Frequently Asked Questions

How do I qualify for the Basic Needs Grant?

The Basic Needs Grant is a last resort source of funding for students who experience an unforeseen financial hardship and are unable to resolve their financial difficulty through grants, scholarships, loans, or other Financial Aid awards. Students must demonstrate how the nature of their unforeseen hardship impacts them financially and their ability to continue at CSUF. All Basic Needs Grant requests are reviewed by the Care Review Committee. 

Students must provide documentation that reflects the eligible unpaid basic needs expenses for  which they request a grant. Eligible unpaid basic needs expenses include: 

• Housing/rental costs.
• Utilities (gas, electricity, water, etc.)
• Vehicle expenses/repairs.
• Cell phone/internet costs.
• Medical expenses.

 

How many times can I apply for a Basic Needs grant?

Priority is given to students who request a Basic Needs Grant for the first time. Students who have previously received a basic needs grant may submit an online request form, which might be reviewed by the Care Review Committee.

 

What types of expenses are not covered by the Basic Needs grant? 

Ineligible expenses include but are not limited to: 

• Full or partial tuition and fees.
• Parking permits or parking tickets.
• Study abroad costs.
• Prior debt to the University, including debt to Housing and Residential Engagement.
• Legal representation.
• Entertainment, recreation, or other non-essential expenses.
• Credit card bills or other debts such as loans.
• Reimbursement for previously paid basic needs expenses.

How are students provided food assistance? 

Students must first submit an online request and then meet with Basic Needs Services staff at which time an assessment will be made. Food assistance is provided in several formats:

• Guest cards that can be redeemed at most on-campus dining locations
• Donated meals through the Gastronome
• Titan Bites: a messaging system that alerts students when excess food is available at the conclusion of campus catering events. This application sends text messages and alerts to students who opt-into the program through their account settings in the online portal.
• CalFresh: CSUF staff meet with students in need to determine eligibility for this benefit and can provide application assistance for support in applying for this benefit. For more information, please see our other resources page.
• Students can also be referred to the ASI Pantry or a full-service pantry near campus that provides food (including dairy and proteins) up to three times a month. For more information, please see our other resources page.
• For students who are place in temporary housing, meals are provided through the Gastronome for the duration they are housed.

How many guest cards can I receive?

Students are given a certain number of guest cards based on the assessment and the discretion of Basic Needs Services staff. Please note: guest cards are a short-term solution. Staff will work with students to connect them to CalFresh and other support services.

How many Gastronome meals can I receive?

Students who are eligible for Gastronome meals can receive up to three weeks of continual access to the Gastronome. Donated meals are added to students’ TitanCards. Please note: donated meals are a short-term solution. Staff will work with students to connect them to CalFresh and other support services.

Can I get a meal plan through Basic Needs Services?

No, Basic Needs Services does not provide meal plans. Rather, food assistance is provided primarily through Campus Dining guest cards, donated meals through the Gastronome, and the Titan Bites messaging system. Meal plans are offered through Housing and Residential Engagement.

How will I access meals through The Gastronome?

Meals are loaded on your TitanCard once your placement has been approved. You simply present your TitanCard to the attendant when you enter the Gastronome.

When do the meals on my TitanCard expire?

Meals at the Gastronome will expire when your Gastronome access OR temporary housing placement ends.

How does temporary housing work?

Students must first submit and online request and then meet with Basic Needs Services and Care Services staff, at which time an assessment will be made to determine if the temporary housing request can be accommodated. Students with a qualifying unforeseen hardship are placed in a shared on-campus apartment. Meals are provided in the Gastronome for the duration of the placement.

How long is temporary housing available?

Eligible students can be housed for up to three weeks while they seek long-term, stable housing.

Is the temporary housing available to students with children or families?

Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate family members. Temporary housing is available only for currently enrolled and matriculated CSUF students.

Do I need to submit an online form to access hygiene products or Tuffy’s Career Closet?

No, students can access either of these services during our operating hours. No appointment is needed.

After I submit an online request form, what happens?

A member of our staff will reach out to you to schedule a meeting through your CSUF email within 2-4 business days of submitting the online form.

I’m not able to attend one of your workshops. Will it be available online?

Workshops we are able to record will be available on our website.

I’d like to donate to Basic Needs Services. How can I donate?

Individuals interested in donating to Basic Needs Services can do so in three ways: 

1. Make a gift by clicking the GIVE button on the Donate page.
2. Donate full-sized hygiene products to the Basic Needs Center.
3. Donate gently-worn profession attire to the Basic Needs Center. Individuals can donate hygiene products or gently-worn professional attire during our operating hours.

How many times can I access hygiene products?

Students can access up to 5 full-sized hygiene products once per month.

The hygiene products I needed were not available. When will these products be available?

As hygiene products are donation based, available products may vary and we do not know when donations will arrive.

I didn’t get all five hygiene products because some I needed were unavailable. Can I come back within the same month?

As hygiene products are donation based, available products may vary and we do not know when donations will arrive. Students are asked to follow the once a month access policy for hygiene products to be equitable to all students. If you accessed hygiene products, regardless of the amount of items you received, the visit counts as the once a month access.

I need more than five hygiene products due to my circumstances, is there a way I can access more hygiene products?

If you are in need of additional support, please complete the Basic Needs Online Request Form for further support. A staff member will reach out to you to discuss your circumstances and connect you to available on and off-campus resources. Hub of Hope in Fullerton, CA offers hygiene products. More information about Hub of Hope can be found on our resources page.

 

How many times can I access Tuffy’s Career Closet?

Students can access up to 6 clothing items once per month.

The professional attire I am in need of were not available. When will more clothing be available?

As Tuffy’s Career Closet is donation based, available clothing may vary and we do not know when donations will arrive.

I didn’t get all six clothing items because some I needed were unavailable. Can I come back within the same month?

As Tuffy’s Career Closet is donation based, available clothing may vary and we do not know when donations will arrive. Students are asked to follow the once a month access policy for Tuffy’s Career Closet to be equitable to all students. If you accessed Tuffy’s Career Closet, regardless of the amount of items you received, the visit counts as the once a month access.

I need non-professional attire. Does Tuffy’s Career Closet have non-professional clothing?

Tuffy’s Career Closet only provides gently worn professional attire. The Gender Affirming Closet through the LGBTQ + Resource Center provides free, on-campus clothing for transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students to feel empowered to express themselves authentically. For questions about the Gender Affirming Closet, please email lgbt@rpybbk.com.

An off-campus resource that provides clothing vouchers twice a year is Hub of Hope. More information about Hub of Hope can be found on our resources page.