What is Emergency Housing?
The goal of the Basic Needs Center Emergency Housing program is to provide short-term emergency housing to students who are homeless or at imminent risk of losing their housing. Emergency housing is for students who are in situations that include:
- safety concerns
- unforeseen and unplanned housing disruptions including displacement and eviction
- other crisis situations
- living in public or places not intended for habitation (vehicle, park, etc)
Eligibility
Emergency housing is available to currently enrolled UC Berkeley students (graduate, undergraduate, international, etc.)
What is not an emergency housing situation?
- Short-term gap housing
- Temporary housing
How to Apply
Apply for emergency housing with the Basic Needs Assistance Form
After Hours Emergency Housing Resources
The Basic Needs Center’s Emergency Housing program can be accessed during regular business hours (9am - 5pm) and is closed on weekends/holidays. For emergency housing needs during evening, weekend and holiday hours, please consider whether you have options such as family, friends, hotels/motels/Airbnb, etc. If you are unable to secure a temporary location to stay, below are options for local shelter resources:
Shelters and Community Resources
If you can not find emergency shelter with family or friends and can not afford an emergency stay at a hotel/motel for one night, contact:
- Shelter: YEAH! Shelter in Oakland (for ages 18-25) - Covenant House. Call to check for availability: (510) 379-1010
- If the above shelter is full, contact the following resources to explore options. Please note that these resources are extremely limited:
- Call 211 (Alameda County’s coordinated entry system for emergency housing)
- Contact Bay Area Community Services (BACS) – 510.613.0330 or email bacs@bayareacs.org
- Call/drop-in to the Berkeley Housing Resource Center (HRC)
- Call Abode Services – 510-657-7409 or email info@abodeservices.org
- EBHO: Emergency Housing & Shelter Services
Other Emergency Needs
- Hygiene
- Berkeley Outreach Coalition: A map of porta-potties, handwashing stations, and open public bathrooms.
- Berkeley Shower Program
- Meals/Food
- Berkeley Outreach Coalition: Schedule of Community Food Resources in the Berkeley area.