Can my homeless family qualify for emergency CalFresh while waiting for IDs? Car living with autistic child

Yes, you can absolutely apply for CalFresh emergency benefits! You don't need a California ID to qualify - being homeless with no/low income should make you eligible for expedited services, which means you could get benefits within 3 days. Go to your county's social services office ASAP and tell them you need expedited CalFresh. Bring whatever ID you do have, even if it's from another state. Make sure to tell them you're homeless and have children - that should qualify you for expedited processing. You can also start the application online at BenefitsCal.com but I'd recommend going in person given your urgent situation.

when i was homeless they gave me EBT in like 2 days, just go to the office and tell them ur in ur car with kids, they'll rush it thru. bring whatever papers u got even if not much. theyll interview u right there probly

When me and my kids were between apartments last year, I applied for emergency CalFresh and got benefits loaded on an EBT card THE SAME DAY!!! Make sure you check the box for "expedited services" on the application and tell them you have less than $150 in resources and less than $100 in income. The worker should process it immediately. Also look up your local food banks while waiting - many don't ask for any ID at all. Google "food pantry near me" and call 211 for emergency food resources in your specific area. Many churches also have emergency food assistance with no questions asked.

i was in a similar situation last yr, expired out of state ID and everything. brought my birth certificate and my kids' birth certificates and that worked fine. they can verify identity lots of ways. dont stress about the ID situation, they deal with homeless applicants all the time

A couple of important points about emergency CalFresh that others haven't mentioned: 1. When you apply, your household may qualify for expedited service if: - Your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and no more than $100 in liquid resources (cash) - Your combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than your housing and utility costs - You're a migrant or seasonal farmworker with very few resources 2. For homeless families with children, you should also immediately apply for CalWORKs which provides cash aid (separate from CalFresh/food stamps). 3. Request the homeless package of benefits which includes special exceptions for those without permanent addresses. 4. Your autistic son may qualify your family for additional benefits/services through county disability services. One frustrating thing about accessing CalFresh right now is actually getting through to the county office. I'd recommend using Claimyr.com to avoid the hold times - they'll call the county for you and connect you when a real person answers. Saved me hours when I was in crisis mode. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Make sure when you visit the county office you also ask about these additional resources: 1. Emergency food banks (no ID required at most) 2. WIC (Women, Infants & Children) if any children are under 5 3. LIHEAP (energy assistance that sometimes offers gas vouchers) 4. School district homeless liaison (McKinney-Vento services for school-age children) 5. Regional Center services for your autistic child The county workers are often overwhelmed and may not proactively offer all these services unless you specifically ask about them. Also, regarding the ID issue - they can use a combination of documents for identification. Even mail addressed to you, medical records, or school records can help establish identity.

forgot to say also check churches many have food pantries and some even do gas cards for ppl in emergency situations no id needed usually

i hope ur situation improves soon, being homeless with kids is so hard 😢 the system can be really frustrating when ur just trying to survive day to day. praying for u and ur family

The one thing I haven't seen anyone mention - make sure to apply at the office in the county where you're CURRENTLY staying, not based on any previous address. CalFresh is county-administered, and each county has slightly different processes. If you apply to the wrong county, it can cause delays. Also, when they ask for an address, you can: 1. Use "homeless/car" as your living situation 2. Provide a mailing address (maybe a friend's place or general delivery at post office) 3. Ask if you can pick up your EBT card at the office rather than have it mailed For your child with autism - there's a program called IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) where YOU can actually become a paid caregiver for your child with special needs. Worth asking about at the same time you apply for CalFresh.

UPDATE: I went to the county office this morning and applied for emergency CalFresh! The worker was actually really helpful once I explained our situation. I brought our expired out-of-state IDs, birth certificates, and some medical records for the kids, and that was enough. They did an expedited interview right there. We were approved for emergency benefits ($1,750/month for our family size!) and I got a temporary EBT card SAME DAY! The worker also helped me apply for CalWORKs homeless assistance and gave me referrals to several local food pantries. I'm so relieved we'll be able to get food today. Thank you everyone for your advice - it made a huge difference knowing what to ask for!