Student Support Resources [1]
These are local resources to help students meet basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are a student looking for emergency resources or support services and are not finding what you need, please contact Dean of Students Office [2] and explore Single Stop Resources [3].
Food | Shelter | Utilities & Internet | Healthcare | Financial Assistance | Social Services | Miscellaneous
Food
- The Amherst Survival Center [4]
- Northampton Survival Center [5]
- First Baptist Church, Amherst [6] – food pantry distribution, 2 – 4 p.m. Wednesdays
- Food Bank of Western Massachusetts [7] – assistance applying for SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) online [8] or by phone [9]
- For student parents: Children and teenagers are eligible for free meals at hundreds of locations [10] throughout the state.
Shelter
- Getting help with housing costs during COVID-19 [11]
- Directory of local shelters [12]
- Western Massachusetts eviction prevention resources [13]
Utilities & Internet
- Discounted internet information [14] from UMass IT
- Internet Essentials [15] – discounted internet and low-cost laptop computers
- Eversource support programs [16] – assistance paying for residential electric service
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [17]
- Energy assistance [18] and fuel assistance [19] through Community Action Pioneer Valley [20]
Healthcare
-
MassHealth Open Enrollment [21] – Free or heavily-subsidized health insurance plans
- Phone: 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
Financial assistance
- For job loss, file an unemployment claim [22] through the Department of Unemployment Assistance [23] and refer to the COVID-19 specific unemployment handbook [24]
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance [25] (a new category of unemployment for anyone not eligible for traditional unemployment)
- If searching for work, avoid job scams [26]
- Apply [27] for funding for LGBTQ youth and organizations impacted by COVID-19 [28]
- Research other COVID-19 emergency funding sources [29] for individuals and organizations
Social Service Agencies
- Massachusetts 2-1-1 [30] – quick 24/7 connection to local resources for health, nutrition, housing, employment, finances and more
- Amherst Community Connections [31] – assistance with housing, jobs, food, and more
- Community Action Pioneer Valley [20] – support and resource referrals for individuals and families
- Look4help.org [32] – searchable database of local resources
Miscellaneous Resources
-
Moving and storage:
- U-Haul [33] – one month free storage for students
- Dorm Room Movers [34] – discounted shipping and storage
-
Legal:
- UMass Student Legal Services Office [35] (SLSO) – free legal consultation for all fee-paying students on any legal matter
-
Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office [36] – advocacy for consumers, labor, healthcare, childcare, and more
Information about sick time laws:
617-727-3465
Help with insurance claims or medical bills:
888-830-6277
Report price gouging or defective products:
617-727-8400