Emergency Housing & Utility Assistance

Housing & Utility Assistance Grant

The Housing & Utility Assistance Grant provides one-time/bridge financial assistance to currently enrolled students experiencing an unexpected financial emergency that threatens their housing or essential utility stability.

The grant is intended to provide short-term assistance toward an eligible emergency expense when the assistance can reasonably help stabilize the student's immediate circumstances.

Objectives

• Reduce the immediate financial impact of an unexpected housing or utility emergency
• Help students address eligible expenses that threaten their immediate housing or utility stability
• Support students' ability to remain enrolled and academically successful by addressing qualifying emergency financial barriers

Grant Details

• Coverage: Eligible, essential housing and utility expenses resulting from an unexpected financial emergency
• Eligibility: Students must be actively enrolled in the current semester in which they apply and demonstrate financial need and a qualifying emergency
• Amount: Up to $3,000, based on the student's individual circumstances, documented need, eligibility, and available program funds
• Selection Criteria: Financial need, urgency of the emergency, impact on housing or utility stability, and whether one-time assistance can reasonably address or stabilize the immediate emergency
• Assistance Type: One-time assistance. Approval of an award does not establish eligibility for future assistance or ongoing support for recurring expenses.

Important Information for Housing Requests

Housing assistance may be considered for eligible emergency expenses; however, Emergency Funding is not ongoing rental assistance or a long-term housing subsidy.

Students should understand the following before making a housing commitment:

• Submitting an application does not guarantee an award.
• An award is not guaranteed based on the student's level of financial need, the amount requested, or the identification of a housing option.
• Award amounts may be less than the amount requested.
• Students should not sign a lease, pay a security deposit, surrender a shelter placement, move into a new residence, or make another significant housing commitment based on anticipated Emergency Funding.
• Students are responsible for determining whether they can maintain the proposed housing arrangement after any one-time Emergency Funding has been exhausted.
• Emergency Funding cannot be relied upon to cover recurring rent or other ongoing housing expenses.
• A housing request may be denied when the available one-time assistance would not reasonably resolve or stabilize the immediate emergency.
• Receipt of Emergency Funding does not guarantee additional assistance in a subsequent semester or for a future emergency.

Before Applying for Housing Assistance

If you are considering a new housing arrangement and intend to request Emergency Funding, please carefully consider whether you will be able to maintain the arrangement without continued Emergency Funding assistance.

Please do not make a housing commitment based on the expectation that your application will be approved.

Emergency Funding staff can explain the application and review process, but cannot guarantee eligibility, approval, or a specific award amount before the application has been reviewed.

Students experiencing ongoing or significant housing instability are encouraged to connect with Wellness Resource Services and appropriate community housing resources to explore options that provide longer-term stability.