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Service & Support for California Fires

 

We in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office and Cal Student Central (CSC) are coordinating our efforts to support you and your ability to access services while impacted by the state of emergency in Southern California. We also offer some strategies you may find useful if your family has been impacted by the fires or red flag warnings.

We want to express our continued commitment to your well-being and our dedication to your success while attending Berkeley. We will be working to ensure there is readily available support for all students, especially those in need.

 

What You Can Do

Submit a Financial Aid Application

Filing a financial aid application – either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) – can provide an important backup option for both undergraduate and graduate students to cover your costs and determine eligibility for other campus financial resources. If you haven’t yet completed a financial aid application for the 2042-25 academic year, you can still file a FAFSA or CADAA. The priority deadline for 2025-26 aid applications for students with home addresses in Los Angeles or Ventura counties has been extended to April 2, 2025. We encourage you to have an aid application on file in the event of future need. Learn about how to apply for aid.

 

Submit an Economic Hardship Appeal

If you or your family has experienced a loss of income or have out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the fires, we are here to support you so that a change in your family’s financial circumstances does not become a roadblock to your ability to pay for school. Visit the Appeals and Special Circumstances page to learn about the process and review submission deadlines. Please review our Economic Hardship Appeal page to see if this is the right step for you.

 

Reach out to the Basic Needs Center 

For additional support around your basic needs including food, housing, and financial needs, please visit the UC Berkeley Basic Needs Center (BNC) website or fill out a Basic Needs Assistance Form for support from a BNC team member. The Basic Needs Center acts as a central hub to support students in their journey to access essential services that impact health, belonging, and overall well-being. All enrolled students including undergraduate, graduate, international and undocumented students are eligible for support through the Basic Needs Center. Core services include:

  • Food pantry: emergency food resources
  • CalFresh: long-term food assistance program
  • Emergency housing: short-term housing
  • Basic Needs Holistic Fund: emergency financial assistance for students with limited financial resources

 

Apply for a short-term emergency loan

Apply for a short-term, interest-free emergency loan via CalCentral if you are experiencing hardship and select the EFT (direct deposit) option. Visit the Short Term Emergency Loan page for more information about Emergency Loans including availability dates.

 

Emergency Funds – Consult with Cal Student Central

The campus has a limited amount of emergency funding to assist Graduate and Undergraduate students who have been directly impacted by the wildfires. Students can call or visit Cal Student Central (CSC)  through the  Services & Areas of Support page for all available service options. A member of our team can carefully review your situation and determine if you are eligible for emergency funds.