Community Resources

 

Syracuse University Assistance

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship Programs

Hendricks Chapel

  • Student Opportunity Fund & Support
    • Hendricks Chapel is able to assist students experiencing financial hardship. Mini-grants are available to meet a wide range of needs and to provide access to opportunities. Categories of support include food, clothing, emergency travel, emergency health care, and other non-academic expenses. Please email chapel@syr.edu for more information.

Syracuse University Bookstore

  • Syracuse University Bookstore is offering free delivery to the University area with purchases from the OrangeMart. Deliveries are Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Student Activities

Division of The Student Experience

Syracuse University Food Services

  • The Food Services team is operating some dining centers for take-out only. On-campus convenience stores are operating on adjusted hours. View current Food Services hours.

Community Resources

  • Food Pantry: The Hendrick Chapel Food Pantry is stocked with food and personal care items, available at no cost to all students with a valid Syracuse University of SUNY ESF ID. Learn more about hours and locations here.
  • Student Opportunity Fund: assists students experiencing financial hardship. Mini-grants are available to meet a wide range of needs such as food, clothing, emergency travel, emergency health care, and other non-academic expenses. More information can be found here.

Off-Campus Resources

  • Food Pantry Finder: Find local pantries, soup kitchens, food shelves, food banks, and other food help. See more details here.
  • Samaritan Center: provides meals 365 days a year, no questions asked. More information can be found here. Meal hours are as follows:
    • Monday-Thursday: 6:30 AM – 8:30AM and 3:00 PM – 4:30PM
    • Friday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • Saturday-Sunday: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  • University United Methodist Church: provides food resources for the Syracuse community at 1084 E. Genesse Street (at the entrance on University Avenue). Distribution times are as follows:
    • Friday: 10-12 PM
      • Pre-packed food boxes with bread and produce
    • Sunday: 9-10 AM
      • Take our breakfast and coffee
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): provides nutrition benefits to supplement food budgets with healthy food. More information about the program and how to qualify can be food here. For assistance applying for SNAP, reach out to the CNY Foodbank SNAP outreach team.

Utilities

  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): helps eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their home. More information on the program and eligibility can be found here.
  • Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): helps households pay the cost of water and sewer services. Can also assist household who have past due bills for water and/or sewer service. More information on the program and eligibility can be found here.
  • Lifeline: is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service. Find more information and qualification details here.

Unemployment Assistance

  • Unemployment Benefits Finder: find how to apply for unemployment benefits in your state here.
  • New York Department of Labor: if you are out of work and New York State resident you can apply for unemployment here. Additionally you can use the benefit rate calculator to get an estimate of your unemployment insurance benefits.

Other Resources

  • IRS Free File Program: qualified filers can electronically prepare and file federal individual income tax return for free using tax preparation and filing software. Find more information and qualification details here.
  • New York State Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): helps eligible families with some or all of the cost of child care. Find more information and eligibility requirements here.

 

COVID-19 Emergency Resources

  • Federal Emergency Funding: Syracuse University received funding through the federal CARES Act, CRRSAA, and American Rescue Plan (ARP) to provide emergency grants to students. More information on eligibility and the application process can be found here.
  • Federal Student Loans: the student loan payment pause has been extended through December 31, 2022. The payment pause includes a suspension of loan payments, a 0% interest rate, and stopped collection on defaulted loan. More information on which loans are eligible can be found here.
  • Private Loans: several private loan lender are offering borrowers assistance or emergency forbearance. Borrowers must contact their private loan lenders to discuss their situation.
  • Credit Cards: if card members have been impacted by the current pandemic they should reach out to the customer service numbers on the back of their credit cards and explain how they’ve been affected by the coronavirus.
  • One Fair Wage Emergency Fund: provides free cash assistance to restaurant workers, delivery drivers and other tipped worker and service workers who are seeing their income decline because of the COVID-19 pandemic or aren’t able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns. More information on the fund and application process can be found here.
  • CFPB Financial Protection Plan: outlines a plan for financial protection against the impact of the coronavirus. Read about the plan and available resources here.