CalFresh SNAP benefits for household appliances? Need help getting a refrigerator ASAP

CalFresh benefits (EBT) can ONLY be used for food items, not appliances - that's a common misunderstanding. But there are other resources! Check out the LIHEAP program through Sacramento Community Services - they have an Emergency Appliance Repair/Replacement program specifically for low-income residents. Also try calling 211 which connects you to community resources. The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul sometimes help with appliances too. Make sure to mention you're a CalFresh recipient when applying for any assistance.

i got a fridge from catholic charities last year they have a program for exactly this. my caseworker helped with the referral but u need to provide proof of residence and calfresh eligibility. took like 3 weeks tho. good luck!

CalFresh/SNAP benefits cannot be used for appliances, but there are specific county programs designed to help with this exact situation. For Sacramento County, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can sometimes help with refrigerators when there's a demonstrable food safety issue. You'll need to provide: 1. Proof of CalFresh enrollment (your approval letter) 2. Rental agreement showing appliances aren't included 3. ID and income documentation Call Sacramento County Human Assistance at (916) 874-3100 and specifically ask for the HEAP program or emergency appliance assistance. The wait times can be frustrating but this is exactly the type of situation they can help with.

If you're struggling to reach someone at Sacramento County Human Assistance, you might want to try using Claimyr. I was in a similar situation trying to reach my CalFresh worker for weeks about verification documents and getting nowhere. Claimyr holds your place in line and calls you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of hold time. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Since this is an emergency situation with food safety, might be worth it to actually get through to someone who can help.

ok so this might sound weird but check facebook marketplace or nextdoor for free fridges!! i see them ALL THE TIME when people upgrade. got mine free last year from someone who was remodeling. not the prettiest but it WORKS!! also try buy nothing groups on facebook - just search "buy nothing [your neighborhood]" and join. ppl give away working appliances all the time! better than waiting for county help which takes forever!!!!!

random but if ur near folsom i saw habitat for humanity restore had some used fridges for like $75-150 last week might be worth checking

Another resource to try: Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has an appliance efficiency program that sometimes provides refrigerators to income-qualified customers. Since you receive CalFresh, you likely qualify. The program is called the Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR) and includes potential appliance replacements. Call SMUD at (916) 732-6738 to inquire. Also, while you're waiting for a permanent solution, ask your local food bank if they can provide more shelf-stable items that don't require refrigeration. This can help reduce food waste while you work on getting a refrigerator.

my aunt works for CalFresh and says u need to ask specifically for a "Special Needs Supplement" request Form CF-1059a which can sometimes help with one-time emergency appliance needs when food safety is at risk. most workers dont mention this option unless u ask for it specifically!!!

If you're a veteran or related to one, the Veterans Resource Centers sometimes have emergency household item assistance. Also, what about renting a mini fridge temporarily? Some places rent them for like $15-20/month which isn't ideal but might help until you get a permanent solution. Just a thought!

Check with your local churches even if you're not religious - many have emergency assistance funds for exactly this situation. I got help from three different churches last year when my washing machine broke and I couldn't afford to replace it. They didn't ask about my faith or anything, just helped because I was in need. Also, if you have any local Sikh temples (Gurdwaras), they often have community assistance programs and are very generous with helping neighbors regardless of background. The one on Bradshaw Road has helped several people I know with appliances and other emergency needs.

Have you tried reaching out to the Sacramento County WIC office? Even if you don't qualify for WIC benefits, they often have connections to local resources for emergency appliance assistance. I got connected to a program through them that helped with my stove when it broke last year. They're usually easier to reach than the main CalFresh office too. The one on Stockton Boulevard has been really helpful in my experience. Also, don't forget about Craigslist - I've seen people giving away working fridges there pretty regularly, especially when they're moving. Just be sure to have someone help you move it safely!

Another option to consider is applying for emergency assistance through Sacramento County's General Relief program. They sometimes provide one-time emergency payments for essential needs like appliances when you can demonstrate it's affecting your health/safety. You'll need to apply in person at 2450 Florin Road, but they can sometimes approve requests same-day for urgent situations. Since you're already receiving CalFresh, you should qualify income-wise. Bring documentation showing your current living situation and that the lack of refrigeration is causing food spoilage. Also, check with local food pantries - many have started keeping lists of people who need appliances and will call you if someone donates one. The River City Food Bank on Northgate Boulevard does this and they get appliance donations pretty regularly from community members.

Just wanted to add - if you're in a real time crunch, some Rent-A-Center locations do emergency same-day delivery for refrigerators. Yes, it's expensive long-term, but they often have programs for low-income customers and you could use it as a temporary solution while waiting for the county programs to process. I did this once when my fridge died on a Friday and I had $200 worth of groceries that would have spoiled over the weekend. Also, check with your apartment complex management - sometimes they have spare appliances in storage from previous tenants or know of other resources. My complex manager actually connected me with a tenant who was upgrading and gave me their old fridge for free. Don't be afraid to explain your situation to people - you'd be surprised how willing neighbors and local businesses are to help when they understand the urgency!

I work for a nonprofit that helps connect people to appliance assistance programs. Here are a few additional resources specifically for Sacramento County that haven't been mentioned yet: 1. **Sacramento Self-Help Housing** - They have an Emergency Home Repair program that includes appliances. Call (916) 341-0593 and mention your CalFresh status. 2. **Mutual Assistance Network Sacramento (MANS)** - They provide emergency financial assistance for essential items. Applications are online and they respond quickly to food security emergencies. 3. **Sacramento State's Basic Needs Center** - Even if you're not a student, they sometimes have connections to appliance donation programs through community partnerships. Also, since you mentioned losing $50/week in spoiled food, document this! Take photos of spoiled food and keep receipts. This documentation strengthens your case for emergency assistance programs and shows the urgent health/safety need. Many programs prioritize applications that demonstrate immediate food safety risks. One more tip: If you get stuck on hold with county services, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM) - that's when you're most likely to get through quickly.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! I went through something similar when I first moved to Sacramento. One thing that really helped me was connecting with the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services - they not only have emergency food assistance but also maintain a "household needs" program where they track appliance donations. I got a working refrigerator through them in about 2 weeks. Call (916) 456-1980 and ask specifically about their household essentials program. Also, while you're waiting, try asking your local grocery stores (especially smaller ones) if they have any produce that's still good but they can't sell - many will give it away at closing time rather than throw it out. This helped me stretch my CalFresh benefits when I couldn't store much. Keep documenting your food losses like Vincent mentioned - it really does help with applications. You've got a lot of good leads from everyone here, so don't give up! The system is slow but there are people who want to help.