Community Cares Emergency Funding

The Community Cares (formerly Lights for Learning) program was created in 1997 by Barbara A. Adams, Past President of SUNY Ulster, to benefit SUNY Ulster students by providing confidential short-term financial emergency assistance payments to be used for transportation, housing, or to assist during a time of material and emotional loss. The goal is to support SUNY Ulster students who are experiencing an unexpected financial emergency or catastrophic event that might otherwise prevent them from attending classes or continuing their college education.

Types of Expenses Generally Covered
● Emergency travel, gas, or vehicle repair costs up to a threshold of $1,000
● Replacement of essential belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster up to a threshold of $1,000
● Assistance with rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses up to a threshold of $1,000
● Medications and other medical costs not covered by medical insurance up to a threshold of $1,000
● Death in the immediate family, funeral or burial expenses.
● Domestic emergencies, e.g., spousal/partner abuse, facing eviction from one’s home through no flagrant fault of the student, temporary emergency housing, emergency childcare expenses.

• Note: Health insurance, parking tickets and fines, non-essential utilities, and costs for entertainment/recreation are generally NOT covered. Regular transportation to and from class or the college is the student’s responsibility and not an eligible expense. Regularly occurring payments, e.g., rent, car insurance, phone bills, utility bills, credit card debt, and other elective expenses; medical bills covered by medical insurance; legal or professional fees. Tuition, fees, and book costs are not eligible expenses, as they are usually covered by financial aid and/or scholarships.

Eligibility
● Applicants must be currently enrolled at SUNY Ulster, attending classes and in good academic standing.
● In the event of financial hardship, all other resources, including financial aid, must be considered first.
● Applicants must be able to demonstrate his/her financial need with supporting documentation and complete an application. Examples of documentation are located below.

Limits
• You may receive a maximum of $1,000 within an academic year (includes fall and spring semesters).
• You may receive emergency funds only one time a semester.
• You may make a request each semester in which you are enrolled, as long as:

o You are enrolled, attending classes, and in good academic standing at the time of the request, and
o The total amount you request remains under $1,000 within the academic year.
• Community Cares will close before the end of each semester, depending on available funds.
• Community Cares will not be available during intersession.

● Students who receive assistance from the fund may not be eligible for additional assistance within the school year unless approved by all committee members and foundation staff.
● Please note that not all students who apply will receive a grant and only completed applications will be considered. Determinations of requests are final and not open to appeal.