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