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Emergency Assistance Funds

Emergency Assistance Funds

What are emergency assistance funds?

Emergency assistance funds are limited resources available to HACC students who are facing extraordinary financial circumstances. These funds help cover unexpected expenses so students can continue their education at HACC.

Important note: Applications are processed in the order they are received and are typically reviewed within 72 business hours. Processing times may be longer during periods of high application volume or if additional information is needed to complete an application review. 

Who is eligible for emergency assistance funds?

You are eligible if you meet the following criteria:

  • Are a credit student with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Are currently enrolled in credit or noncredit courses at HACC and the semester is underway
Who is NOT eligible to apply for emergency assistance funds?

You are NOT eligible if you:

  • Are a guest student
  • Are a new, re-admitted, or transfer student, or recently transitioned between credit and noncredit programs, and do not yet have a verifiable HACC GPA within the first four weeks of the semester
  • Are suspended for lacking satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
  • Are on academic probation
  • Are a HACC employee
  • Are a spouse or dependent of a HACC employee
  • Have received emergency assistance from HACC twice
  • Have an unpaid balance or financial hold on your account

You can use the funds for the following educational expenses:

  • Academic-related technology (for example, laptops, webcams, hotspots and specialized software for courses)
  • Books
  • Bus passes
  • Childcare
  • Course-required items (for example, uniforms, equipment and supplies)
  • Emergency auto repair expenses to attend in-person activities related to instruction (for example, clinicals and classes held on a HACC campus)
  • Personal home catastrophe (for example, fire or flood that directly affects your ability to attend classes)
  • Physicals and medical tests (for example, Tuberculosis tests)
  • Rent and mortgage assistance
  • Testing fees (for example, MBlex, NCLEX and TEAS exams)
  • Utilities assistance

Important note: Emergency assistance funds may not cover all requested expenses.

No, you cannot use emergency assistance funds for tuition or a past-due balance owed to the College.
 

If you are approved, you may:

  • Pay your emergency expense first and receive reimbursement from HACC 

    OR
     
  • Receive money from HACC to pay your emergency expenses directly 

Important note: HACC will NOT pay a vendor on your behalf.

To receive funding, please:

  • Review the guidelines above.
  • Review the available Emergency Assistance funds below.
  • Complete and submit the online form below. Documentation of need and a copy of your unofficial transcripts (for credit students) are required.
     

Your situationRequired documentationInformation documentation must include
Credit-seeking studentUnofficial transcripts (if you are a credit‑seeking student)Please follow the steps under “How do I obtain my unofficial transcript?” on the Transcript Request webpage to access a copy of your unofficial transcript.
Expense has not been paidCurrent bill or invoicePlease see the Requirements for acceptable documentation section below this table.
Expense already paid (reimbursement request)Paid receiptPlease see the Requirements for acceptable documentation section below this table.
Rent or mortgage assistance (preferred)
 		Rent or mortgage invoice/receipt

When seeking rent or mortgage assistance, please provide a rent or mortgage payment invoice or receipt with:

  • Vendor name and mailing address
  • Your full name and mailing address.
    • Important note: your mailing address must match the mailing address that is in HACC’s records and the information listed on your vendor documentation. If you need to update your mailing address in HACC’s records, please contact the HACC Welcome Center prior to submitting your emergency assistance application.

If your name appears on a lease as an occupant rather than a tenant, additional documentation may be required to verify your contribution toward the household rent or mortgage expenses. Please see the additional options below.

Rent or mortgage assistance (if no invoice/receipt available)Current signed lease or mortgage document

If a rent or mortgage payment invoice or receipt is not available, please provide a current, signed lease or mortgage document with:

  • Your name and mailing address
  • The total rent payment
  • The signature page signed by all parties

If your name appears on a lease as an occupant rather than a tenant, additional documentation may be required to verify your contribution toward the household rent or mortgage expenses.

Rent or mortgage assistance (if you are not on the lease or mortgage)Proof of residency and payment

If you are living with a family member and do not have a formal lease or mortgage, please choose one of the following options to verify your housing expenses:

Option 1:

  • A typed written agreement signed by both parties
     
  • Proof of payments (provide any of the following that are available):
     
    • Bank statements from apps like Zelle, Venmo or Cash App
    • Screenshots of recurring payments labeled as rent
    • Written receipts from the family member or individual providing the housing

Option 2:

  • Mail showing proof of residency at the address
  • Proof of payments (provide any of the following that are available):
    • Bank statements from apps like Zelle, Venmo or Cash App
    • Screenshots of recurring payments labeled as rent
    • Written receipts from the family member or individual providing the housing
Testing fee assistanceTest documentation

When seeking testing fee assistance, please provide documentation that includes the name of the test and the total costs.

A screenshot of your shopping cart is acceptable, provided it clearly shows the item(s) and the total cost.

Academic-related technology and course material assistanceTechnology and course material documentation

When seeking academic-related technology assistance, please provide documentation that includes the name of the academic-related technology and the total cost of the technology.

A screenshot of your shopping cart is acceptable, provided it clearly shows the item(s) and the total cost. 

Requirements for acceptable vendor documentation
All submitted vendor documentation must:

  • Include the vendor name.
  • Include the vendor mailing address.
  • Include your full name.
  • Include your mailing address (when applicable).
  • Match the mailing address in HACC’s records.
  • Be dated within 60 calendar days of your application date. For example, if you submit your application on June 13 and your invoice or receipt is dated for March 3, the documentation will not be accepted. However, if you submit your application on June 13 and your invoice or receipt is dated for May 3, the documentation will be acceptable and can be reviewed as part of your application.
  • Show the total cost of the expense.

If your mailing address needs to be updated, please contact the HACC Welcome Center before submitting your Emergency Assistance application.

Additional important information about rent and mortgage invoices or receipts

  • We must have official documentation proving that you live at the residence and have a financial need related to the residence.
  • Vendor documentation (such as a lease or invoice) must include your name. Documentation that does not include your name may delay or prevent approval of your request.

We realize how important this funding is to you. Therefore, our goal is to process your application as soon as possible.

  1. Application Submission
    1. Submit your application online with all the required documentation.
  2. Review Period
    1. Emergency assistance reviews the application
    2. The typical review time is three business days
  3. Notification
    1. You will receive an email once your application is approved or if additional documentation is needed.
  4. Funding Disbursement
    1. After we receive your thank-you letter and your funding has been approved, funds are typically disbursed to your student account within 12 business days.
    2. If approved, HACC will either send you the money for you to pay the emergency expense directly or reimburse you if you’ve already paid.
    3. Reimbursements typically process within twelve business days after approval.
  5. Follow-Up
    1. Contact emergencyassistance@hacc.edu with any questions about the above process
       

  • Once the thank-you letter is submitted, your funds will be processed within two business days. When we use the word “processed,” we mean that we will contact BankMobile and send the funds to them within two business days.
  • You would then receive the funds within five to 10 business days after they are processed by HACC employees.
  • How soon you receive the funds after they are processed by HACC employees will depend upon your BankMobile preferences. HACC has NO control over your BankMobile preferences. For more information on BankMobile, please visit HACC’s BankMobile webpage.
  • HACC does not have any control over the emergency assistance funds once they have been processed through BankMobile. Please make sure your BankMobile information is correct and updated. HACC will not give additional funding to students for any lost emergency assistance funds due to BankMobile issues.
  • Students who have pending financial aid and are approved for emergency assistance funds will receive the money in one combined payment. For example, if you are approved for $500 in emergency assistance funding and have $1,500 pending in financial aid, you would receive one combined payment of $2,000.
     

  • Students may apply for the emergency assistance funds twice while they are enrolled at HACC.
  • Applications beyond the two-application limit will be denied. 
    Credit students are eligible for up to $750 per application, with a maximum of $1,500 total while enrolled at HACC.
    Noncredit students areeligible for up to $500 per application, with a maximum of $1,000 total while enrolled at HACC.
     

  • The second application must be submitted at least 30 calendar days after the refund from the first application is initiated. Second applications received sooner than this will be denied.
  • Important note: Total emergency assistance awarded may not exceed the documented cost of the expense. If a second request uses the same vendor documentation, the award will not exceed the remaining balance after prior emergency assistance funds have been applied. 
     

Please contact emergencyassistance@hacc.edu.
 

HACC proudly established the Consultation, Advocacy, Referrals and Empowerment (CARE) Center as a single stop where students can go for assistance with non-academic challenges. This is a free resource available to all current HACC students. If you have not already done so, please visit the CARE Center website for more information. 

Fund NameWho Can Apply?Key Requirements / Notes
Charlotte Shuey Student Emergency Assistance FundAny eligible HACC studentStudents must have needs related to, but not limited to, childcare, transportation, costs, textbooks and course fees.
Gettysburg Campus Emergency Assistance FundGettysburg Campus studentsStudents must be enrolled at the Gettysburg Campus
Gettysburg Campus Textbook Emergency Assistance FundGettysburg Campus students

Students must:

  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • Attend HACC’s Gettysburg Campus.
  • Have satisfactory academic progress (SAP) status of good or warning
Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Endowment Trust Emergency Assistance FundGettysburg Campus students

Students must:

  • Be Adams County residents.
  • Enrolled at HACC Gettysburg Campus.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Harrisburg Campus Emergency Assistance FundHarrisburg Campus studentsStudents must be enrolled at the Harrisburg Campus
Johnson Controls College Partnership Program Emergency Assistance FundJohnson Controls Scholars

Students must be a Johnson Controls scholar and enrolled in one of the following HACC programs:

  • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC)
  • Electrical Technology
  • Mechatronics
  • Welding
Lancaster Campus Emergency Assistance FundLancaster Campus studentsStudents must be enrolled at the Lancaster Campus
Lebanon Campus Emergency Assistance FundLebanon Campus studentsStudents enrolled at Lebanon Campus
John L. and C. Jeanette Witmer Charitable Trust Emergency Assistance FundLebanon Campus studentsStudents enrolled at Lebanon Campus
Massage Therapy Emergency Assistance FundMassage Therapy studentsStudents must be enrolled in the Massage Therapy program
Plawsky Photography Student Emergency Assistance FundPhotography studentsStudents must be enrolled in the Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) Degree Program, focusing on Photography or the Certificate in Photography Program
PSECU Emergency Assistance FundPSECU member students

Students must:

  • Be a PSECU member
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Have satisfactory academic progress (SAP) status of good or warning
York Campus Emergency Assistance FundYork Campus studentsMust attend York Campus

Last updated: June 30, 2026