Riverside assistance programs.

Find how to get help with your bills and expenses

There are many organizations in Riverside California. Learn about them below, including how the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County has several resources that struggling people can take advantage of. They can get grants and also help with paying their bills and other expenses. The services below are offered by the agency, and find other Riverside non-profit charities and resources as well. (951) 955 – 4900

Utility Bill Assistance: This program provides cash grants and one-time assistance payment that will help low and moderate-income families and individuals with paying their electric bills. Funding for this program is provided by the federal government through LIHEAP, which is Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The City of Riverside also contributes via SHARE, which is Sharing Households Assist Riversides Energy Fund, and they help also be the Imperial Irrigation District Program. The program also offers energy conservation education and training.

What is SHARE? It is specifically for Riverside Public Utilities customers. SHARE customer can also apply for other assistance and for HEAP. LIHEAP is a federally funded block grant program that is implemented by organizations at the State, Tribal, and Insular area. That contrasts with SHARE, which is funded by City of Riverside. If you are City of Riverside utility customer it is advised that you apply for SHARE assistance first, then explore other options.

CARE (California Alternative Rates for Energy): People struggling with their energy bills can also apply for the CARE program. This program provides at minimum a 20% discount on the clients gas or electric bill, if the applicant meets the income eligibility guidelines, if they also hold the utility account in his/her name and if they cannot be claimed as a qualified customers by another.

Weatherization Assistance Program: Community Action Partnership of Riverside’s Weatherization Assistance Program is another federal government program, and it provides applicants with free home energy conservation services. It is targeted towards low-income Riverside County homeowners and renters. These services it offers will reduce energy use and lower a customers utility and heating bills, thus creating more self-sufficient households that have extra cash to spend on other necessities.

ECIP or F/T (Energy Crisis Intervention Program or Fast Track): The ECIP component of this program consists of help making electric and gas bill payments, wood, oil, and propane payments, and furnace replacement and repair on behalf of those households who are identified as to be in a crisis situation. An ECIP payment will be made when an applicant receives a 24 or 48-hour disconnection notice from their utility company or another utility service disconnection notice that would involve a life threatening and/or emergency situation; if the applicant requires assistance with establishing a new account; or if the applicant’s utility services have been terminated or shot off.

 

 

 

Mortgage Assistance and Foreclosure Services: The Community Action Partnership of Riverside County can direct homeowners to government mortgage assistance programs, or to local not for profit HUD certified counseling agencies. Southern California has been hit hard by the housing crisis, and thousands of people receive free foreclosure counseling every year with the goal of getting back on track with paying their home loan. Find details on Riverside housing counseling agencies.

Food assistance in Riverside

Calimesa Seventh Day Adventist Church ((909) 795-9741) provides emergency food assistance.

A Community Pantry, located in Hemet and can be reached at (951) 929-1101, provides free food and other assistance. Read more on other options.

Find a comprehensive listing of more food pantries in Riverside California.

Free medical care and community clinics

Some of the clinics in the Riverside County area to turn to for health care include the following. Most offer services on a sliding fee scale, or may offer free care for the under and uninsured. Also find information on California prescription drug plans.

Mecca Medical Clinic - Provides comprehensive primary care and bills are charged on a sliding scale. Dial (760) 396-1249.

Arlanza Family Health Center, phone number (951) 324-5620, offers medical and dental care, as well as vision services. They focus their programs on People Without Health Insurance, Low to Moderate Income Patients, People With Inadequate Health Insurance, and Cancer Patients.

These are just two of the clinics that operate in Riverside California. About 30 additional clinics provide dental and medical care in the county. Read more on free clinics and dental centers in Riverside.

Healthy Families Insurance

The Healthy Families Program is also offered by the community action agency and it is a low cost health insurance product that provides health, vision, and dental coverage to children who do not have any other health insurance today and if they do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal insurance. After you enroll your children in the Healthy Families plan, you will have the freedom to choose the specific health, dental and vision insurance plans. The plans you can select from will provide the health, vision, and dental coverage for your children. This health insurance will pay most of your children’s medical costs for visits to dentists, doctors, and specialists. The health insurance plans also contract with laboratories, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies for your children’s health care needs.

The Community Action Partnership of Riverside County is located at 2038 Iowa Ave. Suite B-102
Riverside, CA 92507  (951) 955 – 4900.

Riverside EDA Home Repair Grant Program

If you need home repairs, including, but not limited to, a new furnace, roof, air-conditioner, plumbing repair, or more, Riverside has a program that can help. These home repairs and improvements, including many others, have grants available from the EDA Home Repair programs. The EDA assistance program can cover the cost of home repairs or improvements of up to a total of $6,000. And it is not a loan and there in no money to pay back. The grants are free. You need to own the home and also meet income limits to qualify for aid.

If you need substantial improvements and the $6,000 is not enough, Riverside and EDA offer additional grants and services from the Home Rehabilitation Program, which is a grant of up to $20,000. This additional program was created to help pay for either several repair items or more costly home repairs, such as kitchen or bathroom repair, air conditioning repair, roof repair or replacement, exterior painting, plumbing re-piping, or an electrical upgrade. Repairs for this program are prioritized by EDA and they are based on health and safety concerns of the family. Dial 1.800.945.6171.

Mobile Home Assistance

You can receive assistance if you own a mobile home as well. Because the rehabilitation of a mobile home may not be feasible or long lasting if/when substandard or structural conditions exist, the Riverside EDA home repair assistance program may replace the entire existing mobile home on your property by providing you with a combination of loans and grants. 951.955.9495.

 

 

Cancer Assistance Programs

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, the Desert Cancer Foundation (DCF) is a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to assisting patients who live in the Coachella Valley and surrounding communities, such as Riverside. They will help those people who need financial assistance in obtaining screening, diagnosis and treatment for cancer and/or related diseases. Find other programs that help people deal with cancer bills and other related expenses. More. Or dial (760)773-6554 .

In addition, DCF has paid for the hospital and medical bills for hundreds of underinsured or uninsured cancer patients who cannot afford treatment on their own. They can even help eliminate medical debt. Or refer people to people who can negotiate these bills. Continue.

Rental assistance programs

Riverside County residents who are struggling with paying the rent or mortgage payments may qualify for assistance from a federal government program that is intended to prevent homelessness.

The federal governments Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) will be provided over $4 million to Riverside County families and individuals as part of HUD’s Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re- housing Program. This program will provide short to medium-term financial and housing assistance to people who are facing eviction are are on the brink of homelessness. It will also help those who may have already lost their homes. Find additional ways how to get rent help.

According to the housing program guidelines established by the government, assistance can be offered to people and families who are on the brink of being forced onto the street because of financial hardship. Help is also available for residents in imminent danger of losing their home or apartment due to financial stress or emergencies.

The assistance provided might include three to 12 months of rental payments, as well as taking care of and paying a utility bill, security deposit, moving expenses and hotel or motel vouchers.

The money is paid to landlords and companies, and funds are not giving directly to the programs applicants and beneficiaries.

To learn more or to apply call 866- 414-0870 to speak to a non-profit in Riverside. Or find a listing of Riverside rent assistance programs and non-profit agencies that can help those facing eviction.

Riverside programs that also help all individuals in California

In addition to the Riverside specific programs, there are non profits and government programs that help anyone in California. They include the following:

• California HUD housing and foreclosure counseling
• California utility bill assistance programs
• California health care centers
• California foreclosure and mortgage programs
• California free food banks
• California medical debt laws
• California Section 8 housing programs
• California free health care
• California rescue missions
• Get dental care in California. Read more.
• California free legal assistance

Child assistance programs

A program known as Through Operation School Bell, which is run by the Assistance League of Riverside, provides new school clothing and supplies, including socks, underwear, coats, shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, backpacks, books, dictionaries, and hygiene kits to needy students. 951.682.3445.

Crisis, emergency and temporary assistance in Riverside County

Arlington Temporary Assistance (phone 951.689.5620) helps low income individuals by distributing free groceries and clothing to the needy residing in Riverside, Jurupa, Mira Loma, Woodcrest, and Rubidoux California. In addition counselors provide provides information and referrals to other government programs.

Salvation Army-Riverside Corps (phone number 951.784.4490) offers families low cost child care (ages 2-5), subsidized housing for seniors, food boxes, utility and rent assistance, holiday gifts and meals, troop type and summer activities for youth.

Another branch of the Salvation Army is also an option. The Salvation Army - Murrieta can provide help with providing emergency food and grocery assistance, emergency funds that provide rental assistance, and emergency utility bill assistance. Any individual or family may be assisted without discrimination providing they meet all program requirements and guidelines. Call this location at (951) 677-1324.

If you are struggling to feed your family, Second Harvest Food Bank distributes donated food to charities and other non-profits in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The agency alleviates hunger and makes the community aware of the hunger problem. They also provide low cost food to anyone who is struggling, regardless of income. More on low cost food in California. Dial 951.359.4757.

Another non profit organization is Catholic Charities San Bernardino/Riverside. They offer several services including case management with support services, clothing, free food, rent assistance, utility bill payments, mortgage payments, and services that effect families and neighbors by focusing on prevention and financial assistance. 951.784.5020. Additional Catholic Charity offices are in Moreno Valley and Indio California.

 

 

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, which is based in Riverside and can be reached at (951) 656-6020, offers emergency one-time rental assistance. Basically it can include both rental and/or mortgage payment assistance and funds provided are based upon the occurrence of an emergency. Recipient of the money must demonstrate the ability to make their housing payments on their own after the one month's assistance. The County of Riverside must approve this disbursement.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul, which is based in Corona, is an all volunteer organization that provides emergency assistance to people in need for rent, utilities and heating bills, identification cards (ID's), prescription medication, and other needs. Dial (951) 715-4858.

Riverside, CA Rent Assistance Development Department, Housing and Neighborhoods Division runs the Homelessness Prevention Fund, which can provide money to prevent an eviction or utility disconnection. Call (951) 826-5615

If you have children, then the Perris Valley Family Resource Center may be able to help. Dial (951) 443-1158. They have programs for families with children. Emergency services provided to families include heating and utility help, rental and food vouchers when funding is available. Other services offered include budgeting, debt counseling, saving, resume writing, and ESL classes.

Community Pantry, which is based in Hemet, provides emergency assistance and financial support to families and homeless individuals in need of help. The program will provide food as well as assistance for rent and utilities when funds are available. (951) 929-1101

Banning Senior Center - Call for information on an outreach program and information and referral to other social service and government programs. Medicare and legal assistance provided too.
769 N. San Gorgonio Ave, Banning, California 92220. Phone (951) 922-3250

Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service - Funds may be available for gas bills, and non-profit also offers 2-3 day supply of free emergency food to needy individuals and families in Riverside County.
7680 Casa Blanca Street, Riverside, California 92504. Dial (951) 688-3043

Banning Electric Alternative Rate (B.E.A.R. Program) - The program can help the low income pay electric bills. 176 East Lincoln Street, Banning, CA 92220. Telephone (951) 849-5224.

Community Assistance Program of Moreno Valley - Some of the aid offered includes utility bill assistance, clothes closet, free food, diapers, and baby supplies and formula.
24594 Sunnymead Boulevard, Suite W, Moreno Valley, CA  92553. Dial (951) 485-7792

Corona/Norco Settlement House - The charity type organization offers assistance with paying for food, clothing, housing including rent/mortgage, utility assistance. 507 South Vicentia Street, Corona, California 92882, Call (951) 737-3504.

Desert Samaritans For Seniors - Low income seniors can get help with healthcare costs, utility bills, free food, air conditioning /heating units, water heaters, rent assistance, appliances, or home repairs. 75105 Merle Drive, Suite 500, Palm Desert, (760) 837-9066.

Mead Valley Community Complex - Family Service Association Of Western Riverside County. Call (951) 657-0686. Programs include utility assistance, tax preparation, clothing distribution, senior nutrition, childcare, and government commodities.

HELP Inc. - In addition to food and groceries, programs can also offer assistance with paying for rent, clothing, bus tickets, and baby food when available. Limited funding is also available for utilities, gasoline vouchers and motel or hotel vouchers for families with children. 53 South 6th Street, Banning, California 92220. Dial (951) 922-2305

Idyllwild HELP Center - Call them for food vouchers, or information and referrals to health and social services in the area. 26330 Highway 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549, Dial (951) 659-2110

Martha's Village and Kitchen - The not for profit runs a number of programs including offering daily hot meals, food boxes, clothing distribution, general computer classes and ESL classes, energy bill help, G.E.D. Diapers and baby formula are also distributed when available to low income. 83791 Date Avenue, Indio, California 92201.

Smiles for Seniors - Low income seniors can apply for necessities and including energy bill assistance, groceries, prescription medication assistance and others. Call (909) 790-6671