Project Success: Emergency Aid Resources During COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Congress passed the CARES Act, which in part provides institutions with funding to deliver emergency aid to students. In anticipation of this financial support, Trellis Company has created this resource page for professionals administering emergency aid programs.

From: Klepfer, K., Cornett, A., Fletcher, C., & Webster, J. (2020). Student financial wellness survey: Fall 2019 semester results. Unpublished Tables.

• 61% of public two-year students reported having trouble getting $500 in cash or credit to meet an unexpected need within the next month.
• 57% of all four-year students reported having trouble getting $500 in cash or credit to meet an unexpected need within the next month.
• 53% of all two-year students agreed or strongly agreed that they worry about being able to pay their monthly expenses.
• 51% of all four-year students agreed or strongly agreed that they worry about being able to pay their monthly expenses.
• 73% of all two-year students ran out of money at least once within the last 12 months.
• 66% of all four-year students ran out of money at least once within the last 12 months.

• CARES Act Letter from the Secretary of the Department of Education (April 9, 2020)
• CARES Act Guide for How to Apply for Funding (April 9, 2020)
• CARES Act and GRANTS.GOV Application Submission Guidelines and Tips (April 9, 2020)
• CARES Act Formula and Emergency Aid Allocation Amounts (April 9, 2020)
• CARES Act Recipient Funding and Agreement (April 9, 2020)

• NASPA Report on Emergency Aid Programs (2016)
  Kruger, K., Parnell, A., & Wesaw, A. (2016). NASPA: Landscape analysis of emergency aid programs. Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Emergency_Aid_Report.pdf
• Wisconsin Hope Lab Report on Distributing Emergency Aid (2017)
  Goldrick-Rab, S., & Cady, C. (2017, September). Distributing emergency aid to college students: Recommendations and sample distribution protocol. Retrieved from https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/emergency-aid-distribution-sample-protocol.pdf
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Report on Emergency Aid Programs (2018)
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [THECB]. (2018). The Texas emergency aid report:
  Advocating for emergency aid programs in higher education. Retrieved from
  http://www.60x30tx.com/media/1453/emergency-aid-report.pdf
• The Hope Center Report on Distributing Emergency Aid (2020)
  Goldrick-Rab, S. (2020, April). Beyond the food pantry: Guide to emergency aid distribution. Retrieved from https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BTFP_COVID19_EmergencyAid.pdf