Student Outreach & Support helps students in navigating access to basic needs such as health care, food, and housing. If you know someone who could benefit from these sources, please submit an SOS referral, and we will reach out to the student.
All undergraduate students pay the Student Health & Counseling Fee (HCF), ensuring eligibility for low-cost, easy-access health and counseling services right on campus. Graduate students are also encouraged to pay the quarterly Health & Counseling Fee in order to have low-cost access to the services available at the HCC.
If you pay your quarterly Health & Counseling Fee (HCF), counseling and medical appointments have very low co-pays. With both the HCF and Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) visits are usually free.
All group therapy visits are also free. More information on the Health & Counseling Fee can be found here. If students are concerned about any additional costs of counseling or medical appointments, they can contact the Health & Counseling Center Directly at 303-871-2205.
Colorado offers a Medicaid program that may be available to some students. Interested students can review eligibility requirements or begin their application here. If SOS can help in any way, please let us know.
For application support please use these resources for further information:
Students who are interested in applying for Colorado SNAP Benefits can view general eligibility requirements here. Eligibility requirements specifically for students can be viewed here.
More students are now temporarily eligible for SNAP benefits as a result of changes in federal law due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanded access to SNAP benefits includes students who are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work-study, and students who have a zero federal EFC (Expected Family Contribution). Students must also meet other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility criteria.
The Department of Education’s Electronic Announcement on this topic provides further links on SNAP benefits and eligibility rules.
During the donation drives held each quarter, students can donate swipes by filling out a donation form at the campus dining hall registers. Swipes are then redistributed to students facing food insecurity through the Student Outreach & Support Office.
If you are interested in applying for swipes through the Swipe Out Hunger program, please contact Student Outreach & Support Office at sos@du.edu.
If you or another member of the DU community is experiencing housing or food insecurity, and would benefit from connecting to resources, please submit an SOS Referral
The Denver community fridge offers free food 24/7. Fridges with pantry items and fresh food are located in 8 locations across Denver. Find specific locations and more information at the link below.
The GrowHaus’ food access programs offer healthy and affordable food options for residents of Globeville and Elyria-Swansea. The GrowHaus programming is currently operating out of two hub locations in Denver.
All food access programming, including our no-cost, low-cost, and social enterprise food box program, is operating out of a warehouse in Park Hill.
Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization, connects people to food resources to meet existing needs. Hunger Free Colorado also seeks policy and social changes in order to move toward a hunger-free state.
Phone: (720) 328-1284
Location: 1355 S Colorado Blvd Suite 201, Denver, CO 80222
Same Café offers an exchange program for which volunteers are offered a hot meal for half an hour of work. If you want to exchange volunteer time for a meal, just show up at the Café and order a delicious meal! When you check out, let us know you would like to exchange time for the meal and we will get you signed up for a shift that day
Capitol Hill Community Services offers meals at two locations in metro Denver. Our mission is to provide reliable, healthy meals to the homeless and poor that will enable a return to a self-sufficient life.
Lunch and Food baskets are available to Aurora Residents at St. Andrew Hospitality Center. Please arrive at the center no later than 11 AM. Proof of Residence in Aurora will be required, so please bring a government-issued ID and social security card.
This proof will need to show that you are a resident of Aurora, currently living with family members in Aurora, experiencing homelessness, or living in a motel in Aurora.
Phone: 303-364-2329
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:15 AM- 1:15 PM
Over 18: Need to bring proof of residence in Aurora
Father Woody's Haven of Hope offers medical services, showers, food boxes, laundry and phone service (1-3 day turnaround), wireless internet access, clothing bank, mail and document safekeeping, over-the-counter medication, Veteran Affairs Representative, outreach coordinator, and eye clinic.
Phone: 303-607-0855
Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Monday-Friday
St. Elizabeth of Hungary on the corner of Speer and Arapahoe offers sandwich lunches from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM daily, however, sandwiches often run out by 11:30. No ID is required. Clothing and toiletries are also distributed daily after sandwiches run out.
Hours: Lunch from 11:00 am-12:00 PM Sandwich Line everyday, often runs out by 11:30, please arrive early
Volunteers of America Meals is still operating normally with regards to church services and meals. If weather permits, they are doing church and meals outside.
Phone: 720-217-3884
Meal Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
The Delores Project provides safe, comfortable shelter and personalized services for unaccompanied women and transgender individuals who are unhoused. They also work to end houselessness by advocating for solutions to the ongoing housing crisis.
There are no restrictions for how long someone can stay
Hours of Operation: Now a 24/7 shelter
Those looking for shelter should call us at 10am daily at 303-534-5411 to inquire about bed availability and complete a brief phone screen
In order to secure a bed over the phone at 10am, individuals will be asked to provide documentation of at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. We do not hold or reserve beds for subsequent dates. New guests will be required to complete a Covid-19 rapid test upon arrival.
Urban Peak has a 40-bed overnight shelter for youth ages 15 through 20. They are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and offer a safe and welcoming environment where your rights and identity will be respected. The Urban Peak is a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
