Find housing support information, including local programs, services and affordable housing resources, so you know where to go in times of need.
DVC Emergency Grants
Federal and state grants are available to assist with the cost of attending college, including housing, food, books, supplies, etc. For assistance and information about the application process, please contact us at basicneeds@dvc.edu.
Local Housing Resources
-
If you are looking for a place to live, there are several local and online organizations that can assist with finding a room, finding an apartment, rental assistance and more.
The resources and organizations listed on this page are provided by entities that operate independently from Diablo Valley College. Diablo Valley College does not assume responsibility for the ongoing accuracy, availability or services provided by these external entities. Students are encouraged to verify information and make decisions based on their individual needs.
- Contra Costa County - Affordable Housing Resources
- Eden Housing – Affordable Housing
- Shelter Inc. Housing Assistance
- Habitat for Humanity - Affordable Homeownership Program
- Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC)
- Roomsurf – College Roommate Finder
- Bungalow – Rooms for Rent in the Bay Area
- Roomster – Find and rent a room
- Roommates.com – Search rooms for rent
- Roomies – Find a roommate or room to rent
- Front Porch Home Match – Connects community members seeking housing with older adults who have extra space in their homes
-
When contacting housing resources online, follow these steps for the best chance of getting assistance:
- Call Early: Call as soon as an agency, referral or housing opportunity opens for the best chance of getting assistance.
- Persistence Pays Off: Consistently contact resource numbers because you may not get through on your first attempt.
- Be Clear and Specific: Clearly state your needs to ensure the most effective assistance.
- Manage Your Budget: Be clear on what you are able to manage when it comes to your budget for the cost of living, including rent and utilities.
Homeless Youth Resources
If you are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, many organizations can provide information and resources to assist you. DVC can assist you with financial aid, as well as support with basic needs, such as food, health care and more.
Campus Resources
-
Unaccompanied homeless youth are eligible to apply for financial aid – including free tuition and additional money for books, supplies, and living expenses. To apply, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will be asked whether you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. If you answer “yes”, you may submit the application without providing information about your parents. For assistance with the financial aid application process, please contact the DVC Homeless Youth Liaison in the Financial Aid Office: Lyle Fullmer – lfullmer@dvc.edu; 925-969-2316.
Apply for Financial Aid with the FAFSA -
Academic counselors are available to provide academic, career, and personal counseling. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor at least once per semester. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building on the Pleasant Hill Campus and in the Administration Building at the San Ramon Campus. You may contact the Counseling Center at the Pleasant Hill Campus at (925) 969-2140. For San Ramon Campus Counseling, please call (925) 551-6209.
Academic Counseling -
The DVC Basic Needs community connects students to food, housing, clothing, financial resources, textbooks and materials needed for classes, wellness and mental health services, transportation assistance, and more.
Basic Needs Services -
It is hard to focus on school and homework when you are hungry. DVC has many resources to help feed hungry students, including the DVC food pantry at the Pleasant Hill Campus, the San Ramon Campus Food Program, Food Bank Lockers, and more.
Food Resources -
DVC provides low cost, high quality dental cleanings to the surrounding community through the DVC dental hygiene clinic. As this is a teaching clinic, students enrolled in our Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Programs will be conducting the evaluations and cleanings. For more information and hours of operation, call (925) 969-2692,
Dental Hygiene Clinic -
Unaccompanied homeless youth may be eligible to receive priority registration. Students with priority registration have greater success at DVC because they can register earlier and access a greater selection of classes. This means reaching your educational goals faster! To qualify for priority registration, you must provide proof that you are an unaccompanied homeless youth or at risk of becoming homeless. This determination may be made by a Financial Aid Administrator. For more information, please contact DVC Homeless Youth Liaison in the Financial Aid Office: Lyle Fullmer - lfullmer@dvc.edu; 925-969-2316.
-
Students are welcome to use the men’s and women’s locker room facilities at the Pleasant Hill campus to shower. Both locker rooms are located between the gym and kinesiology buildings. Please note that locker rooms are only open during times when classes are in session. Locker rooms are not open on Fridays or during breaks when the campus is closed.
Community Resources
The resources and organizations listed below are provided by entities that operate independently from Diablo Valley College. Diablo Valley College does not assume responsibility for the ongoing accuracy, availability or services provided by these external entities. Students are encouraged to verify information and make decisions based on their individual needs.
-
Are you at risk of losing your housing or being evicted? Call 211 (or text “HOPE” to 20121) today to access available resources throughout Contra Costa County. This is a free and confidential service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Callers will be matched to appropriate programs and services such as access to housing, food, laundry, health care, legal defense, free emergency hotel vouchers, money for rent or utilities, etc.
You can also explore the Contra Costa Crisis Center’s 211 Contra Costa Database for shelter/housing resources, food assistance, family support, health and dental care, legal services, and more.
-
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has an up-to-date list of partner food pantries in Contra Costa County. Simply type in your zip code to find food near you (the zip code for the Pleasant Hill Campus is 94523). If you are located closer to the San Ramon Campus, the Alameda County Community Food Bank may have resources near you (the zip code for San Ramon Campus is 94582).
Find Food Pantries Near Me -
You may also qualify for CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps).
For assistance, check out CalFresh Days at both the San Ramon and Pleasant Hill Campuses or call the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano’s CalFresh Outreach Coordinator Bryan Espinoza at (925) 348-3172 or email bespinoza@foodbankccs.org.
Apply for Cal Fresh -
Need a place to shower, do laundry, or a temporary place to stay? Visit one of the Care center locations below. Find more at the 211 Contra Costa Database.
- Concord: Concord Service Center - 2047 Arnold Industrial Way Suite A
- Pleasant Hill: Hope Solutions - 399 Taylor Blvd. Suite 115
- Richmond: Calli House (for ages 18-24) - 845 Brookside Drive Suite B
- Richmond: GRIP - 165 22nd Street
- Walnut Creek: Trinity Center - 1888 Trinity Ave
- Livermore: TriValley Haven - 3663 Pacific Ave
- Livermore: Vinyeard Resource Center - 450 N Livemore Ave; Mon-Fri 9 am-5pm
- Oakland: Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (Men 21-65 y.o.; 6 month program, religion-based housing) - 601 Webster St.
-
Winter Nights Family Shelter provides couples, families, or individuals living in their vehicles a safe parking lot to park nightly. See 211 Contra Costa for more details.
Safe Parking at Winter Nights Family Shelter -
If you are being evicted or at risk of being evicted, call 211 and ask for eviction resources in your area.
- The RYSE Center helps Transition Aged Youth (TAY) avoid eviction through direct cash transfers.
- Shelter, Inc. can help with rental assistance and housing support
- Tenants Together and Bay Area Legal Aid provide eviction defense
- ECHO Fair Housing provides assistance and counseling for Fair Housing issues.
- The Eviction Defense Center supports residents in Alameda County and Richmond