During winter break, most campus residence halls close and residents must leave the buildings. For those students moving out permanently at winter break, move-out instructions will be sent directly to you via email. Below is a summary of what you need to know if you’re returning in January.
Winter 2025-26 Closure Dates
Residents are not allowed to reside in buildings during semester break due to energy curtailment. However, residents are allowed to leave their belongings in the halls over the semester break at their own risk.
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All residence halls, with the exception of Martinez Commons, will close on Saturday, December 20, 2025, by 10 a.m.
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Residents may move back into the halls beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Residence Halls That Will Be Closed
These residence halls will be closed during winter break:
- Unit 1
- Unit 2
- Unit 3
- Blackwell Hall
- Clark Kerr
- Foothill
- Stern
Buildings That Will Remain Open
The following buildings will remain open during winter break:
- Channing-Bowditch Apartments
- Clark Kerr Apartments
- Enclave Apartments
- Helen Diller Anchor House
- Ida L. Jackson Apartments
- Intersection Apartments
- Manville Apartments
- Martinez Commons
- New Sequoia Apartments
- Panoramic Berkeley
- University Village Albany
- Wada Apartments
- xučyun ruwway Apartments
Before Winter Closure, You Need To Do the Following
Be sure to complete the tasks listed below before you leave for winter break.
- Turn off and unplug: room lights, computers, alarm clocks, timers, televisions, power strips, etc. Please do not unplug your refrigerator.
- Make sure your room is: clean, vacuumed, and that all perishable food and trash is properly thrown away.
- Close: windows, curtains, and lock your door.
- Take with you: any medicine, important documents, and valuables. Also be sure to secure your bicycle.
- Pick up your mail.
Every room will be inspected by residential staff after closing to ensure compliance with check-out procedures.
What if I need a place to stay during winter break?
If you think you will need to find housing over winter break, we suggest that you look into options as soon as possible if you haven’t already done so. We know that finding housing can be stressful, and we want to ensure you know about campus resources and people who can help.
- The Basic Needs Center, in collaboration with the Student Advocate’s Office, has created the Resources for Winter Break Housing Applicants guide, which includes a list of temporary housing options, emergency food resources, Basic Needs Center support, and more.
- If you want to discuss off-campus Winter Break Housing options, you can request a meeting with the Student Advocate’s Office (SAO).
2025 Emergency Winter Break Housing
The Emergency Winter Break Housing program is a campus program that provides emergency housing for current campus housing residents with very limited financial resources and no other housing options during the winter break. Students who participate in this program will be provided with accommodations at a nearby hotel for the duration of winter break. The hotel room will likely include daily breakfast, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, and access to a pay-for-use laundry facility. Space is currently limited to only 20 rooms, so be sure to explore other options (such as those listed in the resource guide) as well.
To qualify for the emergency housing program, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a current residence hall resident who will continue living in the residence hall for the spring semester; (the program is not intended for re-enrollment or graduating students.)
- Need housing for the entire duration of the winter break period, December 20, 2025 to January 15, 2026. Partial housing cannot be offered via this program, you must stay for the whole winter break period).
- Have very limited financial resources and no other options for winter break housing
Applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria will be prioritized for emergency housing:
- Berkeley Hope Scholars Students
- Students experiencing violence or safety concerns at home
- International students in situations where their home country is experiencing a disaster, crisis, or geopolitical conflict that represents a safety concern for travel
If you or a student you know will experience homelessness or unsafe housing during this time period and can not afford alternatives, please complete the Emergency Winter Break Housing application. Please note that the priority application deadline will close on October 31, at 11:59 pm, and the priority decision notification date is November 12.
If you have any questions regarding the winter break application process, please reach out to winterhousing@berkeley.edu.
Other Campus Resources
If you need housing due to sexual violence/sexual harassment (SVSH) or intimate partner violence, please reach out to the PATH to Care Center (PTC), as soon as possible, to assist you in accessing options in advance, instead of filling out this form. PTC will be closed during winter break.
- Email: ptcadvocates@berkeley.edu
- Phone: 510-642-1988
If you are experiencing housing insecurity, please contact the Basic Needs Center by completing the Basic Needs Assistance Form.
We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to supporting you.
Questions?
If you have additional questions about winter break closure, please contact your Unit’s Front Desk.