Emergency Grants
and Housing Assistance
We are temporarily pausing Emergency Grant applications in
Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
Residents of the Huddle of 5th may still apply.
We will update this page when applications reopen. Please check back for the latest information.
If you’re interested in learning about emergency grants, information can still be found below.
Emergency Grants
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, are in immediate danger, or feel at risk of harm, please call 911 immediately. For non-emergency support related to mental health, housing, or other social services, you can contact 211 for assistance.
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Our emergency grants support single-parent students with up to $1,000 emergency funding for one-time unexpected emergencies, such as urgent dental work or the replacement of essential belongings due to theft or a natural disaster. For these families, one emergency could derail school enrollment and cause unexpected withdrawal. Along with this grant, the scholar receives navigational support to ensure needs are being met.
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Please note that we receive a high volume of emergency grant requests, and unfortunately, we do not have the resources to award all requests.
Types of expenses covered by Emergency Grants:
Types of expenses NOT covered by Emergency Grants:
Process:
To expedite the process, you should gather all your support materials, including invoices.
The scholar applicant fills out the Raise The Barr Emergency Grant Eligibility Requirements & Request form.
If the emergency cannot be addressed with a one-time grant of $1,000 or less, the scholar is informed that they are not eligible to apply for an emergency grant. The Emergency Grant Coordinator (EGC) provides the student with additional community resources to help address the student’s needs.
If an emergency can be addressed with a one-time grant of $1,000 or less, the EGC conducts a full intake with the scholar. The EGC works with the scholar to obtain backup documentation and provides navigational support for other areas that may be of concern based on intake.
If the scholar is eligible, the EGC will send the application to the managing director for approval.
The EGC informs the applicant whether the grant has been approved or declined:
If the application is declined, the EGC may provide additional recommendations to the student.
If the application is approved, the applicant may select to receive their payment via ACH, which can take 3-5 business days to receive once the grant is processed, or via a paper check, which can take 7-10 business days once the grant is processed.
Upon approval, the applicant will be issued an acceptance letter detailing the date of issue and the amount granted. Furthermore, the applicant will be required to submit a progress report or a summary outlining how the grant has positively impacted them within 2 days of utilizing the funds.
RTB submits the applicant’s payment information to our accounting team. Every effort is made to submit the payment information and process the payment within 3-5 business days of the grant approval. This time frame may be delayed due to national holidays, staff vacations, or illness.
Upon completion of the above process, the EGC conducts quarterly check-ins for the next year to provide additional support.
Who can apply?
Single-parent students—including cohort members—who live, work, and/or attend college in the following counties can apply once per academic year:
Los Angeles County, CA
Orange County, CA
Hennepin County, MN
Dakota County, MN
Ramsey County, MN
Residents of The Huddle on 5th may apply multiple times per year until they receive $1,000 worth of emergency grants.
Eligibility Guidelines:
Applicant must have financial hardship resulting from an unexpected incident that will be resolved with a grant of $1,000 or less.
One of the following must apply:
Scholar lives in or attends school in Ramsey/Hennepin/Dakota Counties in Minnesota or LA/Orange Counties in California or is a resident of The Huddle on 5th in Sacramento
Scholar has participated in a RTB cohort
Scholar received an RTB scholarship.
Applicant must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student.
Applicant must be a single parent or primary caregiver for biological or dependent child under 18.
Applicant must be able to provide sufficient documentation of financial hardship.
Other possible resources have been considered and are either unavailable or insufficient. The Emergency Grant coordinator may suggest other resources during the intake process.
If the applicant has previously received an emergency grant from RTB, they must wait 12 months from the date of receipt before applying for a new grant. If the applicant has previously applied for an RTB emergency grant and their application was denied, they must wait 6 months from this denial date before applying again. Please note, this policy does not apply to resident at the Huddle on 5th as they may be eligible to apply sooner based on their program participation and housing arrangements.
Available in West Sacramento: Emergency Housing Assistance Fund
The Emergency Housing Assistance Fund supports single-parent students in Yolo County, California who are not residents of The Huddle on 5th. Eligible students may apply for up to $1,000 to support housing-related expenses, such as eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The goal of this fund is to provide temporary relief for single-parent students facing urgent housing challenges, helping them bridge short-term gaps while they seek longer-term solutions, including potential residency at The Huddle on 5th.
Who can apply?
Single parents currently attending a college or trade/tech program in Yolo County and Sacramento County may apply for this grant.
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