The Retriever Essentials team is aware of the many structural and situational problems that arise and often cause occasional or long-term food insecurity among college students. To holistically support our UMBC students, we are actively compiling referral services to offer help to serve specific needs beyond free groceries.
2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline
The 2-1-1 Helpline provides information, community resources and referrals on a variety of health and human service issues are available with one easy call. A trusted and caring call specialist is there to answer the helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline provides individuals and families one easy-to-remember hot line for assistance. The 2-1-1 helplines can help you access:
- Food
- Shelters and emergency housing for the homeless
- Access to transitional housing
- Medical care
- Utility assistance
- Tax help
- Job training
- Eviction prevention services
- Family services and counseling
- Day care
- Prescription assistance
- Suicide prevention and crisis center services
Maryland Health Connection
Maryland Health Connection is Maryland’s official health insurance marketplace. It offers Marylanders a range of health coverage options from health insurance carriers and public health care programs. You can get the coverage you need online, over the phone or in person. Maryland Health Connection is also the only place in Maryland where individuals, families, and small businesses can get financial help with their health coverage costs, if they qualify. Maryland Health Connection was established to meet the requirements of the federal Health Care Reform law (or Affordable Care Act), which gave states the opportunity to either establish their own “health insurance exchange” (or marketplace) or allow the Federal government to operate an exchange on behalf of their residents.
WIC
The WIC Program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk. To be fully eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must be determined by a health professional, at no cost, to be at nutritional risk (i.e., have certain medical-based or diet-based risk conditions).
Maryland Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Waiver
The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth is available to unaccompanied homeless youth who are enrolled as a candidate for an associate, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate at a Maryland Public institution of higher education. The purpose of the Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth is to provide financial assistance to unaccompanied homeless youth. Students who are declared as unaccompanied homeless youth and are not in the physical custody of their parent(s) may qualify for a tuition and fees waiver. Eligibility and Sources: Criterion (including but not limited to…) can be found on the UMBC OFAS website here. The main source of this information can be found on the MD Higher Education Commission (MHEC) website here.
Check out the tabs to the left for our current findings! If you know of more services we should include, or need to speak with someone about your unique needs, please contact retrieveressentials@umbc.edu to be further assisted.