Struggling to pay rent while waiting for CalFresh approval - any emergency housing assistance?

CalFresh benefits are just for food, they won't help directly with your rent. But there are emergency rental assistance programs you might qualify for. In Alameda County, you should contact Season of Sharing or Catholic Charities - both offer emergency rental assistance. Also, call 211 right away and ask about ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) to see if there's still funding available for 2025. Make sure to mention you're pending CalFresh approval as that shows financial hardship.

i was in the same boat last year!!! season of sharing helped me with rent when i was waiting for benefits. u need to have some proof of income to show them u can pay rent going forward tho. they only help once a year so make sure u really need it

They covered about 80% of what I needed but I had to come up with the rest. Also had to show proof I was applying for calfresh and other benefits to get my finances stable

While you're figuring out the rent assistance, you should also check on your CalFresh application status. It shouldn't take 3+ weeks with no updates. I had the same issue last year and it turned out they needed verification documents but the notice got lost in the mail. Try calling your county office to check if they need anything from you to complete processing.

You might want to also check if you qualify for CalWORKs, which unlike CalFresh, can actually help with housing costs. Since you mentioned you lost income recently, you might be eligible. They can provide cash aid that can be used for rent and other necessities. The application process is similar to CalFresh and often handled by the same office. In the meantime, definitely follow up on your CalFresh application as expedited service should process within 3 days if you meet certain criteria (very low income/resources).

Yes, CalWORKs is different from General Assistance - CalWORKs is primarily for families with children, so if you don't have dependent children, you wouldn't qualify. In that case, General Assistance/General Relief would be more appropriate for your situation, though the benefits are typically lower. Regarding expedited CalFresh: If your monthly income is less than $150 and you have less than $100 in resources, or if your housing costs exceed your income/resources, you should qualify for expedited service (3-day processing). Unfortunately, this option isn't always clearly explained during online applications. I'd definitely recommend contacting your county office to check if you qualify for expedited processing based on your current financial situation.

anyone else notice they send u the ebt card before approving u? happened to me 2 got the card and was all excited but then had to wait another 2 weeks before any $$ was on it lol

The whole system is DESIGNED to be confusing and difficult. They WANT people to give up so they don't have to pay benefits. I've been fighting with them for months. Applied for CalFresh in January, got approved in March, then they suddenly discontinued me in April claiming I didn't submit verification docs I NEVER received a request for!!! Now I'm reapplying and starting the whole process over again. Meanwhile I've been having to choose between medicine and food. OP - while you're waiting, check out local food banks. At least that way you can use whatever money you have for rent instead of food.

Since you're in Alameda County, you should also check with Bay Area Community Services (BACS). They offer homelessness prevention services and might be able to provide emergency funds or connect you with resources before you reach the eviction point. Also, if you're facing potential eviction, contact Centro Legal de la Raza or Eviction Defense Center ASAP - they provide free legal help for tenants and can sometimes help negotiate payment plans with landlords. As others mentioned, while following up on your CalFresh application is important, it won't directly solve your housing issue since those benefits are specifically for food. That said, getting those food benefits approved will free up whatever money you do have for rent.

UPDATE: Called 211 and they referred me to Season of Sharing. Filled out their application yesterday and they said they'll get back to me within 3 days. Also contacted my landlord and explained the situation - surprisingly he was understanding and said as long as I can pay at least half the rent by the due date, he'll give me until the 15th for the rest. I also checked my CalFresh application status online and it says they're missing income verification from me. Going to upload my pay stubs today. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions!