Emergency Grants

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
• 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
• 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:

1. Student submits grant application form online with supporting documents
2. Once submitted you will receive a confirmation message
3. The review process can take up to 4 to 6 weeks after all the supporting documents have been submitted
4. 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.

The Cal State LA Emergency Temporary Housing Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with temporary transitional housing for up to 14 days if they are experiencing housing displacement or homelessness.

Our goal is to ensure our students' safety and provide them with adequate time to acquire permanent and secure housing. Placement is subject to space availability and individual student circumstances. See application details and eligibility below.

Apply for Emergency Temporary Housing

This program is designed for students who are: 

• Unhoused due to extenuating circumstances
• At high risk of homelessness or eviction
• Displaced due to unsafe living conditions
• Living in your car or on the street

To be eligible for Cal State LA's Emergency Housing Program*, a student must:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in the current semester they are applying for emergency housing

*Before a student can move into emergency housing, they must read and sign the Emergency Housing Terms and Conditions.