Published on Dean of Students Office (https://www.umass.edu/dean_students)

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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

Source URL: https://www.umass.edu/dean_students/support-resources

Links
[1] https://www.umass.edu/dean_students/support-resources
[2] https://www.umass.edu/dean_students/student-support-request-referral
[3] https://www.umass.edu/studentlife/single-stop
[4] https://amherstsurvival.org/
[5] https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/
[6] https://www.fbcamherst.org/food-pantry
[7] https://www.foodbankwma.org/donate/honormemorial-donation/
[8] https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/
[9] https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/snap-outreach-enrollment/
[10] https://meals4kids.org/find-summer-meal-site
[11] https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-getting-help-with-housing-costs
[12] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52e41b83e4b0eeee5467db96/t/57752ee02994ca36059874c7/1467297505804/Shelters+for+Individuals%2C+Families%2C+and+Young+Adults.pdf
[13] https://www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/resources/2020/important-eviction-prevention-information-please-distribute/
[14] https://www.umass.edu/it/disruptionresilience-students#Internet%20Connectivity:%20Free%20&%20Discounted%20Options
[15] https://internetessentials.com/
[16] https://www.eversource.com/content/wma/residential/safety/protect-yourself/responding-to-covid-19
[17] http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
[18] https://www.communityaction.us/home-energy-assistance
[19] https://www.communityaction.us/fuel-assistance
[20] https://www.communityaction.us/
[21] http://mahealthconnector.org/
[22] http://www.mass.gov/applying-for-unemployment-benefits
[23] http://www.mass.gov/service-details/check-eligibility-for-unemployment-benefits
[24] https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-unemployment-and-coronavirus-covid-19
[25] https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-pandemic-unemployment-assistance
[26] https://www.umass.edu/umfa/seo/job-scams
[27] http://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFDW7WL5GoX-YNYFefgzdO_v8UvUeZp01tgGeJoEn8XCQbWg/viewform
[28] https://mailchi.mp/ccda86a925bb/commission-announces-10000-in-funding-for-youth-impacted-by-covid-19
[29] https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/covid-19-emergency-financial-resources/
[30] https://www.helpsteps.com/hs/home/#/
[31] http://www.amherstcommunityconnections.net/
[32] https://C0A1774E-A842-495E-B1D9-29B8ECD93428/look4help.org
[33] https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/16119/One-Month-Free-Storage-AT-U-Haul-Self-Storage-Locations/
[34] https://www.dormroommovers.com/storage-shipping-services-at-University-of-Massachusetts-Amherst-Amherst-MA
[35] https://www.umass.edu/slso/
[36] https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-attorney-general-maura-healey