What is the KEYS program in San Bernardino County? Is it connected to CalFresh benefits?

The KEYS program in San Bernardino is actually separate from CalFresh. KEYS stands for Knowledge, Education for Your Success and it's primarily a housing support program that helps homeless families and those at risk of homelessness find stable housing. It's run through the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, not through the CalFresh office, though county workers sometimes refer clients between programs. Applying for KEYS won't negatively affect your CalFresh benefits at all. In fact, if you qualify for housing assistance through KEYS, you might actually get more CalFresh because you'd have lower housing expenses (housing costs are a deduction when calculating CalFresh benefits).

my cousin got KEYS last yr its for homeless ppl or if ur about to be homeless they help u get an apt or somethin. not same as calfresh at all but they might ask bout ur calfresh when u apply to show income stuff

I went through KEYS program in 2023 when I lost my housing. They helped with temporary hotel vouchers then permanent housing placement. Totally different from CalFresh but they want you to be on CalFresh if eligible since it helps your overall stability. They helped me with the security deposit and first month's rent for an apartment I couldn't have afforded otherwise. To apply you need to go through their intake process. It can be frustrating to reach someone initially - I spent 3 days calling their office before I got through. Keep trying or see if your county worker can make a direct referral.

KEYS PROGRAM IS A SCAM!!! I applied and waited 6 MONTHS just to be told I "didn't qualify" even though I was literally living in my car with my kids. Meanwhile people with nice cars getting approved left and right. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!!! The whole system is rigged!!! 😡😡😡

The KEYS program (Knowledge, Education for Your Success) is specifically designed to help San Bernardino County residents who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Here's what you should know: 1. It's completely separate from CalFresh - different funding, different application process 2. Services include: - Case management - Housing search assistance - Temporary financial assistance (security deposits, utility assistance) - Connection to employment resources - Life skills training 3. Qualifying criteria typically involves: - Current homelessness OR imminent risk (eviction notice, etc.) - Income requirements (varies by program component) - San Bernardino County residency 4. Application process: - Call their main line: (909) 332-6388 - Complete an intake assessment - Provide documentation of your housing crisis - Work with assigned case manager Your CalFresh worker mentioned it because many county workers are trained to refer clients to other assistance programs they might qualify for. Applying won't negatively impact your food benefits.

does anyone know if they help with like security deposit for new place? my sisters rent went up and she cant afford it now

Thanks everyone for all the great information! I called KEYS this morning and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. They scheduled me for an intake appointment next week. The lady I spoke with said they can potentially help with rental assistance since I'm at risk of eviction due to the rent increases. And she confirmed it won't affect my CalFresh at all, which is a relief. I'll update after my appointment in case anyone else is wondering about the process!

Just to clarify some information that's been shared in this thread: KEYS stands for Knowledge, Education for Your Success - it's a Housing Authority of San Bernardino County program that provides housing support services to homeless families or those at risk of homelessness. The program offers different levels of assistance based on need: 1. Prevention services (for those at risk but not yet homeless) 2. Rapid re-housing (for recently homeless) 3. Permanent supportive housing (for chronically homeless with disabilities) Each component has different eligibility requirements. While KEYS does coordinate with other benefit programs for comprehensive support, applying for KEYS won't reduce your CalFresh benefits. In fact, stable housing often helps families better utilize their food benefits. To apply, contact their main office at (909) 332-6388 or visit one of their office locations. Be prepared to provide documentation of your housing crisis and income situation.

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with the KEYS program! I'm in a similar situation to the original poster - my CalFresh worker mentioned KEYS but didn't have time to explain much. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. It's reassuring to know that applying for KEYS won't affect my food benefits, and I appreciate the practical advice about calling early in the day and being persistent. The phone number and tips about documentation are exactly what I needed. I'm going to try calling them this week to see if I qualify for prevention services since my landlord just raised my rent by $300/month. Has anyone had experience with how long the intake process typically takes once you get an appointment scheduled?

I'm also new here and this thread has been so informative! I'm currently going through the KEYS application process myself - had my intake appointment last week. Just wanted to add a few things that might help others: During my intake, they asked for a lot of documentation so it's good to come prepared. They wanted proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters), bank statements, ID for all household members, and documentation of my housing crisis (my eviction notice in my case). The caseworker explained that San Bernardino County has different funding streams for KEYS, so availability can vary throughout the year. She mentioned that prevention services (like help with back rent or security deposits) sometimes have shorter wait times than the permanent housing assistance. One thing I wish I'd known beforehand - they also connected me with other resources I didn't know about, like utility assistance and food pantries in my area. So even if you're already on CalFresh, it's worth going through the process because they look at your whole situation and can connect you with other support programs. Really grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences with navigating these systems!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar housing crisis and had no idea about KEYS until my CalFresh worker mentioned it briefly last month. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there might actually be help available. I'm particularly interested in the prevention services since I'm not homeless yet but got a 60-day notice to quit from my landlord (they're converting to condos). The rent for comparable places in my area has gone up so much that even with my CalFresh benefits helping with food costs, I'm struggling to save enough for a security deposit on a new place. Does anyone know if KEYS helps with application fees too? I've been looking at apartments and between application fees ($50-100 each), credit check fees, and security deposits, it's adding up to way more than I can afford even if I do find a place that will accept me. Also really appreciate the tip about Claimyr for getting through to county offices - I've been trying to reach various assistance programs for weeks with no luck!

I'm new to this community and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea the KEYS program even existed until I stumbled across this discussion. My family is currently struggling with rent increases too - our landlord raised our rent by $250/month with just 30 days notice, and we're barely making ends meet even with CalFresh helping with groceries. What really stood out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how the program seems to take a holistic approach, connecting people with multiple resources beyond just housing assistance. The fact that it won't negatively impact CalFresh benefits is such a relief - I was worried that getting help in one area might hurt us in another. I'm definitely going to try calling the KEYS office next week. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like I should call early in the day and be prepared with documentation of our rent increase and financial situation. The tip about potentially using Claimyr if I can't get through is really helpful too. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - both positive and negative. It's so valuable to hear from people who've actually been through the process rather than just reading official program descriptions that don't tell you what it's really like. This community is such a great resource!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently in a similar situation - my CalFresh worker mentioned KEYS during my last appointment but didn't have time to explain what it was. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been so much more valuable than trying to find information online. I'm dealing with a potential eviction situation (landlord is selling the property and new owners want us out), and I was worried that applying for housing assistance might somehow mess with my CalFresh benefits. It's such a relief to learn from multiple people here that KEYS won't negatively impact food benefits at all. The practical advice about calling early, being persistent, and having documentation ready is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm also grateful for the tip about Claimyr - I've been struggling to get through to various county offices for weeks. One quick question for anyone who's been through the process: if I'm approved for KEYS assistance, do they typically work directly with landlords, or do they provide the funds to you to handle the payments yourself? My current landlord has been pretty difficult to work with, so I'm wondering how that aspect usually goes. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - both positive and challenging ones. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex systems!

I'm new to this community and this thread has been so informative! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - my CalFresh worker mentioned KEYS about a month ago but I had no idea what it was and was too overwhelmed to ask for details at the time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable. I'm currently facing a rent increase from $1,200 to $1,500 starting next month, and I've been really stressed about how to manage it while keeping up with my other expenses. It's such a relief to learn that KEYS won't impact my CalFresh benefits - I was genuinely worried that getting help with housing might somehow reduce my food assistance. The detailed information about the intake process, required documentation, and timelines has been so helpful. I'm planning to call them first thing Monday morning with all my paperwork ready. The tip about potentially using Claimyr if I can't get through is something I definitely want to try since I've had terrible luck reaching county offices lately. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences, both the successes and the frustrations. It makes such a difference to hear from people who have actually navigated this system rather than just reading official program descriptions that don't tell you what to expect. This community is amazing!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to thank everyone for sharing such detailed information about KEYS! I'm in San Bernardino County and had never heard of this program until I found this thread. My landlord just gave me a 30-day notice because they're renovating my unit, and I've been panicking about finding a new place with the current rental market. Reading about everyone's experiences - especially knowing that KEYS won't affect CalFresh benefits and that they help with things like security deposits - gives me so much hope. I'm definitely going to call their office tomorrow morning with all my documentation ready. The tip about Claimyr is something I'm going to bookmark too, since I've been trying to reach various county offices for weeks with no success. It's incredible how much more helpful real community experiences are compared to official websites that don't tell you what the process is actually like. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share practical advice about navigating these systems. I'll make sure to update after I go through the process in case it helps others in similar situations!