grants are dependent on funds available to the Basic Needs Program. Students may receive multiple grants over the course of an academic year, but the total amount awarded will not exceed the annual maximum amount.

By applying for an Emergency Funds Grant, applicants acknowledge and accept the potential impact of receiving such an award may have on financial aid awards they may receive through the University or by any other outside entity. If you have questions regarding the potential impact receiving such an award may have on your financial aid awards, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships office at 805-437-8530.

All information provided while applying for an Emergency Funds Grant will be used solely for the application process and will be treated as confidential.

Ekho Your Heart Program

• A special disaster relief fund has been established under the Ekho Your Heart Program to assist 91ÊÓƵ students, staff, and faculty recovering from natural disasters  that may affect members of the campus community. This fund has been established to help provide basic necessities to those with the greatest need. To learn more about the Disaster Relief Fund and apply for assistance, review and complete the . Awards will be granted on a case-by-case basis. Unless otherwise noted, awards are considered to be subject to income tax.

For additional information, please contact Basic Needs at 805-437-2067.