Student Relief Resources

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) provides economic relief to students who incurred expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Coronavirus (expenses include, but are not limited to, tuition and fees, food, housing, course materials, technology, health/mental health care, and child care). We anticipate receiving HEERF III funds during the fall 2021 semester to assist students demonstrating exceptional financial need. We encourage all students who have filed a 2021-22 FAFSA to complete all items on their required items list in GV Self-Service to receive maximum consideration for HEERF III funds, including all required verification and tax documents as soon as possible for maximum HEERF consideration.

Who will be eligible to receive these additional funds?

Based on guidance provided by the Department of Education, Grand View University will award funds to students who demonstrate exceptional need and meet the following eligibility requirements to qualify for HEERF III funds:

1. Enrolled in 3 or more credit hours for the fall 2021 or spring 2022 semester.

2. Domestic students will have submitted a FAFSA for 2021-22. Students who cannot file a FAFSA must demonstrate exceptional need through an alternate documentation.

3. Have no outstanding items requested by Grand View University that are required to determine eligibility.

Do I have to pay this back?

No. Funds received by a student from the HEERF III Relief fund is a grant and will not need to be repaid.

Can I use this money to pay toward my Grand View University balance?

Yes. Enrolled students will receive a notification in GV Self-Service that allows them to authorize the use the HEERF III funds toward their outstanding account balance.

I am an international student or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) student. Am I eligible for CARES Act funds?

Yes. Guidance issued by the US Department of Education indicates that Grand View University must prioritize domestic, undergraduate students but funds are no longer restricted to only Title IV eligible students or students who have submitted a FAFSA.

How do I apply for HEERF III funds?

Eligible students who meet the criteria of exceptional need will be notified that they qualify for the grants. Eligible students will be notified when the application is available for emergency needs.

Need Help?

For additional questions please reach out to the Financial Aid office at (515) 263-2820.

• Assistance in finding a provider: Child Care Resource & Referral Assistance: https://iowaccrr.org/families/
• Assistance in paying for child care: Iowa Department of Human Services: https://dhs.iowa.gov/child-care

Emergency Economic Aid 

As part of the CARES Act, the federal government will distribute $1,200 to every adult with an income less than $75,000, with those earning up to $99,000 receiving smaller, prorated amount.  Families are also entitled to $500 per child. There are a number of online calculators that help figure what you would receive, including this one created by ABC News. It is expected that the first payments will be made in April and will be distributed electronically to the account linked to your most recent tax filing. For Grand View students who are claimed as a dependent on their parents’ tax returns, they will not receive a rebate. Those students filing their own taxes, and meeting the income qualifications, should expect a payment.

If you do not file taxes, your payment will be delayed.  Direct deposits have already been made to many income tax filers who had a direct deposit account on file with the IRS.  If you do not file taxes, but meet the qualifications for the program, you can follow the instructions on this website to submit account information to get your check direct deposited.  https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here?fbclid=IwAR1z_h63PlFg4bK9gxfnRkev1qdt11r9hqJRsMN-_r-sBS10asecfSJcxRE

• Iowa College Aid: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/COVID-19StudentResources
• NY Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-money-unemployment.html

Unemployment:

• Unemployment benefits finder: https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/find-unemployment-benefits.aspx?newsearch=true
• Eligibility for unemployment has expanded to include loss of hours or work due to reasons associated with COVID-19
• Iowans who are eligible for state unemployment may also be eligible for $600 per week from the federal CARES Act
• Applications are completed online and eligibility information is mailed via US Postal Service
• If approved, payment is made from the date of application, so it is important workers apply as soon as they become aware their situation may reflect the expanded eligibility criteria. If a worker is not eligible, there are no repercussions for applying. However, if a worker is eligible, waiting to apply only delays payment.

There are a number of efforts to make sure that Iowans do not go hungry throughout this crisis.  In Des Moines, the school district is feeding its students and their families through grab and go sites all around the district.   Many other school districts are doing the same thing and would be able to support GVU students with younger siblings or children in their household. 

DMARC operates a number of food pantries in the Greater Des Moines area.  They have changed their service delivery model in the wake of the pandemic.  If you are talking to a student in the Des Moines area, you should direct them to DMARC to find a pantry near them.  https://www.dmarcunited.org/2020/03/covid-19/  Please note that the DMARC food pantry at Grand View is not operating for the time being.

Additional Food Resources:

• Food Bank of Iowa: https://www.foodbankiowa.org/gethelp
• Bidwell Riverside: https://www.bidwellriverside.org/food-and-clothing-pantry
• St. Vincent DePaul: http://svdpdsm.org/social-services
• Iowa Department of Human Services:  https://dhs.iowa.gov/food-assistance
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program):  https://govtbenefits.org/snap-vs-food-stamps/
• Feeding America – find your local foodbank:  https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
• US Food Banks: http://www.usfoodbanks.org/

Community/Region Specific

• Adel: Good Samaritan Food Pantry: http://adelfoodpantry.com/
• Altoona/Runnells/Pleasant Hill/Bondurant/Mitchellville: Caring Hands Outreach Center: https://www.caringhandsiowa.org/
• Ankeny: Holy Trinity Food Pantry at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: http://www.holytrinityankeny.org/holy-trinity-food-pantry.html
• Ankeny: Impact Community Partnership: https://www.impactcap.org/programs
• Ankeny: The Cupboard at Lutheran Church of Hope:https://www.lutheranchurchofhope.org/ankeny/calendar/eid/3470808d0c0c794a/ankeny/the-cupboard/
• Clive Community Services: https://clivecommunityservices.com/
• Johnston Community Partnership: http://www.johnstonpartnership.org/
• Urbandale Food Bank: https://urbandalefoodpantry.org/
• Waukee Area Christian Services: https://waukeechristianservices.org/food-pantry/
• West Des Moines Human Services: https://www.wdm.iowa.gov/government/human-services

According to DREAM Iowa, DACA recipients, H1B visa holders, green card holders, and certain work visa holders will receive payments through the stimulus program created in the CARES Act.  Funding should be available to anyone with a valid Social Security number. 

If a student did not receive stimulus funding and will not be allowed to receive funding from the CARES Act that Grand View will demonstrate, see GV Cares as a viable source of relief.

Immigrants Rising org – Tangible Support for Undocumented Communities during COVID-19  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PxLuuH0-hwHXftUXuEi52Q1qWUDegN8_I1L4ulIFwzk/preview

For direct assistance to immigrants and children of immigrants, see this local effort launched in Central Iowa: A $75,000 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support the Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund. The Central Iowa Immigrant Community Support Fund is an initiative of AFSC Iowa, Al Exito and Proteus that supports the most marginalized Central Iowans who have needs that fall outside of government guidelines or who do not qualify for government assistance resources during this global pandemic. The funds will assist the most vulnerable community members in acquiring their most basic needs (rent, utilities, transportation, medicine, etc.) for their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For scholarship assistance (From DREAM Iowa):

The DREAM Iowa Scholarship deadline is May 1, 2020. Please consider applying for this scholarship, or share this link with eligible students. The application process is very brief, so students still have time! The scholarship was established in 2018 to provide monetary support for immigrant students pursuing higher education. The principal requirements for the DREAM Iowa scholarship are that the student be a high school senior or enrolled in college, demonstrate the spirit to overcome adversity and commitment to our immigrant community. The scholarship is awarded in the fall semester.

Per the Des Moines Public Schools page: Mediacom‘s Connect2Compete low-cost internet program has increased its speed to 25 megabits per second (Mbps). Qualifying families who subscribe before May 15, 2020 will receive 60 days of complimentary Mediacom internet access, with a cost of $9.95/month thereafter. There is no deposit, no contract, no installation fees, no equipment rental fees, and the Wi-Fi modem will be given via no-cost lease. Apply by calling 855-904-2225 or online: https://mediacomc2c.com/apply.aspx

Qualifications:

• At least one student in grades k-12 living at home
• At least one student qualifies for free or reduced-price school lunch
• Family is not a current Mediacom internet customer and have NOT subscribed to their internet services in the past 90 days
• Family does not have an outstanding Mediacom bill or unreturned Mediacom equipment

Additional resources:

• Low Cost Internet service finder  https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers
• Low Cost Internet  https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
• AT&T is waiving overage fees for 60 days on wireless data plans and lifting caps for home broadband

• CDC - Managing Stress and Anxiety:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html
• Multiple mental health resources including suicide prevention & veteran mental health: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, Text LOVEIS to 22522, https://www.thehotline.org/help/

• U-Haul Storage (30 days free for college students): https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/20625/College-Students-U-Haul-Offers-30-Days-Free-Self-Storage-Amid-Coronavirus-Outbreak/
• Car rental agencies (Avis & Enterprise) will waive underage fees for college students, under 25, who are returning home.
• The Hope Center: https://hope4college.com/supporting-students-during-covid19/

The second stimulus bill created an emergency sick leave program that provides 10 days of paid leave for individuals employed at businesses with fewer than 500 employees or employed by state and local government.  The sick leave program is created to support individuals who are being treated for COVID-19, seeking a diagnosis, or self-quarantining.  The paid sick leave benefit is available between now and the end of 2020.  Employers will pay the initial sick leave and then be reimbursed by the government through a refundable tax credit.

• CDC - If You Feel Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Covid-19 Testing: www.testiowa.com
• Directory of Free Clinics for Uninsured: https://freeclinicdirectory.org/

Additional Rent Resources:

• St. Vincent DePaul: http://svdpdsm.org/social-services/
• Ankeny: Impact Community Partnership: https://www.impactcap.org/housing-assistance
• Polk County: Cross Ministries: http://crossoutreachdm.org/prevention/
• West Des Moines Human Services: https://www.wdm.iowa.gov/government/human-services
• Polk County General Assistance: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/cfys/services/general-assistance-program/
• If facing eviction: HOME, Inc.: http://www.homeincdsm.org/
• If facing eviction: Iowa Legal Aid: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/issues/housing

Consult the English Language Learner Community section of this webpage to get access to information is a range of languages other than English.  https://www.dmschools.org/familyresources/

• Iowa Department of Human Rights News and Resources (PDF)
• Iowa Department of Public Health: https://idph.iowa.gov/Health-Equity/COVID-19-Resources-for-Underserved-Populations

• Federal student aid COVID-19 FAQ: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus
• Deferment/forebearance information: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief?