Housing, Food and Transportation

UCSF has established the Basic Needs for Students Program and Lyft Partnership to help students with rising bay area housing prices, food access, and transportation services.

Basic Needs for Students

The economic burdens of professional and graduate education are significant for all students, and there may be times when it is difficult for students to access a sufficient quantity of nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

Since the launch of the UC Global Food Initiative in 2015, UCSF has taken strategic action to ensure students have access to a variety of resources to meet their basic needs. UCSF has established the Basic Needs for Students Program to develop and implement services and resources that address UCSF student food and housing insecurity. The Basic Needs program is supported by state funding.

Learn more about Basic Needs for Students

Urgent food security assistance

If you are experiencing a food security crisis there are a number of organizations that provide assistance. Listed are several resources for finding the closest foodbank or pantry. We also have a list of organizations offering meals and bag lunches on the weekend.

  • Foodbank and Pantry Resources
  • Saturday Food Services
    Saturday Food Services
    Location Time
    Church Without Walls
    Stanyan St (at Haight St)    		 Dinner 6 p.m. until food runs out.
    Usually a vegetarian option. Pizza, hot chocolate.
    Martin de Porres House of Hospitality
    225 Potrero Ave (near 16th St)
    415-552-0240    		 Brunch 9-10 a.m.
    Bag brunch or lunch to-go
    St. Anthony’s Dining Room
    121 Golden Gate Ave (between Leavenworth and Jones)
    415-241-2690    		 Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1:35p.m. bag lunch
    Folks with kids, or age 59+, or unable to carry a tray: 10-11:45 a.m.
    United Council of Human Services
    2111 Jennings St (at Van Dyke)
    415-671-1100    		 Breakfast 7-9 a.m. Hot breakfast to-go.
    Lunch at noon
    Dinner 4-6 p.m. Hot dinner to-go.
    Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
    2135 Sutter St (near Steiner)    		 Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Full course meal served the Saturday before the 4th Sunday of each month. There’s a short blessing before the meal.
    City Team
    164 6th St    		 Clothes, haircuts, foot washing, and food available the last Saturday of every month, January-October, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
    GLIDE Foundation
    330 Ellis St    		 Bagged lunches: 12 noon-1 p.m. (Sat & Sun)

Campus Housing Options

Campus housing is often the best option, especially for new students. Assignments priority goes to new students. In addition, families with children have priority for assignments to 2- and 3-Bedroom apartments.  Campus housing monthly rental rates are likely cheaper than anywhere off-campus in San Francisco, and the university’s resources are conveniently located nearby. To support your academic and financial success, it is strongly recommended that you apply for UCSF Housing. Visit the Housing website for information about campus housing as well as useful resources for students who choose to live off-campus.

Urgent housing security assistance

If you are in imminent danger of student homelessness, unfortunately Campus Life Services is only able to provide assistance with accommodations during regular business hours. Please contact the Housing office, and they will be able to assist you once they return.

If you require assistance before they return please see these additional resources for shelters and organizations listed below.

UCSF-Lyft Student Program

UCSF Transportation Services has partnered with Lyft to provide UCSF students with a Student Late Night Lyft Program. The program is intended for "after-hours" service and is designed to provide students with a commute option to reach a transit hub, other UCSF campus, or reach their home after UCSF's shuttle network has ended for the day.