FamilySource Centers emergency assistance programs in LA County.
In an effort to help struggling families in Los Angeles County, the non-profit run FamilySource Centers operate dozens of locations in the county. They are but one of the many agencies in the region to turn to for help. Case management will be used to help with financial matters ranging from counseling for employment to credit repair. The staff from FamilySource Centers will also provide short term basic needs, such as referrals to clothing, food, and emergency financial aid for various bills or housing costs.
There are a few government resources available for food. They include CalFresh food stamps as well as CSFP - Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is available as a monthly distribution. It is federally funded and available in Los Angeles County. The service helps meet the nutritional needs of children from the region as well as seniors aged 60 and over. There may also be free food from CSFP for those women or infants who are ineligible for the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC).
Boxes of groceries are distributed by FamilySource Centers partners to participating families and to individuals. The participant will need to stop by a distribution center in Los Angeles County each month. The agency will help people apply for this resource.
Family Advocates from FSC Centers assist qualifying residents of Los Angeles County. The programs are for emergencies, and can offer food, clothing, shelter, and homelessness prevention. The staff will also collaborate with local government programs, churches, charities, and other human service agencies in offering case management and service coordination. Clients can also be referred to credit unions for loans for certain bills or rental costs. There is a goal of stabilizing each household.
Emergency assistance services are available to individuals and families in crisis through the Family Support Program. The agency not only may help a client access funds, but also is involved in a variety of employment and career services, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and energy services such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These and many others are additional services provided through FamilySource Centers.
Set up by the Board of Social Services and County Commissioners, the FamilySource Centers General Assistance Fund (GA) provides a limited amount of cash assistance for bills, food, or rent. This is for Los Angeles County residents in crisis and that also meet income requirements. The program requires that all households seeking a grant be evaluated by case managers to determine eligibility.
FSC centers will only help from by issuing one grant per 12-month period, per client. Families that have remained intact, with one member who has received GA, are not eligible to apply more often than that. If a family is no longer together, the public assistance may be able to provide additional financial aid for the individual who has moved to a separate residence, as long as that individual is not the person who received GA previously.
For rental assistance, public assistance is only able to help with deposits in cases where the client is able to pay the remaining amount. The government can also help with utilities as well as connection fees or deposits.
FSC will also provide long term support. Los Angeles based staff work with each client to create a plan for paying future bills. This is also done in partnership with other providers including Salvation Army as well as Family Care Centers.
FamilySource Centers offers classes in the subjects of basic money management and budgeting in both group and one-on-one settings. Classes cover the following topics of controlling your money so it doesn't control you. There are sessions on Basic insurance, Avoiding payday loans, eliminating debts, Creating and following a budget, as well as Understanding taxes.
Participants in the County of Los Angeles social services are also eligible to benefit from the Intensive Parenting Education and Support. This offers home-based family education and development and empowerment support. Staff also advocate for adults and their children.
FamilySource Centers will try to assist at risk youth from low income households. There is guidance for residents ages 5 years to 18 years. With the help of trained staff members, vulnerable children will develop and focus on age-appropriate social skills. The end result is increasing positive peer interactions and there is help as well in enhancing academic performance. Staff from FSC will be involved in nurturing family relationships through group work. Individual and family support is offered and school visits may be part of the client’s action plan.
To ensure and work on academic success for disadvantaged children, there is the Tutoring Program which works with them in small group settings with volunteers who also serve as a positive role models. Another component are the Los Angeles afterschool and summer programs.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) provides free tax return preparation for taxpayers who earn $51,000 or less in annual income. VITA’s volunteer workers receive IRS training in preparing returns. This will ensure that clients of FSC Centers receive all applicable special tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and those for the Elderly.
VITA from FamilySource Centers will also help with filing state of California and federal taxes electronically, or e-filing. The advantage of e-filing is that refunds are received in approximately half the time it takes to receive refunds from paper returns. Using direct deposit speeds things up even further, and this is an option. The services are available from January through April at several sites throughout Los Angeles County.
How to get grants and assistance from Family Centers
There are a number of offices that can be contacted for information, as noted below. However there is a central intake number, and that is 866-557-7368. The main office in LA county is also at 1200 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
- Lucille Beserra Roybal FSC is located at 1505 East First Street, Los Angeles, California 90033-3958, dial (323) 526-3033.
- New Economics for Women -supports low income and working poor females and immigrants. The site is at 21400 Saticoy Street, Canoga Park, CA 91305, phone (818) 887-3872.
- El Centro de Ayuda Corporation FSC Center is at 3467 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90023, main phone (323) 265-9228.
- Cypress Park FSC is City-Managed and is at 929 Cypress Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90065, telephone (323) 226-1682.
- El Centro del Pueblo. Address is 1157 Lemoyne Street, Los Angeles, California 90026, main phone (213) 483-6335.
- Youth Policy Institute is a FamilySource location at 1075 N Western Avenue, Suite 110, Los Angeles, CA 90029, phone (323) 836-0055.
- Barrio Action Youth and Family Center provides financial help from 4927 Huntington Drive, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90032, telephone (323) 221-0779.
- Tom Bradley FSC, 5213 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019-4041, phone (323) 692-0669.
- El Nido Family Centers - 13460 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima, CA 91331, phone (818) 896-7779
- Pacoima residents can stop in at 11243 Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 3, Pacoima, CA 91331, main phone (818) 834-5179.
- New Economics for Women - 6931 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 201, Van Nuys, CA 91406. For details, the main phone (818) 786-4098.
- Oakwood Family Resource Center Children's Bureau is at 3910 Oakwood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004, phone - (323) 953-7356.
- The Children’s Collective is located at 3655 S. Grand Ave, Suite 280, Los Angeles, California 90007. For referrals, call the center at (213) 747-4046.
- Coalition of Mental Health Professionals is also part of the network. Address is 9145 South Broadway Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90003, phone (323) 777-3120.
- The 1736 Family Crisis Center - 2116 Arlington Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90018, dial (323) 737-3900.
- Community Build - 8730 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044, phone (323) 789-9950 for information.
- Bradley Milken is located at 1773 East Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90002-3051, phone (213) 473-3607.
- Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) is a center at 958 East 108th Street in Los Angeles, CA 90059. Call (323) 357-6262 .
- Toberman Neighborhood Center is for low income families and is located at 131 North Grand Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731, dial (310) 832-1145.
- Latino Resource Organization - 5075 South Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90230, main phone (310) 391-3457.
- Central City Neighborhood Partners - 501 South Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017, phone - (213) 482-8618.
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