Emergency Basic Needs Grant
The Office of the Dean of Students provides grants to students experiencing financial crisis due to unexpected circumstances beyond their control that can impact their ability to be successful at Cal State LA*.
Funds are meant to supplement, and not supplant, existing student aid provided to qualifying students.
The Emergency Basic Needs and On‑/Off‑Campus Housing Grant Program provides short‑term financial assistance to students experiencing unexpected financial hardship that impacts their ability to meet basic needs, including housing stability. This program supports students facing housing‑related emergencies by offering financial assistance that may help address on‑campus or off‑campus housing expenses, such as rent, temporary housing costs, or other housing‑related needs.
The grant program is intended to supplement existing financial aid and assist students who are experiencing unforeseen circumstances beyond their control that may interfere with their continued enrollment and academic success. Awards are based on demonstrated need, eligibility criteria, and availability of funds, and are designed to help students stabilize their housing situation while pursuing longer‑term solutions.
*The process to review a grant application may take up to 4 - 6 weeks once documents have been submitted. Please take into account that there may occasionally be a longer response time, this may be due to holidays, campus closures, or due to a high number of requests.
General Eligibility Requirements for Emergency Basic Needs and Financial Grant:
- Be able to demonstrate urgent financial need with supporting documentation
- Must be enrolled in at least 3 units, in a Bachelor's or graduate degree or a credential program in the current semester they are applying
- Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)/CA DREAM Act Application (if eligible)
Supporting Documentation for Grant Application:
Grant Applications require supporting documentation that confirms the students' financial crisis caused due to unexpected circumstances. Supporting documentation may include, but not limited to the following:
- Medical note/invoice
- Eviction notice
- Employment Termination notice
- Death certificate
- Other certificates or invoices as necessary
Additional Requirements for Basic Needs Support:
- Priority is given to students to first-time applicants with supporting documentation/verification of their emergency circumstances
Additional Requirements for On/Off-Campus Housing Financial Support:
- Must be enrolled full-time: 12 units for Undergraduates or 8 units for Graduate students in the current semester they are applying
- Students have exhausted their financial resources including subsidized loans
- Students are experiencing unexpected circumstances beyond their control that limits their ability to pay for housing-related expenses
While each program has specific criteria, all of these programs require students to certify that they have read and met the eligibility criteria and that all of the information submitted on this application is accurate and true. Additionally, all student applicants must understand and acknowledge that other areas of the University may be consulted which may be used to determine their level of eligibility for these resources.
Review Process
Grant Applications are only reviewed during regular business hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., applications will not be reviewed after business hours, on weekends, or University Holidays.
The Grant Application and Review Process takes place in 4 steps:
- Student submits grant application form online with supporting documents
- Once submitted you will receive a confirmation message
- The review process can take up to 4 to 6 weeks after all the supporting documents have been submitted
- You will receive a decision letter via email
- Awarding decisions will be made based on your application responses.
- Grant award amounts may also depend upon a review of a student's financial aid package.
- Students can still apply if they did not submit a FAFSA or CA Dream Act application
- The Basic Needs & Emergency Grant awards approved applicants from $500 up to $1000 per school year.
- The On-Campus Housing Grant awards approved applicants up to $2000 per school year.
- The Off-Campus Housing Grant awards approved applicants up to $2000 per school year.
To apply for basic needs and housing‑related emergency financial assistance, students must:
- Complete the Basic Needs Emergency Grant Application using the online application form.
- Submit required supporting documentation that demonstrates an unexpected financial hardship affecting housing stability (examples may include eviction notices, past‑due rent statements, utility shut‑off notices, or other relevant documentation).
- Confirm eligibility requirements, including enrollment status and completion of FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application, if eligible.
The Emergency Temporary Housing Assistance Program is designed to support students who are experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, including students who are:
- Unhoused due to extenuating circumstances
- At high risk of homelessness or eviction
- Displaced due to unsafe living conditions
- Living in their car or on the street
To be eligible for Cal State LA’s Emergency Temporary Housing Program, students must:
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program
- Be enrolled in the current academic term in which they are applying
- Be experiencing housing insecurity, displacement, or homelessness
Placement is subject to space availability and individual student circumstances.
Prior to placement, students must review and sign the Emergency Housing Terms and Conditions.
Students seeking Emergency Temporary Housing should follow the steps below:
- Complete the Emergency Temporary Housing Application using the online form.
- Submit all required information as instructed on the application.
- Applications are reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students, and students may be contacted for additional information as needed.
Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they are experiencing housing instability. Availability is limited, and timely submission helps facilitate review and placement.