Basic Needs Resources

The Basic Needs Center strives to provide services and share resources to remove barriers and equip students with tools that support their success and wellness. Here you will find information about various resources on campus and in the community for food, housing, transportation, finances, and more. All enrolled students including international and undocumented students are eligible for Basic Needs Center resources and services.

Come to our Fall Food Pantry every 2nd & 4th Thursday

*Special dates: August 29th, November 7th, and November 21st

BASIC NEEDS CENTER

The Basic Needs Coordinator is working hard to establish Merritt College's first Basic Needs Center. The Basic Needs Center will serve as a physical resource hub for students, stay tuned for the launch date!

For additional resources, please explore the tabs below! If you still have questions, or would like to meet with the Basic Needs Coordinator, you can make an appointment at this link: https://calendly.com/sabdurahman-bnc

The links and information on our most frequently asked about referrals can be found on our linktr.ee:

https://linktr.ee/merrittbnc

If you need emergency aid please read more about the Project Success Emergency Grant under "Financial Resources"

Best Colleges’ List of Basic Needs Resources

bit.ly/StudentResourcesBasicNeeds

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Merritt College Emergency Aid Program: Project Success

Purpose: The Project Success Emergency Aid Program is designed to assist students in dealing with unforeseen financial emergencies that, if not quickly resolved, could cause students to drop out of school.

Grant Amount:

$500.00 (limit over the life of the program)
Student Eligibility Requirements:
Merritt College must be the student’s home college.
Enrolled in 6 units or more.
GPA of 2.0 or greater

How to Apply:

The ECMC Project Success Grant Application Portal is now live! Click HERE to apply for the one-time $500 grant. Please review eligibility before submitting your application, thank you.

Students requesting assistance to pay an outstanding bill should be prepared to upload a copy of the outstanding bill. Approvals for food or grocery requests will not exceed $200.

For questions, contact Susana Abdurahman (Basic Needs Coordinator) at

sabdurahman@peralta.edu.

State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) – Emergency Financial Aid Assistance Grants
Grant Amount: $ 600.00 Per Semester

Purpose: Provide emergency financial need to students who qualify for California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and have emergency financial need.

How to Apply: Complete the online application (Click here)
Eligibility Requirements: Grants may be awarded to students who self-certify and meet the following criteria:

U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens.
Currently enrolled in credit or noncredit courses at the California Community College; with 2.0 GPA
Demonstrate an emergency financial need; and
Qualify as a low-income by meeting the requirements to receive a California College Promise Grant (CCPG).

Contact: FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, merfinaid@peralta.edu

Emergency Transportation Grants:

Grants in the form of gas cards and uber cards will be available to students later in the semester. When we start accepting applications, a form will be sent out on the student newsletter and will be posted on our webpage.

Eligibility:

Must be currently enrolled
Must be taking at least one class on-campus
EFC 0 and/or demonstrate need

FOOD RESOURCES

Merritt S.O.U.L. Food Bank

Merritt College’s Food Bank occurs every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month when school is in session. It is held in R-127 (R Building, Student Center) from 12 PM to 2 PM. For more information, visit https://www.merritt.edu/foodbank/.

CalFresh

Would you like to receive money for groceries every month? Apply for CalFresh here!

Starting Week 3 of Fall Semester (September 3rd - 6th) the Basic Needs Coordinator will be hosting CalFresh drop-in hours every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 1 PM - 4 PM in her office located at R 124.

Alameda County Food Banks

Name	Address	Contact Information
Alameda Food Bank (Only those who live or work in Alameda can receive food)	650 West Ranger Avenue Alameda, CA 94501	(510) 523-5850 https://www.alamedafoodbank.org/
Alameda County Community Food Bank	7900 Edgewater Dr Oakland, CA	(510) 775-2527 www.accfb.org
California Association of Food Banks	1611 Telegraph Ave, Ste 830 Oakland, CA	(510) 272-4435
Hope 4 the Heart Food Bank	22035 Meekland Ave Hayward, CA	(510) 581-4673
Butler’s Pantry LLC Food Bank	2159 National Ave Hayward, CA
Berkeley Food Network Food Bank	1925 9th St Berkeley, CA	https://berkeleyfoodnetwork.org/contact-us/
Berkeley Food Pantry Food Bank	1600 Sacramento St Berkeley, CA	(510) 525-2280
Dorothy Day House Food Bank Homeless Shelter	Berkeley, CA	(925) 519-9881
Chubby Pantry Co Food Bank	3448 Oak Knoll Blvd Oakland, CA
Monday Night Mission: East Oakland Food Bank	5733 San Leandro St Oakland, CA	(510) 516-0166

HOUSING RESOURCES

A list of housing resources is available by clicking this link.

For urgent housing needs call 2-1-1

More information below:

Building Futures/211/Operation Dignity

Contact Building Futures at 866-A-WAY-OUT (24 HOUR TOLL FREE CRISIS LINE) or Call 2-1-1 For the same intake The 24 hours, 7 days a week resource for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness is to call 2-1-1.

Staff there have the most in-depth knowledge of available resources, shelter locations, and available housing applications. There are a number of resources countywide that can be accessed by calling 2-1-1 or visiting their website at http://211alamedacounty.org/.

Mobile Outreach Non-profit organizations Operation Dignity and Building Futures provide basic necessities to those experiencing homelessness while working on stabilizing their situation and helping them to find housing.

Dine and Connect

Dine and Connect Held on the last Monday of each month, dinners lead by Alameda’s faith based community provide more than just a warm meal to those experiencing homelessness. Alongside dinner, this program connects individuals to services and resources and fosters community with an opportunity for individuals to meet, talk, and connect.

Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church 1420 Lafayette St. Alameda, CA (click to view contact info)

Covia Home Match

Covia Home Match
881 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 351-1000
https://covia.org/programs/home-match/

Home Match Oakland Rooms Catalog

LEGAL RESOURCES

East Bay Community Law Center’s Free Immigration Legal Services

To schedule a virtual appointment with the East Bay Community Law Center, click here.

Centro Legal de La Raza: https://www.centrolegal.org/

Eviction Defense Center: https://www.evictiondefensecenteroakland.org/

Just Cause/Causa Justa: https://cjjc.org/

Oakland Lawyers In the Library: https://oaklandlibrary.org/lawyers-in-the-library/

PANTHER PARENT RESOURCES

We see you Panther Parents!!! We know it’s not easy juggling school, work, parenthood, and life. Merritt College and the Panther Basic Need Center are here to support you and your cubs (children) with Panther Pride.

Browse through the information below and click the links to access more support services and resources.

Panther Parents qualify for early (priority) registration. To prepare for registration, parents are encourage to complete all of the steps to apply and enroll (apply for admission, complete orientation, meet with a counselor, enroll in your classes, and pay your fees.
Don’t forget to apply for additional support. Click the links below check the eligibility requirements and apply for
- Financial Aid,
- EOPS/CARE,
- CalWORKS,
- Next UP (former foster youth)
Need diapers? Checkout Help a Mother Out and their community partner diaper distribution sites.
Panther parents might also qualify for CalFresh Benefits , California Earned Income Tax Credit , the Young Child Tax Credit , and nutrition education, breastfeeding support and healthy foods through the WIC program.
Peralta Child Care @ Merritt College

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