Here's Where to Find Help
Are you struggling to secure daily essentials like food or housing? You're not alone. Click each box or scroll down to learn more about these resources.
Visit Us in Person!
Stop by the new Resource Hub in RSS 143 (Registration & Student Services Building), down the hall from the Bookstore, Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Hub is closed on Fridays. You can get:
- Snacks, toiletries, period products, baby supplies and other useful items
- Information about campus services to assist you
- Referrals and help with applying for off-campus resources
- Computers you can use to find resources and submit applications
The Food Pantry is still located inside the Outreach Office in RSS 127. (If no one is in RSS 143 during the hours listed above, please come to RSS 127.)
Emergency Cash Grants
If you’re facing a financial emergency, we may be able to help. De Anza can provide limited cash grants for students who are struggling with hardship or an urgent expense that might interfere with attending school. Use this online form to apply:
- If you haven’t already done so, you must apply for financial aid by submitting the FAFSA (or the CADAA if you're undocumented) before you can qualify for emergency funds. There is no cost to submit these applications. Visit the Financial Aid website for more information.
- If you have any questions regarding the Basic Needs Emergency Fund, please contact dabasicneeds@deanza.edu
Food Assistance
Students in need can obtain free food supplies and other items from the campus Food Pantry in RSS 127
- Visit the Food Pantry website for current hours of operation and more information
- We also have grocery gift cards for eligible students. Use the online form to apply
Mobile Food Pantry
In addition to the Food Pantry at the Office of Outreach, a mobile food pantry from West Valley Community Services visits Parking Lot A twice a month:
- The mobile pantry visits campus on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, from 1:30-3 p.m.
- Learn more about the mobile pantry
Click the red bars to learn about more food resources in this area.
Second Harvest: Find a Food Bank Near You
To find a food distribution center or delivery program near you, visit shfb.org/get-food or
- Call the Second Harvest Food Connection hotline at 1.800.984.3663
- Text “GETFOOD” to 408.455.5181
- Send an email to getfood@shfb.org
Additional Food Programs
You can also find food assistance through the following programs. Please contact the organization to learn about hours of operation and eligibility requirements, if any.
- Cupertino: West Valley Community Services, 10104 Vista Drive, phone: 408.255.8033
- Gilroy: St. Joseph’s Family Center, 7950 Church St. Suite A, phone: 408.842.6662
- Mountain View: Community Services Agency, 3204 Stierlin Rd., phone: 650.968.0836
- San Jose:
- Sacred Heart Community Services, 1381 S. First St., phone: 408.278.2160
- Salvation Army, 359 N. Fourth St., phone: 408.282.1165 x 3210
- Sunnyvale: Sunnyvale Community Services, 725 Kifer Rd., phone: 408.738.4321
Housing Resources
While De Anza College does not operate student housing, there are resources available for students who are homeless or struggling to find shelter.
Bill Wilson Center Services
The nonprofit Bill Wilson Center has programs to support students who need assistance with emergency housing, employment, food or substance abuse. Representatives are available in RSS 127 (inside the Outreach office, located down the hall from the Bookstore) on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
West Valley Community Services
West Valley Community Services helps homeless individuals and families find long-term housing, through rental assistance and other support services. You can speak with the case manager who comes to campus twice a month with the mobile food pantry, or call 408.255.8033.
Click the red bars to learn about more housing resources in this area.
Overnight Parking
The Winter Faith Collaborative and Saratoga's Prince of Peace Lutheran Church coordinate overnight "safe parking" sites at churches and other locations, including some near De Anza, for individuals or families who are sleeping in their vehicles. Contact West Valley Community Services at 408.255.8033 or Amigos de Guadalupe at 408.385.2400 or 408.341.6080 to be screened and enrolled in this program.
More Housing Resources
Financial assistance and other types of support are available from a variety of city, county and nonprofit agencies. Here are some good places to find more resources
- Check the city of San José's Homelessness Families and Individuals webpage, especially their two-page Homeless Services Resource Guide.
- Santa Clara County has compiled a one-page guide to Housing Resources and a separate list of agencies that provide housing aid for low-income residents.
Routine Housing or Roommate Search
The Office of College Life maintains a list of websites and tips for students who are looking for apartments or homes to rent.
Mental Health Services
Individual counseling is available for De Anza students through De Anza's Mental Health and Wellness Center. They also host weekly support groups and drop-in sessions.
Plus: You can speak online with a mental health professional, any time, through TimelyCare. These services are free for De Anza students.
Click the red bars to learn about more mental health resources available to you.
Individual Counseling
Here's how to sign up for individual sessions by appointment with a Mental Health and Wellness Center counselor
- Send an email to mhwc@deanza.com
- Be sure to include your name and CWID, with a short statement that you are requesting psychological services
Support Groups and Workshops
Check the Support Groups webpage for a list of groups and sessions, including activities open to all students as well as groups for student athletes, students preparing for transfer, LGBTQ+ students and others. You'll find instructions on that webpage to sign up for a group or attend sessions on Zoom.
TimelyCare: Online, Any Time – for Free!
TimelyCare provides free mental health support and other online resources for De Anza students. You can
- Speak right away with a mental health professional – available online, 24/7
- Schedule an appointment for a one-on-one online session with a licensed counselor
- Find online resources and referrals for a variety of basic needs
- Learn how to sign up for this free service at deanza.edu/resources/timely
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress – 24/7, anywhere in the United States.
Transportation Options
SmartPass
All students at De Anza are eligible for the SmartPass, offered by the De Anza Associated Student Body (DASB) in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Transit Agency (VTA). Here’s how it works.
- Pay a small fee: Pay a quarterly fee that's just $7.75 for students taking 12 or more units, or less for students taking fewer units.
- Get your Clipper Card: Pick up your personalized SmartPass Clipper Card from the Office of College Life.
- Enjoy unlimited rides: Use your card for unlimited rides on VTA buses and light rail within Santa Clara County – seven days a week.
- Learn more about the SmartPass
Click the red bars to learn about more transportation resources in this area.
Borrow a Bike for Free!
Borrow a bike or e-bike for the quarter! If you're 18 or older, bring your DASG ID card to the Office of College Life during the hours listed on the DASG Bike program webpage. You can also call 408.864.8240 or email collegelife@deanza.edu for more information.
CalTrain Discounts
CalTrain has announced several new discounts for fall 2023:
- Parking fees have been lowered by 50% at all stations: Daily parking is now $2.75.
- A new 3-Day Pass allows unlimited rides for three consecutive days after you buy the pass
- Youth tickets are now $1 for anyone age 18 or younger
- For details, visit the Caltrain website
Cupertino Shuttle: From Caltrain to Campus
SV Hopper is an app-based shuttle that goes everywhere in Cupertino when you need a ride – and to the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station. (More transit connections are coming soon!)
Discounted fares are available for students. Visit the city of Cupertino's community shuttle website for details on how to get discounted fairs and how to ride.
More Resources
Here are some additional ways to find support and assistance.
Computers and Internet Access
Technology Discounts:
- CollegeBuys offers student discounts on computers, software and other tech products through its online store.
- All De Anza students can get free access to Microsoft 365 software, including Word, Excel and OneDrive for online storage.
Need a Computer and Can't Afford One? We'll try to help.
- Visit the Need a Computer webpage to learn how you can borrow one or get help with a purchase.
Free Internet:
- Campus Zoom Spaces: De Anza has designated several spaces on campus where you will find power outlets and a good Wi-Fi signal. Look for the Zoom Spaces sign or check the map to find a location that's convenient for you.
- Comcast Xfinity: Comcast is offering free or lower-cost internet service for low-income households. Generally, you can qualify if you are receiving SNAP, SSI, WIC or other forms of income assistance. Visit the Internet Essentials website for more information.
- Wi-Fi Hotspots: You can get free Wi-Fi service – 24/7 – in the parking lots at Santa Clara County Libraries in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga. Check the county Libraries website for details.
Food, Housing and Financial Assistance
State Aid for Low-Income Residents
- You can apply online for state benefits including cash assistance, food assistance, medical care, health insurance and job training.
Nonprofit Services
- Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County can help with programs and referrals for emergency food, employment, health care, housing and other needs
- Sacred Heart Community Services is a San José-based nonprofit that provides a wide range of assistance programs for food, clothing, housing, utilities and job-seeking.
Eviction Relief
- The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley provides free legal advince on housing matters to low-income families and individuals. Contact them at 408.280.2424.
Undocumented Students
Undocumented students can find a variety of helpful information on our Undocumented Student Resources webpage.
- HEFAS (Higher Education for AB 540 Students) provides resources and peer support for undocumented students at De Anza College. Visit deanza.edu/hefas for more information.
- Immigrants Rising is a national organization that supports undocumented students with resources for education, employment, legal issues and mental health. Visit immigrantsrising.org for more information.
You're Not Alone
A recent survey of De Anza College students found
- Nearly four out of ten students responding to the survey ate less or went hungry because they didn’t have enough money for food.
- Four out of ten respondents moved often, shared a room or struggled to pay for housing or utilities.
- One out of eight respondents said they had been homeless during the previous year.