Get Assistance
SJSU Cares is here to provide assistance when you need it most. We provide resources and services for SJSU students facing unexpected financial crises. If you’re having trouble paying for food, housing or other bills, come to us to get the help you need.
Request assistance now and we'll contact you to discuss next steps, eligibility, and possible campus and community resources.
Food Assistance
Are you finding yourself struggling to afford food while attending SJSU? You are not alone. The most recent Student Affairs survey found that approximately half of SJSU students are sometimes skipping meals due to cost.
The good news is SJSU Cares has two great programs to help:
These programs can help you get the food you need to focus on your education. Additionally, there are many other food resources available on campus and in the surrounding community.
Housing Assistance
As a student, you may find yourself unexpectedly homeless if you lack stable, regular and adequate housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels or cars, or temporarily couch-surfing with other people because you have nowhere else to go.
If you are living in any of these situations because you are fleeing an abusive parent or guardian, you may be considered homeless even if they would provide support and a place to live. Or you may have an unexpected eviction, fire or other disaster where you are living.
An SJSU student was fearing eviction as she was nearing the end of her degree. A crucial step in her Financial Aid process meant a potential delay in her loans being released. After contacting SJSU Cares and meeting with a case manager, she was able to coordinate with the Financial Aid Office. Her aid was released in time for her to pay her rent and remain securely housed in her apartment. The student successfully finished her semester and remains on track to finish her Bachelor's degree according to her education and career plans.
Housing insecurity is a real issue in Silicon Valley. Please contact SJSU Cares if you are in an emergency situation!
Medical Assistance
Skipping an urgent medical or dental appointment because a lack of resources or insurance can lead to an unhealthy situation. Unexpected medical bills can seriously impact a student's monthly budget.
A new graduate student who had dental work found out he owed more to the dentist's office due to a miscommunication about his dental insurance coverage. Worried about having enough money for rent and food, he met with the SJSU Cares case manager. Together they made sure that he was accessing every available financial aid opportunities. They also identified additional food resources the student could use, and a local non-profit the student could contact for help responding to his remaining debt.
Contact SJSU Cares to find out what resources are available to help you pay for medical bills or insurance. We want to help you stay healthy!
Emergency/Disaster Assistance
Students share with us when they may have been a victim of a crime such as theft or burglary, or of a natural disaster like fire or flood, which has negatively affected their ability to succeed on campus.
In the aftermath of the Fall 2017 California wildfires, numerous Spartans whose families lived in the affected areas reached out to SJSU Cares for assistance. The SJSU Cares case manager was able to connect one student with Spartan Shops and the campus bookstore to get replacements for required textbooks lost in the fire. The same and other students were able to receive emergency assistance funding to replace clothing and other items critical to attending and completing assignments for classes that semester.
If you are facing any kind of emergency situation, contact SJSU Cares to find support and resources.
Getting Down to Basics: Opening the doors to assistance
Feeling overwhelmed with your ability to pay for housing, food, or other basic needs? Would you like a safe space to explore these life challenges? Join us to openly dialogue, identify additional solutions, and reduce stigma on accessing resources.
Clothing Assistance
Our campus has two main options for clothing asssitance. One for everyday wear & for career focused clothing.
The Clothes Closet, operated by the Office of Sustainablity, is designed to help alleviate two major issues: massive waste generated annually by discarded clothing, and students, faculty and staff who are unable to meet their basic needs. Visit thier website to make an appointment. Let us know if you are unable to find an appointment and have a more immediate need.
The Career Closet, operated by the Career Center, has a focus on providing students with free professional
clothing and up to one full professional outfit per academic year. This can assist
with interviews, job fairs, etc. Visit thier website to make an appointment.
Parenting Students Assistance
California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) promotes the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding people, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious food to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. You may qualify if you receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (SNAP) benefits. WIC welcomes military families, migrant families, fathers, foster parents and legal guardians with eligible children. Participating in the WIC program does not affect the immigration status of anyone currently in the U.S. Use the WIC eligibility assessment tool to see if you qualify. Set up an appointment at a WIC local agency near you. Visit the website for WIC families to find a WIC local agency site near you.
Diapers
Multiple community based agencies indicate that they have assistance with diapers through their programs. Knowing that our students live in many communities it is best to search for diaper assistance by your location.
Personal Hygiene Products
The Spartan Food Pantry offers menstrual hygiene products for its users. See the pantry website for eligibility.
For general locations of free sanitary products on campus visit the Gender Equity Center Sanitary Products page.
Tax Credits
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
If you work and have low income, you may qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). This credit gives you a refund or reduces your tax owed. Filing your state tax return is required to claim this credit.
Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)
Do you have a child under the age of 6? If you qualify for CalEITC (see above) and have a child under the age of 6, you may also qualify for a refundable tax credit of up to $1000 through the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)! If you qualify, you may see a reduced tax bill or a bigger refund. Use this calculator to see if you qualify and estimate the amount of your credit. Filing your state tax return is required to claim this credit.
