Moving with Section 8 voucher - does CalFresh or county services help with furniture needs?

congrats on section 8! calfresh doesn't help with furniture but some counties have general assistance that might. also check salvation army or catholic charities they sometimes have furniture vouchers. my cousin got a bed and table when she moved last yr

CalFresh is specifically for food benefits, but your county office can definitely connect you with other resources. Each county has different programs available. You should ask about their Housing Support Program (HSP) or Homeless Assistance programs - even though you're not homeless, they often have resources for people transitioning to new housing. Also ask if they can refer you to local Community Action Agencies that sometimes provide household items for low-income families. Don't forget to update your address with CalFresh when you move to avoid any benefit interruptions.

I work with a nonprofit that partners with county services. Bring your Section 8 voucher paperwork when you go to the CalFresh office. While there, ask specifically about the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) or CalWORKs Housing Support Program if you have children. Also, many counties have partnerships with furniture banks - organizations that provide donated furniture to those in need. Your eligibility for CalFresh usually means you'll qualify for these services too. Make sure to also contact 211 by phone or 211.org for a comprehensive list of furniture assistance programs in your specific area.

Don't waste your time going to the CalFresh office for furniture help! I tried this EXACT thing last year and they just directed me to a list of charities that were all out of funds. The system is BROKEN! County workers will just give you the runaround and make you fill out 500 forms for NOTHING. Your best bet is Facebook marketplace for free stuff or Goodwill. That's what I ended up doing after wasting WEEKS trying to get "official" help. The whole system is designed to make you give up.

If your trying to reach your CalFresh worker about this have you tried Claimyr? It helped me get through to an actual human at my county office after weeks of trying. I was about to lose my mind with the phone system but Claimyr got me connected to a real person in about 15 min. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. Seriously saved me so much frustration when I was dealing with a SAR7 issue and couldn't get answers.

when i got my section 8 i went to buy nothing groups on facebook and nextdoor and got like half my furniture free. also try freecycle.org. people give away good stuff all the time. also goodwill has 50% off days sometimes. calfresh wont help with furniture they only do food benefits thats why its called calfresh lol

I want to add something important - when you move, make sure to report your new address to CalFresh within 10 days. You can do this through BenefitsCal online or by submitting an AR3 form. If your rent amount changes, that's considered a mid-period change that could increase your CalFresh benefits. If your rent is higher with the portion you pay after Section 8, you might qualify for higher CalFresh amounts due to the shelter deduction. Don't miss out on this potential benefit increase! Also, make sure to submit any new utility bills as those count toward your benefits calculation.

I moved last year with Section 8 and was in a similar situation. Here's what worked for me: 1) Called 211 and got referred to a local nonprofit that provides household essentials, 2) Applied for the LIHEAP program which helped with utility deposits so I could use my savings for some basic furniture, 3) Joined local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook where I got a couch, coffee table and kitchenware for free, 4) Asked my new property manager if they knew of any resources (mine actually connected me with a previous tenant who was upgrading their furniture!). Also, definitely report your move to CalFresh right away. I'd recommend calling them first about the furniture question, and if you can't get through, then try visiting in person. The Housing Support Program that others mentioned is definitely worth asking about!

Dont 4get St Vincent De Paul they helped me w furniture when I got my apartment!!!! Call ur local church they know ALL the resources!!

Congratulations on getting your Section 8 voucher! That's such a huge milestone after waiting 3 years. While CalFresh won't directly help with furniture, I'd suggest a multi-pronged approach: 1) Definitely visit your CalFresh office in person since phone calls aren't working - they can refer you to other county programs and community resources, 2) Contact your local Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul as others mentioned, 3) Call 211 for a comprehensive list of furniture assistance in Santa Clara County, and 4) Join Facebook Buy Nothing groups and check Craigslist free section daily. Also, some thrift stores like Goodwill have payment plans or voucher programs for people receiving benefits. The key is to start reaching out to multiple resources now since some have waiting lists. You've got this - getting the voucher was the hardest part!

Check with your local Community Action Partnership too! They often have emergency assistance programs that include furniture vouchers for people transitioning into housing. Since you're in Santa Clara County, contact Community Services Agency of Mountain View-Los Altos or Sacred Heart Community Service - they both help with household items. Also, if you qualify for CalFresh, you'll likely qualify for their programs too. Some churches also have "blessing boxes" or furniture ministries even if you're not a member. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore sometimes has voucher programs for people with verified need. Start calling around now because some programs have monthly application deadlines. Congrats again on the Section 8 - that's huge!