GSU4U Ambassadors are faculty and staff who are aware of the challenges students may experience around hunger and housing and can help students connect with and navigate resources. Ambassadors can be identified by the GSU4U Ambassador sticker (pictured above).

Want to become an Ambassador? Workshops occur each semester, contact gsu4u@govst.edu for more information.

Toolkit of Campus and Community Resources (PDF) includes information about financial aid, housing, food, storage, shower facilities, books and class materials, and emergency necessities.

GSU Student Emergency Fund

The GSU Student Emergency Fund provides limited emergency financial support to Governors State University students who are unable to meet essential educational expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship. Priority funding is for students with an outstanding or current student account balance that inhibits their ability to maintain enrollment. 

Distributed funds depend upon the individual situation of each student and the demonstrated need. Emergency funds are typically awarded once and are applied directly to a student's account. The fund is supported entirely by private donations and awards do not need to be repaid. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree-seeking students who are enrolled in courses during the semester in which the funds are being requested.
• Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
• Students must provide sufficient documentation of financial hardship.
• All other financial resources, including student loans, have been exhausted or are insufficient or unavailable.*

Examples of Educational Expenses

• Tuition and Fees
• University Housing
• Meal Plan
• Textbooks and Course Materials

Request Assistance

For assistance, please email gsu4u@govst.edu or call 708.235.2845. A staff member will be able to discuss your specific circumstances and collect supporting documentation. Requests will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. 

*Contact the Office for Financial Aid directly at faid@govst.edu so that they can assist you with financing your education and other related expenses. If you have not already, you are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa using GSU’s school code 009145.

Need help accessing food? SNAP can be a useful resource during difficult times. Governors State University partners with mRelief to provide students easy access to SNAP benefits through text messaging, web, and voice. Find out if you qualify in just a few minutes so that you can get the help that you need.

In addition, GSU4U hosts on-campus workshops with representatives from the Northern Illinois Food Bank who help students apply for SNAP benefits in person. Workshop dates will be published online and sent via e-mail at the beginning of each semester (Fall /Spring). 

The GSU Food Pantry (A-1115) is available for GSU students Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To access the pantry, please go to A-2100 (Center for Student Engagement and Intercultural Programs) and tell a staff member that you would like to visit the pantry. Only 1 or 2 students will be able to access the pantry at a time in order to observe the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations for social distancing. Hand sanitizer, latex gloves, and plastic grocery bags are available for your use. Students must have their Governors State University ID to utilize the Food Pantry.

If you need other items or are unable to come to campus, view a list of community-based food pantries and meal services (PDF).

View a list of homeless shelters and housing resources (PDF) in Chicago, the South Suburbs, and Cook County.

The South Suburban Cook County Call Center assists with housing referrals and can be reached at 877.426.6515 on Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm. The call center provides two types of referrals: Homelessness Prevention (HP) Referrals (rental assistance, security deposit) & Diversion/Short Term Stabilization (STS) Referrals (Non-financially based, case management). To qualify for the HP referrals the individual must have a income and proof of their hardship, (i.e. what prevented them from paying last months rent or proof of why they must move and can't pay forward for security deposit). STS referrals are given to those who do not qualify for HP. However, STS referrals are limited and it is recommended to call early in the day for assistance.

The Illinois Department of Human Services' Homeless Prevention Program provides rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, approved case management and approved supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure or homelessness or are currently homeless. The program is designed to stabilize individuals and families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters, and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing. For more information, visit the IDHS website.

The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)'s staff of HUD-certified Housing Counselors are available to assist with foreclosure prevention, pre-purchase, post-purchase, rental counseling, and financial counseling. To schedule a telephone or online counseling session (accessible through a computer or mobile smart phone) please call 312-288-8010 or email housing1@cedaorg.net. For more information, visit cedaorg.net/find-services/housing-services/.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority partners with lenders, developers, local governments, nonprofits, community groups, and others to finance affordable housing across Illinois. They provide financial assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, offer resources to developers who build or preserve affordable and mixed-income rental housing, and provide oversight for hundreds of affordable rental communities across the state. For more information about services, please visit ihda.org.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has published resources to assist individuals who are having trouble paying their rent, utilities, or other housing costs. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic. Visit the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder to find out what this means for you and what you can do. The CFPB’s site also includes resources to help renters and landlords understand other resources to help navigate various financial hardships related to the pandemic.

The Storefront on Sixty Third offers donated clothing, home furnishings, and decor-related goods from Chicago businesses to more than 55,000 residents in the Chicago Lawn area.

Illinois Legal Aid Online's mission is to increase access to justice for lower-income and vulnerable Illinois residents. The website includes information on legal issues (laws, filing paperwork), how to find a lawyer, and connections to resources. Information is available regarding the following issues:

• Family & Safety
• House & Apartment
• Money & Debt
• Health & Benefits
• Business & Work
• School and Education
• Citizens & Immigration
• Crime & Traffic

Immigration Legal Services Resource Guide provides a directory of organizations that assist with immigration and naturalization services in Illinois. 

Cook County Free/Low Cost Legal Services Directory

Will County Free/Low Cost Legal Services Directory

A number of law schools, bar associations and nonprofit organizations across the state offer pro bono legal advice and representation for those who are unable to afford legal services. Please visit the Illinois Attorney General website for a list of referrals.

• The GSU  Counseling and Wellness Center offers free medical and counseling services to registered students.
• Aunt Martha's offers care coordination, healthcare services, child welfare, and community wellness resources. Location: 19990 Governors Highway, Olympia Fields, IL 60461 Phone: 708.747.7100
• The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division has launched a free and anonymous emotional support text line, Call4Calm, for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19. Individuals who would like to speak with a mental health professional can text TALK (HABLAR for Spanish) to 5-5-2-0-2-0 and will receive a call from a counselor employed by a local community mental health center to provide support. Individuals can also text 5-5-2-0-2-0, with key words such as “unemployment," “food,” or “shelter” to receive information on how to access services.
• Resource guide to support physical, mental & sexual health for students.

Child care financial assistance for Governors State University student-parents so they can graduate!

The goal of CCAMPIS is to assist low-income student parents with child care expenses at the GSU Family Development Center (FDC) to ensure student parent enrollment, persistence, and graduation. CCAMPIS is a 4-year federal grant awarded to GSU by the U.S. Department of Education. Continued availability of funds is dependent upon the U.S. Department of Education.

For a student with dependents, an allowance for costs expected to be incurred for dependent care may be included in your cost of attendance. This covers care during periods that include, but are not limited to, class time, study time, field work, internships, and commuting time for the student. If approved, the amount of the allowance will be based on the number and age of such dependents and will not exceed reasonable costs in the community for the kind of care provided.

Documentation required: Copies of three months of cancelled checks (front and back) and/or money orders made payable to the child care provider. If the student/parent is caring for an elderly relative residing in their home, they must provide: tax return for the elderly person, bills from a longterm care facility, asset information from the elderly person, the parent’s/student’s tax return to see whether the elderly person was claimed as an exemption, and information about the elderly person’s income, such as social security, pensions, and interest/dividend income. 

Please complete the "Budget Adjustment Form" and submit it with additional documentation to your Financial Aid Advisor. See: https://www.govst.edu/forms-publications/

First Transit assists Medicaid Participants who have limited access to non-emergency transportation to and from a Medicaid covered health care service.

First Transit is the call center that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) contracted with to provide the review of prior authorizations for most non-emergency transportation. First Transit is NOT a transportation provider, and does not arrange transportation. First Transit does maintain a list of enrolled Medicaid transportation providers for Participants to select from.

Information on eligibility and scheduling transportation is available on the First Transit Website.

GSU publishes Resources for Undocumented Students including information about the Illinois DREAM Act, GSU admissions, DACA, financial resources, and community agencies.

Illinois Temporary Driver's License for Undocumented (Non-Visa) Individuals

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) publishes the Undocumented Student's Guide to College which includes information about navigating financial aid, student rights, community resources, and related laws.

 The Immigration Legal Services Resource Guide provides a directory of organizations that assist with immigration and naturalization services in Illinois. 

Governors State University has many of its programs approved by the Will County Workforce Board for funding by the Work Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is a federally funded grant program to assist unemployed individuals in entering or returning to the workforce. These programs are certified to provide education and training to adults and dislocated workers who have been awarded vouchers under this act. Although, GSU does not provide vouchers we honor them for our approved programs.

For more information, please visit: http://www.govst.edu/wioa/

Community Resources in Response to COVID-19 

The resources published in this document (PDF) have been submitted to the GSU4U program to support individuals during the COVID-19 outbreak. Off-campus organizations and resources are provided for informational purposes only and publication does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Governors State University. Individuals are encouraged to contact the community service providers and organizations directly for more information.

The Pritzker administration released a wi-fi hotspot map to support Illinois students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wi-fi hotspots are available at multiple locations, including local colleges and libraries. To find a hotspot near you, visit the hotspot map. 

The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is a Federal Communications Commission program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EBB will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The EBB is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. For more information about eligibility or to apply, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit