SOS is an ongoing series that highlights how COVID-19 is impacting McMaster students. This instalment is by Eldina Kovacevic, a Student Services professional in the Registrar’s Office, where she works directly with students who are experiencing hardships or seeking emergency aid.
In my role, I’ve been hearing a lot about how challenging it is for students to keep up with basic needs. During this time of uncertainty, many students have lost their jobs. Without the emergency bursary, a lot of them would lose their housing. My goal is to make sure that no student is put in that position.
I was very young when my own family immigrated to Canada to escape war, and I know the feeling of going to sleep and waking up with uncertainty.
One story that stands out for me was from a student who lost financial support from his family abroad. It became clear that without help, the student would not be able to pay his rent. All his support was in another country. He was worried about becoming homeless. He saw his parents through Facetime, but he felt completely alone.
When it became clear he would not be able to pay his rent, we were able to help him financially – and when he received the funding, he started to cry.
That is the type of support that all students should have. I’m a proud McMaster grad. McMaster is a place of safety for a lot of our students, and during COVID-19 we need to stick together as a community.
No one deserves to go to bed hungry or worried about whether they’ll have a place to call home.
McMaster has established a Student Emergency Relief Fund to provide financial relief to students affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The fund can assist with food, rent, utility bills, provide emergency grants and offer help to students who are caring for dependents. It can also help repatriate Mac students studying abroad. Find more information on applying for help at the Registrar’s Office website.