CalFresh and emergency housing assistance in California - where to find help?

CalFresh is just for food, not housing. You need to apply for different programs. Try calling 211, they can tell you about emergency rental assistance in your area. I think theres still COVID money for rent help in some counties.

im in the same boat but alameda county. got eviction notice yesterday. called every number i could find and NOBODY PICKS UP!!!!! leaving messages everywhere but running out of time. the system is broke af

CalFresh (SNAP) is specifically for food assistance, but California does have emergency housing programs that you might qualify for. Here are some options to explore: 1. Housing Is Key - California's emergency rental assistance program 2. Homelessness Prevention Programs through your county Human Services Agency 3. Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) programs 4. CalWORKs Housing Support Program (if you have children) 5. Housing & Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) if applicable Since you're in Sacramento County, start with Sacramento's ACCESS program: 916-874-3100. Also, as mentioned above, calling 211 will connect you with a specialist who can direct you to all available resources in your area. Being on CalFresh already shows financial need, which may help streamline some applications, but these are separate programs with their own requirements.

When I got my eviction notice last year, I contacted Sacramento Self-Help Housing and they were actually helpful. Try them at 916-341-0593. They helped me figure out which emergency funds I qualified for and even negotiated with my landlord for more time. Good luck man!

Have you tried going into the county office in person? Sometimes you get WAAAAY better help face-to-face than on the phone. When my sister was about to be evicted, she went to the county office on Florin and they connected her with an emergency housing voucher program that same day. Phone systems are a joke - I was on hold for 3 hours last month trying to update my address for CalFresh.

It's important to know that CalFresh and housing assistance are separate systems, but many county workers can refer you to housing services. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. File for Emergency Response at your county Social Services office - this can sometimes provide temporary hotel vouchers 2. Apply for CalWORKs even if you don't have children - single adults can sometimes qualify for limited cash aid in crisis situations 3. Contact Sacramento's Homelessness Prevention program at (916) 567-5220 4. Reach out to Sacramento Steps Forward: https://sacramentostepsforward.org Also, if you received an eviction notice, know your rights - California requires a 3-day notice before filing an eviction lawsuit, but you can't be removed from your home without a court process, which gives you more time to find assistance. Contact Legal Services of Northern California immediately at (916) 551-2150.

Pro tip: call the housing places EARLY in the morning like right when they open. thats the only way i ever got through. and yeah have ALL your paperwork ready - ID, income proof, lease, eviction notice, CalFresh approval letter helps too. good luck man

did u try welfare 2 work program? my cousin got housing help thru them when he lost his apartment last year. they can sometimes help with first month rent + deposit if u find a new place

Just to add one more resource: Sacramento County has the COVID-19 Tenant Relief program that may still have funds available. Here's their direct line: (916) 449-1300. Additionally, if you're at immediate risk of homelessness (which it sounds like you are), the Coordinated Entry program through Sacramento Steps Forward can assess your situation and connect you with appropriate resources. One thing to keep in mind is that many of these programs will prioritize keeping you in your current housing rather than finding new housing, as it's generally more cost-effective and less disruptive. So be sure to emphasize that you're trying to prevent homelessness rather than looking for new housing assistance.

After u call 211 ask them about the HEAP program too (Home Energy Assistance Program) - it wont help with rent but it can pay your utility bills which might free up some $$ for rent. And FYI when u call these places expect to be on hold for AT LEAST an hour, they're all swamped right now with evictions

Also check with your local churches and community organizations - many have emergency assistance funds that can help with rent or utilities while you're waiting for the government programs to process. The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and United Way often have emergency financial assistance programs. Sometimes they can cut a check same day if you bring documentation of your situation. I know when I was struggling a few years ago, my local church helped with $500 toward rent even though I wasn't a member. Worth calling around - every little bit helps when you're facing eviction.

I've been through this exact situation in San Bernardino County and want to share what worked for me. First, definitely call all the numbers people mentioned, but also walk into your county DSS office ASAP and ask to speak with an eligibility worker about "emergency services" - not just regular CalFresh stuff. They have discretionary funds that aren't well advertised. Also, contact your utility companies (PG&E, water, etc.) immediately and tell them about your situation. Many have programs that can put a hold on disconnections and sometimes offer emergency bill credits. This frees up money for rent. One thing nobody mentioned - if you have any documentation showing you lost your job due to no fault of your own (layoff letter, etc.), bring that everywhere you go. It can fast-track some applications since you're clearly experiencing a temporary crisis rather than chronic unemployment. Hang in there - the system is overwhelming but there ARE resources out there. You just have to be persistent and hit multiple programs at once.

Hey, I work with a nonprofit that helps people navigate these exact situations. A few additional things that might help: 1. Sacramento County has a Rapid Rehousing program through their Continuum of Care - call (916) 874-9277. They can sometimes provide immediate temporary assistance while other applications are processing. 2. If you're willing to consider shared housing temporarily, Sacramento Self-Help Housing (mentioned earlier) also maintains a list of rooms for rent in safe situations - this could buy you time while waiting for rental assistance to come through. 3. Document EVERYTHING - take photos of your 3-day notice, keep records of every call you make (date, time, who you spoke with, reference numbers). This creates a paper trail that can help expedite future assistance. 4. Ask specifically about "diversion funds" when you call housing programs - these are small amounts (usually $500-2000) designed to prevent homelessness and often have faster approval processes than larger assistance programs. The key is applying to multiple programs simultaneously rather than waiting for one to be denied before trying the next. You've got this - the fact that you're already proactively seeking help puts you ahead of many people in similar situations.

One more resource that might help immediately - Sacramento has a Homeless Services Coordination office at (916) 875-HELP that can connect you to emergency shelter if worst comes to worst, but they also maintain a database of all available assistance programs in real-time. When I called them last year during my own housing crisis, they were able to tell me which programs actually had funds available that week versus which ones had waiting lists. Also, since you mentioned being scared - that's completely normal. I was terrified when I got my eviction notice. But what helped me was making a daily action plan: call 3 programs each morning, follow up on 2 applications each afternoon. It kept me focused and moving forward instead of just panicking. You've already gotten so much good advice here - now it's just about working through the list systematically. One last thing: if any program tells you they're out of funds, ask them when their next funding cycle starts. Sometimes it's just a matter of days or weeks, and they can put you on a priority list for when new money comes in.