Can CalFresh EBT be used for housing costs? Confused about benefits overlap

CalFresh (EBT) benefits can ONLY be used for food purchases - your friend is mixing up different assistance programs. CalFresh has nothing to do with housing costs. What you're probably looking for is CalWORKs (if you have children) or possibly Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers through your local housing authority. These are completely separate programs with different applications and eligibility requirements.

your friend is confusing different benefit types. calfresh EBT is ONLY for food. i made this mistake too when i first applied lol. you need to look into housing assistance programs separately. check out your county housing authority website

NO NO NO CalFresh DOES NOT help with housing!!! Your EBT card is ONLY for food purchases at approved retailers. I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and this is a common misunderstanding. You need to apply for housing assistance programs separately and the waitlists can be YEARS long. It's a completely broken system for people who need immediate help. Try calling your county's general assistance line - sometimes they have emergency rental assistance programs depending on your situation.

Actually, while CalFresh benefits themselves can't be used for housing, many people don't realize that being enrolled in CalFresh can sometimes make you categorically eligible for certain housing programs or give you priority on waiting lists. This varies by county and program. When you call your county office, specifically ask about HSP (Housing Support Program) if you have children or the Housing Disability Advocacy Program if applicable. Sometimes having existing benefits like CalFresh can streamline these applications because your income is already verified in the system.

Just wanted to add - when I needed to call about housing programs last year, I kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold for literally HOURS. Super frustrating when you're already stressed about housing. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at the county office without the wait. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - totally worth checking out if you're getting nowhere with the regular phone lines. They connected me directly to a housing specialist who helped me apply for emergency rental assistance.

btw i forgot to say this but if ur income is really low u can try applying for general assistance/general relief too. its not much money but something. each county has different rules tho

One important thing to understand is that California has completely separate systems for food assistance (CalFresh) and housing programs. Your EBT card is strictly for purchasing eligible food items. For housing assistance, you need to apply through your county's housing authority or housing department. Depending on your income and family situation, you might qualify for programs like: 1. Emergency Rental Assistance Program 2. Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) 3. CalWORKs Housing Support Program (if you have children) 4. Homeless Assistance Payments (temporary help) I recommend calling 211 in your area - they can connect you with all available housing resources based on your specific situation. Make sure to have your current income information ready when you call.

When I was in your situation I ended up having to piece together help from multiple places. CalFresh for food, emergency rental assistance from a local nonprofit, and utility assistance through LIHEAP. None of these use your EBT card - they're all separate programs with separate applications. It's exhausting but worth applying for everything you might qualify for. The system is designed to be confusing I swear.

To summarize what everyone has said: 1. Your CalFresh EBT card can ONLY be used for eligible food purchases 2. For housing help, you need to apply for separate housing assistance programs 3. Being on CalFresh might make you eligible for expedited processing of other benefits 4. Call 211 for a comprehensive list of housing resources in your area 5. Look into emergency rental assistance programs for immediate help Hope that helps clarify things! The benefits system can be very confusing to navigate.

Just wanted to add that if you're struggling with rent increases, you might also want to look into tenant rights resources in your area. California has some protections against excessive rent increases, and there are tenant advocacy organizations that can help you understand your rights. Some counties also have rent stabilization programs or just cause eviction protections that could be relevant to your situation. It won't directly help with paying rent, but knowing your rights can sometimes buy you time to get the other assistance programs in place. You can search for "[your county] tenant rights" or contact your local legal aid society for free advice.