Basic Needs Student Support

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2024 Winter Break Support

The ability to meet basic needs significantly affects UW-Madison students’ mental and physical health, academic performance, work productivity, and overall success.  UW-Madison strives to support students’ basic needs by promoting a sense of belonging and justice by offering and expanding both immediate emergency assistance and long-term support services. We understand that addressing basic needs requires a holistic approach and including the entire campus community.

This website is focused on the Madison area – if you need resources in a different area, the United Way 211 will give you information based on your zip code. 

Resource Links

Whether you’re looking for food assistance, health services, or more, below are a variety of links to support meeting your basic needs. Explore the resources and discover the programs available to help you thrive.

Food Resources

Find more information for on and off campus food resources.

Clothing

More information about clothing resources in the Madison community.

Basic Needs Request

Explore the option of requesting basic need items.

Health Resources

More information on mental and physical health support.

Internet & Technology

Explore internet and technology resources.

Student Employment

Learn more about finding student jobs.

Housing

Explore housing resources in the Madison Community.

Child & Family Care

Find resources connected to child care and family support.

This resource was developed by UW-Madison students to make navigating food resources easier for other students! Students from several campus organizations, such as The Open Seat, ASM Sustainability, and the Office of Sustainability contributed to this project.

How to Use: Click on any resource. On the left you will see a tab with the location, hours, website, a description, and eligibility requirements. To get directions, click on the direction symbol on the top right of this tab.

Contact: If you have any questions, contact openseat@asm.wisc.edu.  The team aims to keep this list up to date and accurate.  If you notice any information that is incorrect or incomplete, please send an email.

Connection

Basic Needs Team

The Basic Needs team offers dedicated resources to assist students in gaining access to food, housing, and insurance to promote overall wellness.

Recreation & Wellbeing

Recreation & Wellbeing offers spaces, programs, and services for students to explore ways to move their bodies, connect with other students, and learn about holistic wellbeing.

Office of Student Assistance & Support

The Office of Student Assistance & Support can be your starting point for accessing a wide range of resources and support, both on and off campus.

Emergency Support

Provides funding if you are experiencing an emergency situation.

If you have any updates or changes you’d like to make to the website, please fill out the form below. Thank you for helping to ensure the information on this site stays accurate and up-to-date.

Website Update Request Form