Emergency Support and Resources

Hunter College offers the following food assistance programs to our students. They are open during the school year to all currently enrolled students with valid student ID. To participate, please see the schedules below.

Purple Apron Food Pantry
Summer Hours 2022

Main Campus – 68th St.

Room B103, Lower Level of West Building
Monday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday: 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Thursday: 4:00 – 7:00 pm

Brookdale

425 East 25th Street – Main Lobby
Tuesday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Hunter Fresh Food Box Program

If you are interested in being placed on our Fresh Food Box Voucher Waitlist in order to pick up a fresh food bag every week at no cost to you, please sign up here.

Main Campus – 68th Street and Lexington
Distribution occurs only on Thursdays, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
If you cannot pick up during this time, please do not apply.

Through the Petrie Foundation, the Undergraduate Student Government, and the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students is able to provide financial assistance to enable you to remain in school if you have a short-term financial emergency. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, loss of employment, death in the family, homelessness, fire in the home, eviction, medical issues, or inability to keep up with daily living expenses.

To qualify you must be enrolled in a matriculated program and in classes for the semester in which you are requesting funding.

Students must upload a copy of their Hunter ID and State ID. Failure to do so will result in application approvals being delayed or denied. 

In addition to traditional unemployment insurance, New York State also offers Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which can provide up to $600 to those directly affected by COVID-19.

To learn more, please visit the New York Department of Labor website:

Review the Checklist of What is Covered (pdf) →

Laptops are available to Hunter students on loan, for one semester at a time. You must be enrolled for the term in which the loan is being requested.

Please review the eligibility criteria and participation terms on the request form below. If you are eligible for a laptop loan, a staff member will contact you with additional details.

Mobile hotspot devices are available to Hunter students on loan, for one semester at a time. The device provides 4G LTE internet access for any wifi-enabled device such as a laptop, smartphone, or PC. You must be enrolled for the term in which the loan is being requested.

Please review the eligibility criteria and participation terms on the request form below. If you are eligible for a mobile hotspot device, a staff member will contact you with additional details.

The Federal Communications Commission has announced the Keep Americans Connected Initiative, stating that providers will waive late fees, not cut off service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.

The offers, eligibility, and deadlines below are subject to change. Please review the current offers at the links provided and contact the providers to confirm your eligibility and costs.

Comcast – Comcast is offering its Internet Essentials service for $9.95/month + tax with two free months  to qualifying new customers.

Xfinity is offering service to students with no upfront fee or installation costs and a $100 Visa prepaid card for new customers.  Xfinity Hotspots (see map) are also available to anyone who needs them for free, including non-Xfinity subscribers.

Charter/Spectrum – Spectrum is offering its low-cost Spectrum Internet Assist high speed internet service to new qualifying households. The service includes a free internet modem.

AT&T – AT&T COVID-19 response.  AT&T is offering unlimited data to existing customers and $10/month plans for new qualifying households through the Access from AT&T program.

Verizon – Verizon offers unlimited plans and discounts for students. There are also affordable internet options for qualifying households.  To enroll, visit Lifeline Application website.

T-Mobile (formerly Sprint) – T-Mobile COVID-19 response. T-Mobile is offering discounted student plans with family lines.

Optimum/Altice – Optimum and Suddenlink are offering Optimum Advantage Internet  for new qualifying households, through the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

RCN – RCN is offering its Internet First service for $9.95/mo + tax with first 60 days for free for new qualifying households. RCN is an official provider for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

Last updated: September 17, 2021

Are you struggling to stay connected?

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program that helps people afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidy includes a monthly discount on internet service per household, and a one-time discount on a laptop or desktop computer or tablet.

Eligibility is based on meeting one of the following criteria. However, your household may be eligible for the EBB, even if you don’t meet these criteria:

• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since Feb 29 2020, and had an income of $99,000 or less prior to that ($198,000 filing jointly)
• Your income is at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Participate in SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline
• Are approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year

The New York City Department of Education now has a free meal plan for children and adults. The program can provide up to three meals a day and does not require registration or ID.

To cover the cost of your DACA or TPS  renewal, Hunter College will pay the $495.00 application fee directly to the Department of Homeland Security.

This resource is available only to currently enrolled Hunter students.

If you need assistance please email Chris Luis Aviles.

For general information about DACA and TPS, please visit:

• USCIS page about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• USCIS page about Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

If you are a Hunter student in need of legal immigration assistance, Hunter will connect you with an immigration lawyer for a consultation, free of charge.

For more information or to request this service, please email Chris Luis Aviles.