Welcome to the Basic Needs Center!
The Basic Needs Center offers virtual and in-person services.
Supporting your Success!
The Basic Needs Center supports students’ well-being by providing referrals to the following services:
- Local Food Distribution Referral
- Student Food Pantry
- CalFresh application assistance
- Housing Referral
- Transportation cards
- Closet and hygiene items
- Mental Health Services Referral
- Social Services provided by Luminarias Institute
- Public Services application assistance
- Need a parking permit for Spring 2024 and cannot afford it? Apply here
If the Basic Needs Center cannot provide direct support, every effort will be made to connect students with additional resources on campus and in the community.
Please complete the Basic Needs Center Intake form, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible.
Mental Health and Social Services
Timely Care
What is Timely Care?
TimelyCare is a virtual health and well-being platform available 24/7 for any enrolled LA Mission College students. With Timely Care, you will have FREE, 24/7 access to providers regardless of your insurance status.
How do I log in?
Go to TimelyCare or download the TimelyCare app to access care. You will need your college email address, and answer a few questions, nothing complicated.
What services are available?
- TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors.
- Scheduled Counseling: Choose the day, time, and mental health provider that works best for you. (12 visits per year)
- Self-Care Content: Visit the Explore page within TimelyCare for guided self-care content.
- Basic Needs Support: Access to free or reduced-cost community resources, including food and housing assistance, transit support, childcare, and finances.
Student Health Center
Visit the Student Health Center for in-person or virtual mental health appointments.
Luminarias
Luminarias provides individual, group, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults in school-based settings. They treat depression and anxiety, specializing in trauma work (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional abuse), grief and loss, and challenges related to biculturalism. Request the referral form at the Basic Needs Office.
Benefits include:
-
One-on-one counseling sessions for current LAMC students.
-
Wrap around social services assistance.
Luminarias is now offering a weekly group workshop for all LAMC students. The workshop is meant to help students who may be struggling with stress and/or anxiety. This will be a place where you are heard and supported.
Struggling with stress and anxious feelings?
- Come join other students to learn how to manage these struggles, discuss, and feel heard.
- Tuesdays 6 to 6:50 pm
- Zoom
- More Information:
- Email: Dominique.mekis@luminarias.org
- 818-732-6844 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 12 to 5pm)
CalFresh
The CalFresh student eligibility has expanded, making it easier for students to apply. More students are eligible to take advantage of $192.00 or more a month in grocery food cards. Students with dependents may be eligible for more!
CalFresh, formerly known as Food Stamps and federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.
The program issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. CalFresh benefits come on a plastic card, called the Golden State Advantage Card, which you can use just like a bank card at most food stores.
- U.S. Citizen
- Legal permanent resident
- T-Visa holder (or applicant)
- Asylee, refugee, or parolee (or applicant)
- VAWA relief applicant
- Cuban or Haitian entrant
- Afghan entering with Special Immigrant VISA (SIV), (SQ/SI) Parole, or other forms of humanitarian parole
The amount of the benefits is based on the size of your household, your income, and your bills. Household means a person living alone or a group of people living together who buy food and make meals together.
| Family Size | Monthly Gross Income Limit (200% FPL) | Maximum CalFresh Allotment* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,024 | $192 |
| 2 | $2,744 | $352 |
| 3 | $3,464 | $504 |
| 4 | $4,184 | $640 |
| 5 | $4,904 | $760 |
| 6 | $5,694 | $913 |
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, mothers with infants, and young children eat well, be active and stay healthy.
You may qualify if you:
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or just had a baby;
- Have a children under the age 5; and
- Have low to medium income; and/or
- Receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh (Food Stamps), or CalWORKS (TANF) benefits; and
- Live in California
WIC provides:
- Nutrition education and health information
- Breastfeeding support
- Checks for healthy foods (like fruits and vegetables)
- Referrals to medical providers and community services
How to Apply
Review the chart below to see if your family's income falls within the WIC guidelines, then visit the WIC Application webpage.
For more information, call (818) 361-7541 or visit the WIC website.
| Household size | Federal Poverty (Annual) | Reduced price meals (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $13,590 | $25,142 |
| 2 | $18,310 | $33,874 |
| 3 | $23,030 | $42,606 |
| 4 | $27,750 | $51,338 |
| 5 | $32,470 | $60,070 |
| 6 | $37,190 | $68,802 |
| 7 | $41,910 | $77,534 |
| 8 | $46,630 | $86,266 |
| Each additional family member add: | + $4,720 | + $8,732 |
Young Child Tax Credit
The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides a credit of up to $1,083 per tax return for Californians who qualify for CalEICT and have a child under 6 years old.
For the tax year 2022 and forward, you may qualify for YCTC with a total earned income of zero dollars or less, provided all of the following apply:
- Your total wages, salaries, tips, and other employee compensation (whether subject to California withholding or not), if any, do not exceed $32,490
- Your total net loss does not exceed $32,490, and
- You otherwise meet the CalEITC and YCTC requirements
You must claim YCTC on the 2022 FTB 3514 form, California Earned Income Tax Credit, or if you e-file, follow your software’s instructions. You may claim YCTC for the tax year 2019 forward by filing or amending your state income tax return. However, for tax years prior to 2022, you will only be eligible for YCTC if you meet all CalEITC requirements, including having at least $1 or earned income in the tax year.
For Campus Emergencies:
(818) 364-7843 or (818) 364-7845
For off-campus emergencies, call: 911