Basic Needs

Welcome to the Basic Needs resource page for Graduate and Professional students. There are a number of resources on campus that can help relieve food and housing insecurity. Our goal is to help you access them and provide programs that aim to serve UCSD graduate students. In addition to the resources listed here, there are more programs and resources found at the Basic Needs Hub.

Long Term Basic Needs Stipend

The Basic Needs Hub and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) have worked together to create a long-term basic needs stipend. Our mission is to provide financial support for under-resourced graduate students to ensure their long-term basic needs are met. You can see this program's complete mission statement, background, and values statement here.

In this round of stipends, $200 will be distributed monthly from April to September 2024. Applications are open now and will close on March 15th, 2024. Due to expected demand, applications must be submitted on time to be considered. Awardees will be selected based on demonstrated financial need.

Apply Here!

In this first round, stipends will be paid out for six months. We aim to reopen the application in September 2024 to fund students from October 2024 through September 2025. Feedback from this initial rollout will be used to improve the later, year-long stipend program.

This project owes much of its design and inception to Camden Doolittle, the Basic Needs Manager at UC Davis who created the Need-Based Rent Subsidy. We thank them for their advice, guidance, and resources.

FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for this award?

All graduate students registered at UCSD for the Spring Quarter are eligible to apply.

How will the award be deposited? Will it go directly to my bank account or TritonLink account?

Domestic Students, Permanent Residents, or students classified as Resident Aliens for tax purposes will receive payments via our ProSAM system. Payment options include direct deposit or paper check.You can set up a direct deposit account through Student Financial Solutions.

If the award is deposited into my bank account, do I need to provide my account details?

If you have a direct deposit setup, you don’t need to provide anything further to us.

If I haven't set up a direct deposit, how will I receive the money?

If you are not set up for direct deposit or are moving; the award will be issued via a paper check to the current mailing address on file. Please update your address as soon as possible so we can ensure you receive the check.

Does it matter if I'm paid through UC Path or SAM?

International students are paid directly through Oracle Financial System (OFC); students who do not have a UC Path ID will be paid via direct deposit set up via Payment Compass or the new system. Payment Works. If the student has a UCPath ID in Oracle, then the stipend will be paid based on the payment method in that system.

For students in Health Sciences programs, payments will be managed by the Health Sciences Financial Aid Disbursement systems. For inquiries regarding payment methods and address changes, contact Jessica Jacobs at somfinaid@health.ucsd.edu.

When should we expect to begin receiving the award? April 1st

CSA Program

What is the Graduate Student CSA program? A collaboration with Garden of Eden Organics to provide free or discounted fresh produce to graduate students to alleviate food insecurity in our community.

What is provided in a CSA box? Individual sized boxes that we provide are usually 5 pounds of seasonally available organic produce. They include fresh fruits, leafy greens, root vegetables, mushrooms, herbs or fresh veggies

The goal of this program is to provide access to fresh produce and involve our community in supporting local organic farms. Access the CSA program for more information.

CalFresh

CalFresh is available to graduate students. The following resources contain information on how to apply or confirm eligibility for CalFresh: CalFesh Eligibility and CalFresh Application.

Triton Food Pantry

The Triton Food Pantry provides staple foods and produce to students for free. There is a 10 points/week limit, with pantry staples being worth various points. Produce does not count to the point total but is limited in how much you can take. There are two locations on campus, one in Student Center A, and the other in OMS. You can visit Triton Food Pantry Services for more details.

Housing

The Basic Needs Off-Campus Housing website is a place to search for roommates, create roommate profiles, and review property listings for rooms, apartments, and shared rentals.

Emergency Housing is also available through Basic Needs program.

These resources exist to support students in emergency situations only and are triaged through a needs-based assessment.

Contact Information:

basicneeds@gsa.ucsd.edu