Desperate for housing in Fresno while waiting for CalFresh approval - any emergency resources?

Yes, they should definitely qualify for expedited CalFresh services if they have less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in resources. The county is required to provide expedited benefits within 3 calendar days of application! Have your sister call back immediately and specifically ask for EXPEDITED SERVICES. Make sure she mentions their current financial situation clearly. As for housing, try contacting the Fresno Housing Authority emergency program at (559) 443-8400. Also, Marjaree Mason Center can sometimes help families with emergency housing even if there's no domestic violence situation. The Poverello House might have family options too.

tell them to go IN PERSON to the office!! thats wat worked for me when i was homeless with my kids last year. the phone people just put u in the regular line but if u show up and look desperate enough theyll help u faster lol. also check with salvation army they sometimes have hotel vouchers for families with kids. good luck!!

They absolutely qualify for expedited CalFresh. The rules state that households qualify for 3-day expedited service if: 1) They have less than $150 in monthly gross income AND less than $100 in liquid resources, OR 2) Their combined monthly income and resources are less than their monthly rent/mortgage and utilities, OR 3) They are migrant/seasonal farmworkers with less than $100 in resources. For housing, I recommend they immediately contact the Fresno EOC at 559-263-1000. Their Housing Access program specifically helps families facing homelessness. Also have them apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) online at fresnohousingauthority.org - they're still accepting applications for families with children. Make sure your sister keeps documentation of her application date for CalFresh. If they don't provide expedited benefits within 3 days, she can file for a state hearing.

have they tryed the salvation amry? my cousin got help their when her husband went to jail. they gave her a place for like 2 weeks until she could figure things out. also theres a church on blackstone that helps familys but i forget the name sorry

I was in a similar situation last year and spent HOURS trying to reach someone at the Fresno County office about expedited benefits. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person after days of trying. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 They got me connected to a caseworker in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The worker approved my expedited benefits right then. For housing, definitely check with Fresno EOC like someone suggested, but also try Catholic Charities - they helped me with a hotel voucher for a week while I sorted things out.

To add to what others have said, make sure your sister emphasizes that they're HOMELESS when talking about expedited services. Technically staying with relatives in an overcrowded situation counts as homeless under CalFresh rules. This should prioritize their application even more. Also, while CalFresh is processing, have them immediately go to any of these food distribution sites tomorrow: - Cornerstone Church (Tuesdays 9-11am) - Community Food Bank at 4010 E. Amendola Dr (M-F 9-3:30) - Poverello House daily meals And for the kids, contact Every Neighborhood Partnership at 559-440-1211. They sometimes have emergency housing funds specifically for families with children.

I'm so sorry your sister's family is going through this. The housing situation in Fresno is absolutely terrible right now. One thing nobody's mentioned - have them apply for CalWORKs immediately too, not just CalFresh. If they qualify, they can get cash aid AND priority for emergency housing programs. Also, it sounds like they should qualify for immediate need payment through CalWORKs which can be approved within 3 days and gives you up to $200 to help with emergencies while your full application is processing. The Fresno Navigation Center might be able to help too - they offer services to families at risk of homelessness, not just people already on the streets. Their number is 559-512-6777.

Just checking back - was your sister able to get through to someone about expedited benefits? If she's still having trouble, she should specifically ask for a supervisor and cite the regulations about expedited service timeframes. The exact regulation is MPP Section 63-301.5 if she needs to reference it. Also, the Central California Legal Services office in Fresno (559-570-1200) can advocate for her if the county is not following the expedited timeline requirements.

That's wonderful news about the expedited CalFresh approval! So glad your sister was able to get through and get that sorted out quickly. For the housing situation, I wanted to mention one more resource - the United Way of Fresno has a 2-1-1 helpline that connects people with emergency services. You can call 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. They maintain a real-time database of available emergency housing, shelter beds, and financial assistance programs in Fresno County. Sometimes they know about smaller programs or have updated info on which places actually have availability right now. Also, if the kids aren't already enrolled, make sure they get signed up for free school meals ASAP - even if they're staying with you temporarily, they should still be able to attend their regular school and get breakfast/lunch there while this gets sorted out.