Category 01
Food Support
Free food resources within walking distance of I-House, plus a few citywide options if you need more flexibility.
Closest options — Food Pantries
Iris House Westside
Pantry + grab-and-go meals; fresh food options available.
Zeina Lorraine Community Food Pantry
Grocery-style pantry with produce, canned goods, staples.
Salem United Methodist Church Pantry
Weekly pantry distribution.
Church of the Annunciation
Weekly pantry with general groceries.
Ready to eat — Hot Meals
Missionaries of Charity (Harlem)
Simple daily meals (breakfast/lunch style).
Metropolitan Baptist Church
Morning meal distribution. Short service window.
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church
Community meals + pantry support.
Beyond the neighborhood — NYC-Wide
Food Bank For New York City
Find hundreds of pantries and SNAP assistance across the city.
Find foodCity Harvest Mobile Market
Mobile food markets with fresh produce across upper Manhattan.
See marketsNew York Common Pantry
Large pantry + grocery distribution + support services.
Tips
- Bring reusable bags
- Arrive early — lines can form
- Some locations require ID or proof of address
- Most are first-come, first-served
Category 02
Mental Wellbeing
Free hotlines, text support, and counseling referrals available day or night. Language access available for each service.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7 phone, chat, or text support for emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or supporting someone who is.
NYC Well
NYC's confidential counseling and referral line for mental health, substance use, and peer support.
Crisis Text Line
Free, 24/7 texting with trained crisis counselors. WhatsApp support available internationally.
SAMHSA National Helpline
24/7 confidential treatment referral for individuals and families facing mental or substance use disorders.
Category 03
Safety & Trauma Response
Help after sexual assault, domestic violence, or other traumatic incidents — safety planning, medical care, legal advocacy, and emergency housing.
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
Confidential crisis counseling, safety planning, and referrals to nearby support centers.
Safe Horizon
NYC-based emergency shelter, advocacy, and case management for survivors of violence and trauma.
More resources
Have a campus, consulate, or community-specific resource to add? Share it with the RC.
Submit a resourceCategory 04
Sexual Health
Confidential clinics, safer-sex supplies, and information lines for testing, treatment, and prevention.
NYC Sexual Health Clinics
Walk-in and appointment-based STI testing, treatment, and PrEP/PEP access via NYC Health (DOHMH).
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, telehealth visits, prescriptions, and education.
Free Safer-Sex Supplies
NYC distributes free condoms, lube, at-home HIV test kits, and safer-sex kits via discreet home delivery.
GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis)
HIV/STI testing, PrEP/PEP navigation, peer support groups, and legal advocacy for LGBTQIA+ communities.
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
Sliding-scale LGBTQIA+-affirming medical and behavioral health services, including hormone therapy and HIV care.
Category 05
Housing Resources
Options for residents transitioning out of I-House — student co-living, short-term stays, affordable residences, and furnished apartments. Book early.
Dorms & Co-Living
Educational Housing Services
Dorm-style across NYC
FOUND Study
Furnished co-living
Outpost Club
Shared apartments
Student Housing Works
Manhattan student housing
Student Apartment Solutions
Furnished student apartments
Low-cost stays
Hostelling International NYC
Hostel-style shared housing
Jazz on the Park Hostel
Budget hostel near Columbia
Chelsea International Hostel
Affordable dorm-style rooms
International Student Center
2-week minimum stay
NY Moore Hostel
Budget NYC option
Affordable residential options
Kolping House
Meals included
The Markle
Students & professionals
Centro Maria Residence
Women-only, low-cost, Bronx
St. Agnes / Mary's / Joseph
Women-focused, shared facilities
Furnished & extended-stay apartments
Furnished Habitat
Blueground
Churchill Living
Furnished Quarters
Sonder
AKA
Whitehall Apartments
Greyston Rentals
Columbia & university-affiliated
Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA)
Columbia's official database for sublets, rooms, and apartments. UNI required.
OCHA portalSublets & apartment listings
Listings Project
Weekly curated listings
Sabbatical Homes
For academics & students
Furnished Finder
Monthly furnished rentals
Anyplace
Flexible furnished apartments
Airbnb
Flexible short-term rentals
VRBO
Vacation-style apartments
Housing tips
- A room in a shared apartment is usually the most affordable option
- Use OCHA for trusted Columbia-only listings (UNI required)
- Book early — summer housing fills quickly