Emergency rent assistance in Rialto, CA - Can CalFresh recipients qualify for additional housing help?

CalFresh doesn't automatically qualify her for housing help, but she should definitely apply for these programs right away: 1. Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) through San Bernardino County Housing Authority - though there's usually a waitlist 2. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) if it's still funded for 2025 3. CalWORKs Housing Support Program - if she qualifies for CalWORKs with children 4. Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County offers emergency assistance 5. 211 San Bernardino - call or visit 211sb.org for current rental assistance programs The sooner she applies, the better. Most programs require proof of income loss, rental agreement, and ID for all household members.

I was in a similar situation in Rialto last year and contacting Catholic Charities really helped. They have a San Bernardino office that provided me with emergency rental assistance when I fell behind. I think they covered about 75% of one month's rent when I was in crisis. They do require some paperwork like proof of hardship, ID, and rental agreement. There's also Inland Housing Solutions that specifically helps in the Rialto area with prevention services for people facing eviction. One thing I learned the hard way - tell your neighbor NOT to wait until she gets an eviction notice! It's much harder to get help once the legal process starts.

Heres what she needs to do: FIRST call 211 immediately!!! They will connect her to ALL available resources in SB County. Also have her go to the social services office in San Bernardino on Hospitality Lane and ask about the Homeless Prevention Program. They might have emergency funds especially for families with kids. ALSO some churches in Rialto have rental assistance funds that dont advertise online- like Sunrise Church and First Baptist. they helped my cousin last year. DONT wait until eviction!!!! That makes everything 100x harder!!!!

I work with housing programs, and there's an important timing issue your neighbor should be aware of. Most emergency rental assistance programs in San Bernardino County now prioritize cases based on how close they are to actual eviction, which creates a difficult balance. Your neighbor should: 1. Immediately apply for CalWORKs if she has minor children (this can provide cash aid AND access to the Housing Support Program) 2. Contact her landlord in writing to explain the situation and request a payment plan - having this documentation is crucial for assistance programs 3. Apply for General Relief if she doesn't qualify for CalWORKs 4. Contact HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) to reduce utility costs, freeing up money for rent 5. Visit the Transitional Assistance Department office on Baseline and Riverside in Rialto to see all programs she might qualify for Most importantly, she should try to reach the Housing Resource Center at (909) 386-8297 to get on prevention lists before facing actual eviction proceedings.

My sister had this problem last year and kept getting stuck in automated phone systems or disconnected when trying to reach the housing department. She finally used this service called Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county housing office. It actually worked! She showed me the website (claimyr.com) and a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Basically they keep calling for you and get you connected to a real caseworker. In housing emergencies, talking to a real person makes all the difference. Once she got through, they were able to direct her to the right emergency program.

I've been through this in Rialto and San Bernardino County has a program specifically for families called the Family Stabilization Program that can sometimes provide emergency rental assistance. Your friend needs to contact her CalFresh eligibility worker ASAP and explain the situation. They can refer her to this program if she qualifies. Also, very important: tell her to apply for General Relief even if she has a pending CalWORKs application. GR can sometimes provide immediate help while CalWORKs is processing. One more resource is KEYS (Knowledge & Education for Your Success) which is a nonprofit that works with the county for homelessness prevention. Google their phone number - they have an office in San Bernardino.

i was homeless in rialto with my kids last year and the salvation army helped us with deposit + 1st month rent to get a new place!! they have a office in san bernadino on 5th street. they only help if u have kids tho.

Has anyone applied for the San Bernardino County Rent Relief recently??? I heard they reopened applications but then closed again?? So confusing!

Thank you everyone for all the advice! I've compiled everything and shared it with my neighbor. She's going to the TAD office tomorrow morning and will also call Catholic Charities and 211. I'm going to help her gather all her documents tonight so she's prepared. I'll update if we find a solution that might help others too.

Good luck to your neighbor! One more thing that might help - if she's struggling with utilities too, she should ask about LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) at the same time she applies for other assistance. Sometimes getting help with the electric/gas bill can free up enough money to catch up on rent. Also, many food banks in the Rialto area (like the one at Grace Community Church) provide groceries which can stretch her CalFresh benefits further and leave more cash available for rent. The combination of multiple small assistance programs sometimes works better than waiting for one big rental assistance approval.

I work at a nonprofit in the Inland Empire and want to add a few more emergency resources specifically for Rialto residents: 1. Inland Valley Hope Partners has an emergency assistance program that covers rent, utilities, and other crisis needs. They're located in Pomona but serve the entire area including Rialto. 2. The City of Rialto itself has a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program that sometimes provides emergency assistance to residents - she should call City Hall at (909) 820-2525 and ask about emergency housing assistance. 3. United Way of San Bernardino County has a 211 database, but they also have direct assistance programs. Sometimes calling them directly gets you connected to resources that aren't widely advertised. 4. Since she's been a good tenant for 3 years, encourage her to ask her landlord about a formal payment plan in writing. Many landlords would rather work with a reliable tenant than go through eviction proceedings, especially if she can show she's actively seeking assistance. The key is to apply to multiple programs simultaneously rather than waiting for responses one by one. Time is critical in these situations!

I just wanted to add one more resource that helped my family when we were in a similar crisis - the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County has a rapid rehousing program that can sometimes help with back rent for families at risk of eviction. They're located on Medical Center Drive in San Bernardino and their intake process is usually faster than some of the larger county programs. Also, if your neighbor is still looking for work, WorkSource San Bernardino (part of the America's Job Center network) has emergency employment services and sometimes partners with employers who are specifically looking to hire people receiving public benefits. Getting her connected to potential income sources while she's applying for assistance could really help her case with landlords and assistance programs. The fact that she's been a reliable tenant for 3 years and this is truly a temporary crisis due to job loss makes her a strong candidate for most emergency assistance programs. Make sure she emphasizes this stability when she applies - it shows she just needs a bridge, not long-term support.