Economic Crisis Response Grant

Economic Crisis Response Grant

The Economic Crisis Grant is a case-specific, university intervention to be utilized to address a student’s financial emergency. This is a safety net grant to support students’ basic needs when unexpected circumstances arise, and when all other resources available have been exhausted. This emergency grant is not to be seen as additional Financial Aid and cannot fill Financial Aid gaps.  

Awarding Guidelines & Limits

The ECR Grant CAN support with:
  • Past due rent or rent costs to avoid eviction
  • Security deposit for housing
  • Food needs (if already accessing other food supports offered by the Basic Needs Center)
  • Unexpected car repair (does not include car maintenance expenses)
  • Medical emergencies impacting food and housing security such as:
    • Urgent medical/dental procedures not covered by insurance
    • Hospitalization not covered by insurance
    • Urgent mental health care not covered by insurance
The ECR Grant CANNOT support with:
  • Tuition and fees
    • Including financial aid adjustments that the student is required to pay back
  • Mortgages (personal/family property)
  • Car/vehicle payments, which includes:
    • Loan payments
    • Car registration
    • Car insurance
  • Credit card debt
  • Personal loan debt
  • Immigration-related fees
  • Veterinary bills
  • Partner/family expenses
  • Parking permits or citations
  • Laptops and course materials
  • Plane tickets

Students can be supported for an unexpected circumstance/emergency once per fiscal year, with a grant of up to $2,000. If a second financial emergency arises in the same fiscal year, students should first connect with a Campus Social Worker to be referred to the Economic Crisis Response Team to be considered for exceptional approval to apply a second time. 

Due to resource limitations, a student may receive a maximum of $5000 worth of emergency grant support for the duration of their academic degree.  

Eligibility

A student under consideration for the Economic Crisis Response (ECR) Grant MUST:

  • Be a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at the University of California, Irvine
  • Demonstrate a financial crisis that is affecting their access to basic needs, including housing, food, medical and/or mental health care
    • You must have exhausted all resources (financial aid loans, deferment plans, community resources, etc.) in order to be eligible for the grant
    • You must have room in your Financial Aid budget to receive this grant 
    • This grant cannot cover tuition and fees

Steps to Apply

STEP 1: Submit an ECRG Pre-Screening Form to verify Financial Aid eligibility

STEP 2: The Basic Needs Financial Aid Counselor will check eligibility and our staff will email you to confirm eligibility. If eligible, you will receive a link to submit the application.

STEP 3: The Economic Crisis Response Team will review the application and the committee chair will communicate with you to inform you of the outcome of the decision.

  • If approved, the funds will be disbursed via Financial Aid within 24 hours
  • If denied, student will receive communication and referral to additional resources

Questions? E-mail us at: fresh-ecrg@uci.edu