The Office of Basic Needs Initiatives at Modesto Junior College is dedicated to supporting students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
We’re here to help guide you through the process and connect you with as many resources as possible, please know that we may not be able to meet every housing need for all students who seek assistance.
The Basic Needs Welcome Form is now available to request contact! Please note a grant request or referral is still required to receive services.
Current/Former homeless youth qualify for priority registration. Here's how to qualify:
Core steps include:
Submit an official letter from one of the following: school district homeless liaison, director of an emergency shelter, transitional housing program, transitional living program, director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center.
Send the homeless verification letter to the Basic Needs email MJC_BasicNeeds@mjc.edu.
"Homeless youth" means at any time during the 24 months immediately preceding the application for admission.
Priority Registration will be assigned for 6 years, upon verification of homeless status.
The MJC Pirate Housing Opportunity Grant (MPHOG) provides limited financial assistance to eligible MJC students who are experiencing housing instability, a temporary housing crisis, or homelessness.
The grant is designed to help students obtain or maintain stable housing while continuing their education at MJC.
The MPHOG is funded through Assembly Bill 74 – College-Focused Rapid Rehousing (AB 74-RRH), a State of California initiative supporting students experiencing housing instability.
The MPHOG is a grant and does not need to be repaid.
MPHOG funds may be used for eligible housing-related expenses, including:
The purpose of the grant is to help students obtain or maintain stable housing.
MPHOG funds generally cannot be used for:
Students currently receiving a housing subsidy or rental assistance through Lutheran Social Services (LSS) may not be eligible for MPHOG funding. Participation in LSS Housing Navigation services without receiving a housing subsidy does not automatically affect eligibility.
Applies to all requests:
Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Documentation verifying your housing situation, such as: Eviction notice, past due notice, landlord statement, documentation showing temporary or unstable living arrangements.
Personal statements must be written in the student's own words.
Second-Time Requests (in addition to the above)
Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may be required to submit mid-semester grade checks. Students who withdraw from or fail more than 50% of attempted units must successfully complete at least 50% of their attempted units during the following semester to regain eligibility.
If a request is denied, the student may be referred to Lutheran Social Services (LSS) for support and resources. There may be an opportunity to appeal after consultation with LSS or the Director of Basic Needs.
MPHOG requests that were declined may submit a written appeal for additional consideration. Appeals are not guaranteed approval and are reviewed by the MPHOG Committee. Students will be notified by email or phone call regarding the outcome of their appeal.
To be considered complete, an appeal must include both a written personal statement and supporting documentation relevant to the situation being contested.
Written Personal Statement
Explain the current emergency in your appeal, including:
Required Supporting Documentation Checklist
Attach proof of any of the following actions taken to seek other assistance:
An appeal without supporting documentation will not be considered complete.
To begin the process, students may:
Make sure you are prepared to provide proof of your emergency and financial need. Incomplete requests or missing documentation may delay the review process.
The MJC Basic Needs Emergency Grant (BNEG) provides limited, one-time financial assistance to eligible MJC students experiencing an unexpected financial emergency that affects their ability to meet basic needs and continue their education.
The BNEG is intended for unplanned emergencies and is more limited in scope than the MJC Pirate Housing Opportunity Grant (MPHOG).
The BNEG may assist with unexpected emergencies such as:
Please note: These are examples of emergencies that may qualify. Each request is reviewed individually based on the circumstances, documentation provided, eligibility, and available funding.
BNEG funds generally cannot be used for:
Applies to all requests:
Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Personal statements must be written in the student's own words.
Second-Time Requests (in addition to the above)
Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may be required to submit mid-semester grade checks. Students who withdraw from or fail more than 50% of attempted units must successfully complete at least 50% of their attempted units during the following semester to regain eligibility.
If a request is denied, the student may be referred to Lutheran Social Services (LSS) for support and resources. There may be an opportunity to appeal after consultation with LSS or the Director of Basic Needs.
If you previously received a BNEG and are requesting another award in the following semester, you may submit a written appeal for additional consideration.
The appeal should explain:
You may be asked to provide documentation showing efforts to seek additional assistance, such as:
Your appeal statement should explain your current emergency, why assistance is needed for a consecutive semester, and the specific steps you have taken toward financial stability since receiving your previous grant.
Appeals are reviewed by the BNEG Review Committee and are not guaranteed approval. Students will be notified by email of the outcome of their appeal.
To begin the process, students may:
Make sure you are prepared to provide proof of your emergency and financial need. Incomplete requests or missing documentation may delay the review process.
The MJC Office of Basic Needs partners with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) to provide students with housing navigation, case management, and connections to community resources.
LSS offers two types of support for MJC students:
To be considered for the Rapid Rehousing Program, students must generally:
Further information regarding program expectation and requirements will be disclosed to you by the LSS Case Manager.
To be considered for the Navigation Program, students must generally:
Rapid Rehousing
Navigation
Contact our Basic Needs office to speak with a Housing Liaison staff for next steps.
