Basic Needs Support, Paying For College |
Free or reduced-cost services like medical care, food, job training and more can be found around your area! Food or reduced-cost services are services that are free or are at a reduced cost for people with low-income. These services are also available for people with undocumented status.
General:
- Aunt Bertha is one of the largest and most used online social care networks for individuals looking to connect to Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) in the United States. To get started, input your zip code and Aunt Bertha will connect you with CBO’s near you. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help starts here!
- The Employment Development Department (EDD) of the State of California provides to keep employers, employees, and job seekers competitive. This website provides additional resources that may help you.
- In many parts of California, you can call 2-1-1 to learn about resources in your community or contact these agencies and organizations directly to ask about their programs. Some programs may have eligibility requirements.
Reduced cost or free internet access:
- The Affordable Connectivity Program is administered by USAC with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission. With the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, you can save on your bill and may be able to get high-speed internet for free.
- Spectrum Student Internet Packages offers high-speed internet for students and enough bandwidth to support multiple devices.
Information on low-cost computers:
Northern California: in English and Spanish
Southern California: in English and Spanish
Databases that include services for undocumented communities:
College Success |
By
MONICA AGUILERA
Boba-drinking, Zelda-playing, Horror-watching brown girl from Oaxacalifornia.
As students and educators go online, the digital divide between low income, BIPOC students, and other students has never become more apparent. According to a 2019 report by the Public Policy Institute of California, only ¨between 54% and 67% of low-income, rural, African American, and Latino households had broadband subscriptions in 2017, compared to 74% for all households¨. This means there are students without any internet connection to access their school work. In addition, in many of these cases, there is also no home computer, and if there is, it is being shared by multiple people.
California, however, has stepped in to make online learning accessible to everyone. About 56,700 laptops and 94,000 hotspots have been sent to districts across the state so far and the California Department of Education announced that it will be granting $5 million to local districts to purchase 20,000 more devices or hotspots. This will be a huge beneficiary to Black and Latinx students specifically in rural areas who typically lack this access even before the virus.
If you or someone you know needs internet access or an electronic device as we go digital, below are some resources you can access. In this list, you can find different internet providers that have lowered their cost for students, along with where you can find low-cost computers. In addition to these resources, feel free to contact your college to see if they have a loaner program for students regarding laptops or other electronic devices. You deserve all the tools to have a successful semester!
Human-I-T
Human-I-T believes that through social entrepreneurship, opportunities are created for our world to become more inclusive, sustainable, and bold. We inspire and empower people through technology and information to achieve their full potential. This isn’t just our mission. It’s our purpose.
Low-Cost Internet, Affordable Computers, Free Digital Training – Download flier here
Other reduced-cost or free internet access:
Information on low-cost computers:
Northern California: in English and Spanish
Southern California: in English and Spanish
