San Bernardino County assistance programs.

Agencies that provide ways to get assistance for paying bills

If you are struggling in this weak economy like millions of other Americans, the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) offers services, resources, and programs that you can use to get help with paying energy bills, rent, food, and they can even help you develop skills to get a job. They also partner with other local organizations to provide even more aid. A sampling of what they offer is below, but contact them directly for more information or to apply.

Energy, Education and Environmental Services Program

This program is run by the CAPSBC agency and it will focus on lowering homeowners utility bills by installing free upgrades to your home, and it can also provide direct cash grants to pay utility bills.

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)- This program provides a 20% discount on your monthly electric or gas bill.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)- Offers cash grants to helps relieve emergency and non-emergency situations for gas and utility eligible customers. The funds can be used to ensure your service is not disconnected, or to just pay a regular monthly bill.
• Weatherization Services Program - Your home will receive free energy saving improvements that will help lower your utility bill by up to 35%. The free updates include installation of applicable weatherization measures such as insulation, duct repair, filter replacement, heating units, etc. The result is that your home will be more comfortable and more healthful, and of course lower the cost of your monthly utility bills.

Rent Help
The San Bernardino County Community Action Agency offers ways to get help with rent, and they work closely with local charities and organizations to ensure you take advantage of all the resources available. They can offer section 8 housing, and also administer the federal government Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP).

If you are struggling with paying your rent, facing an eviction, need help with a security deposit, or even need assistance paying a utility bill, the federal government funded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program can provide you with up to 18 months of rent assistance. The funds are intended to reduce the number of evictions that occur across the county. Funds can also be sued to pay an energy bill, if the unpaid energy bills would otherwise result in you losing your home.

CAPSBC Food Aid
The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Food Assistance Program Bank serves over 50,000 people each and every month. They do this by working closely with over 155 affiliate agencies and charities such as schools, churches, senior centers, and soup kitchens.

Emergency Assistance, Including Mortgage - Assistance is provided to families and individuals who are experiencing with an unexpected crisis situation from CAPSBC. Emergency assistance provided includes one time rent payments, food vouchers, shelter assistance, bus passes, help from medical debt collectors, and more.

Contact the San Bernardino County Community Action Agency at 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92415, and the phone number is 909-723-1500.

 

 

 

Help with utility bills, rent, and mortgage payments.

Multiple agencies are listed below, including Catholic Charities and Desert Manna Ministries which are two local nonprofit organizations in San Bernardino County that are helping residents with food aid, employment help, job training, rent assistance, and other services for locals. They are distributing grants in the form of one-time mortgage, rent, or utility bill assistance payments. In addition, Catholic Charities will also begin passing out both mortgage payment and rent assistance. Find other ways to get mortgage help.

Desert Manna has begun distributing money to local residents who are in need for both rent and utility bills. They have already seen an immediate rush of applicants looking for rent help. Also, residents can still apply for utility and electric bill payments, including help for electricity, gas, water, and propane bills. However, the “comfort” type of utility services, such as cable television and Internet, are not included. Though most of the help provided is s a one-time fix, the grants and payments paid out, which the charities send directly to a bank, landlord, mortgage or utility companies are meant to help families on the brink of losing their homes, shelter, or prevent a utility shut off.

Just recently, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors accepted a grant from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for over $3 million. This grant will provide additional; funds for both rental and utility bill assistance, and free motel and hotel vouchers for those families and individuals who are facing eviction or are at risk of becoming homeless. Aid is even available for those who are currently homeless.

These funds will flow to agencies such as Catholic Charities and Desert Manna Ministries (760-256-7797).

Another resource for low income and struggling families is the San Bernardino Salvation Army ((909) 888-1336). As funding allows, this agency will also help as many individuals in need as possible. Some of the services and assistance programs offered including financial assistance for rent and utility bills, holiday gifts and meals, access to a food pantry, vouchers for medications, and much more. Also try the Ontario California Salvation Army for assistance (Dial (909) 986-6748), Salvation Army - Redland ((909) 792-6868, or the Salvation Army - Pomona ((909) 623-1579).

Family Service Association of Redlands (phone (909) 793-2673) offers people basic life services for low-income, unemployed and other qualified individuals, including homeless families. Some of the services and financial assistance offered include Case Management, food, rent help, clothing, housing and limited medical bill assistance.

Inland Valley Hope Partners is a partnership of local churches, business, and non-profits that have combined services to provide people with help. Among the resources offered include rent and mortgage payment assistance, money for utility bills, and free food. They cover all of San Bernardino County, including  Pomona and Ontario California. (909) 622-3806.

Operation Provider ((909) 337-8585) offers basic needs assistance, including access to the Electric and Gas Assistance Fund (EAF & GAF). Twin Peaks California

Samaritans Helping Hand, which is based in Victorville, provides assistance to San Bernardino families. They provide utilities payments for homes, local bus day passes, food and meals, greyhound tickets, prescription medications, and clothing. Call the non-profit at (760) 243-5933.

 

 

Hearts and Lives - This Blue Jay California located agency provides emergency food voucher, utility bill assistance, information and referral to federal government programs, case management. Call (909) 337-9922.

Community Development and Housing - San Bernardino County (phone (909) 388910) runs the homeless prevention and rapid rehousing program. It is funded by stimulus dollars, and can help families avoid an eviction from their home or apartment.

Catholic Charities of San Bernardino - A program can provide financial assistance with paying utility bills to prevent disconnection, or money is offered to reconnect services. Also get information on food programs, rent and housing assistance, and other referrals. 16051 Kasota Rd., Ste.700, Apple Valley, California 92307. Call (760) 242-2311

Desert Sanctuary Inc. - Services offered to those who have experienced domestic violence includes legal advocacy, housing and shelter, food, child care, clothing, and job finding services. 703 E. Main St., Barstow, CA  92311. Dial (760) 256-3733

Family Service Agency San Bernardino - Offers Utility Assistance Fund (EAF & GAF) as well as food.
1669 N. E Street, San Bernardino, California 92405. Call (909) 886-6737.

Mountain View Community Church - Get help paying gas bills. 8833 Palmetto Ave., Fontana, California 92335. Call (909) 357-9377.

A number of non-profits and government programs that offer rent help also operate in the San Bernardino County. More San Bernardino rent programs.

San Bernardino programs that include all of California

Many agencies and non-profits provide assistance with paying rent, provide foreclosure counseling, food, and other aid for both San Bernardino and the entire state. More information is below.

• California energy bill assistance
• California HUD foreclosure programs
• California foreclosure and mortgage programs
• California free food banks
• California free health care clinics
• California rescue missions
• Find free or low cost dental clinics in California. More.
• California medical debt assistance
• California Section 8 housing
• California free medical care
• California free legal services

Non-profit credit and debt assistance

People across California are struggling with making their debt payments, and need some type of help reducing or eliminating medical and credit card debts. The Consumer Credit Financial Solutions, Inc. of San Bernardino County provides access to non-profit credit counselors. Individuals can learn about debt consolidation programs, solutions that can help people get out of credit card debt, and even solutions for bill collectors. The agency even has HUD approved counselors that can provide alternatives to a foreclosure filing. Call (909) 890-2211 for debt help.

Receive foreclosure prevention services from Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, Inc. It is a HUD approved agency, and the foreclosure and mortgage programs they offer homeowners provides them with counselors to work with the borrower and the lender to reconcile payment difficulties to a mutual satisfaction, and explore foreclosure prevention opportunities. They can even refer people to new programs like the California hardest hit fund. Call (909)-884-6891

Homeowners in San Bernardino can also contact Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Inc. for foreclosure help. Among other resources and services they offer include mortgage default and foreclosure prevention. Phone (909) 988-5979

San Bernardino Health care and free clinics

There are several different facilities that people can turn to throughout the county for low cost or free medical and dental care. These clinics will usually never turn anyone away, but they do focus on the unemployed, low income, and people with no or poor health insurance. A listing of some of the agencies and clinics include:

• Redlands Community Hospital Family Clinics (909) 335-5799)
• Social Action Community Health System (909) 382-7100
• Inland Empire Community Clinic (909) 877-0510
• Tri-County Dental Society (909) 370-2112
• Victor Valley Community Services (760) 243-9646

This is just a sampling. Call them to make appointments, or learn more about their services. They may also be able to refer you to other medical assistance programs, including federal and California programs. Or find more San Bernardino clinics.

 

 

Crisis assistance, for shelter, housing, and food

Several San Bernardino charities and non-profits can provide emergency assistance for those crisis’s that can arise, such as a job loss or medical emergency. Contact any of these organizations to learn more about their services. Some may have utility or heating assistance, funds for rent or to prevent evictions, or other forms of financial aid and support. Many are also part of HUD counseling agencies.

• Central City Lutheran Mission - (909) 381-6921
• HOPE (The Homeless Outreach) - (909) 983-5783
• Westside Community Services (San Bern.) - (909) 384-5428
• Samaritan Helping Hand (High Desert) - (760) 243-5933
• Chino Neighborhood House - (909) 628-5608
• Faith Lutheran Church - (760) 364-3957
• Church of the Nazarene - (909) 886-8104

Click here to find a listing of additional food banks, pantries, and distribution enters in San Bernardino California.