San Diego County assistance programs.

Resources and programs that will provide help with bills and expenses

The Community Action Partnership (CAP) is the designated community action agency that serves the San Diego region. The organization administers the Community Services Block Grant and provides grants and assistance to struggling families.

Family Self-sufficiency Services is one component of the agency, and it helps low income families with their short term needs and also ensures they are self sufficient over the long term. Some of what they offer includes :

• Provide assistance with emergency needs, including utility bills and rent assistance.
• Serves low-income families and individuals CalWORKs and other public assistance recipients.
• Provide financial education and debt counseling, including credit card help.
• Provide help to people with obtaining the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC.
• Job and employment assistance, including training
• Assist people with obtaining low or no-cost health insurance, and also free health care.

Call them at 619-338-2799 to apply or learn more information.

 

 

 

Emergency help with bills and find other resources from the United Way

The United Way has increased funding to a variety of local programs. San Diego, California is experiencing an overwhelming need to provide residents basic services, such as rent help, shelter, food, and more. The United Way of San Diego County has increased funding on a one-time basis to local groups to address this increased demand. Nine charity organizations and agencies, including the Salvation Army, Access to Independence, Alliance for African Assistance, Crisis House, Community Resource Center ((760) 753-1156),  HomeStart, Interfaith Community Services, Veterans Village (619.497.0142), and South Bay Community Services have received a total of $550,000 in aid to distribute to those who need help.

The money will help both health and human service organizations increase their capacity and add resources to serve those families and individuals who are at risk for first-time homelessness, who need food, and other help according to the United Way.

There is a tremendous need for assistance in San Diego County. And the middle class is feeling it. Local charities and agencies have seen a 75% increase in first-time assistance requests for all aid coming from individuals and families. The food bank has had an 80% increase. Requests for debt help and assistance have increased by 50%.

The United Way partnering with local charities and agencies in San Diego County will be doing their best to meet this overwhelming need.

Crisis assistance programs for expenses, bills, rent, housing costs, and more

San Diego Catholic Charities ((619) 231-2828) provides low income and other qualified individuals with access to crisis and critical services for adults, children, and families, including counseling, emergency help for bills and other costs, pregnancy, parenting and adoption services, immigrant and refugee services, rent assistance, senior services, information on government programs, homeless and emergency services.

Indian Human Resource Center, Inc. (Phone: (619) 281-5964) provides job and employment assistance, job training, housing and case management social services to American Indians who are in a crisis situations due to emergency situations or unemployment.

Another option is Interfaith Community Services. This agency provides a complete continuum of help for bills and expenses, care and other resources and services in north San Diego County, from Oceanside to Escondido. Among other services they offer food, shelter, housing and mortgage help, crisis intervention, advocacy and referrals, rent assistance, clinical case management, employment assessment, training and job placement, psychological counseling, and more. (760) 489-6380

Low income individuals and others who need help can also contact MAAC Project ((619) 426-3595). This non-profit agency provides needy individuals with access to social services, senior services, job training/placement, consumer education, child development/education, energy bill assistance, substance abuse programs, residential recovery, rent and housing help, emergency food and vouchers, housing and community development programs.

 

 

North County Community Services a another private non profit social services agency that has provided vitally needed help for paying bills, expenses, and more. They partner and operate the North County Food Bank as well as seven child development centers across Northern San Diego County, North County Community Services is committed to providing help and aid when families need it the most. (760) 471-5483.

Also contact Ramona Food & Clothes Closet which provides emergency clothing, groceries and food assistance, medical appliances, limited information on California and federal government assistance programs and referrals. In addition, the charity also provides food, clothes and toys at Christmas time. Phone number (760) 789-4458.

San Diego Salvation Army provides a multitude of programs to assist to needy families, the unemployed, low income, seniors, youth and children. Get help with rent, mortgage payments, rent assistance, housing assistance, food, shelter, clothing, counseling, disaster services, and other aid. (619) 231-6000

Brother Benno Foundation helps people that live in Oceanside. The applicant needs to be a family with children ages 17 years and younger; be 60 years or older, or be disabled. They offer rent assistance if the applicant has an eviction notice. Dial 760-439-1244, or find additional rent assistance options. More help with rent.

The following non-profits or charities provide energy bill assistance in the San Diego area. Brawley CA Campesinos Unidos Inc. ((760) 344-4500), Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee ((619) 409-1697). These places offer the home energy bill assistance program.

St Vincent De Paul Society For The Diocese Of San Diego - Offers various low income programs and advice to those who are struggling.

North Country Lifeline Inc., which is based in Vista, runs the homeless prevention and rapid rehousing program. It offers assistance for individuals and families with rental and utility assistance. (760) 726-4900.

San Diego Housing Commission (phone (619) 231-9400)) provides rental assistance, section 8 housing resources, home buyers assistance, public housing, and state rental housing.

Del Mar Community Connections, 1050 Camino Del Mar, (phone (858) 792-7565) offers rent and energy help.

Community Resource Center of Encinitas ((760) 753-8300) and the City of Oceanside ((760) 435-3380) both offer a federal grant program in which money can be used to pay for homeless prevention issues, such as utilities, electric bills, disconnections, and monthly rent payments.

HIV patients can call NAMI San Diego at (619) 584-3113 or Townspeople at (619) 295-8802 to get rent and energy bill assistance, as well as information on free health care and medications in San Diego California.

Non-profit and free rent help - Several San Diego California area charities, churches, and government programs offer information on rental assistance programs and may offer cash to help pay rent expenses. Continue.

San Diego agencies and programs that cover the entire state

Get information on other assistance programs that can help both San Diego residents, and that also assist families and individuals throughout the state.

• California HUD free foreclosure counseling
• California utility bill help
• California foreclosure and mortgage programs
• California food banks
• California community clinics and health care centers
• California Section 8 housing
• California rescue missions
• California dental care
• California free legal assistance
• California health care
• California medical debt laws

Job and employment programs

If you need help finding a job, programs to increase your income, or other aid contact the Chicano Federation of San Diego County, Inc. Among the services offered include case management, crisis intervention, career development, youth and senior programs and job development for unemployed and low-income individuals. In addition, the non-profit agency provides childcare services and leadership training program. Develops/manages affordable housing apartments for those facing eviction. (619) 285-5600.

If you need help finding a job or increasing your income, also contact SER/Jobs for Progress. Phone: (760) 754-6500. The agency offers job counseling, referral, and placement for youth and adults. An on site learning center also provides computer applications training. First time home buyers program is also administered.

Medical care and dental services

Medical care for children is provided by Children's Dental Health Association of San Diego as well as the Children's Hospital and Health Center (Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego). The Dental association provides children with a full range of affordable, high quality and accessible dental health services to San Diego's under served children. (619) 370-5625. The Hospital and Health Center is the county only medical center devoted exclusively to providing medical and health care to children and provides a full array of medical services and assistance for the children of San Diego County. (858) 576-1700.

Family Health Centers of San Diego County, Inc., contact (619) 515-2300, helps medically under served persons by offering health care on a sliding scale basis. The clinic provides comprehensive primary healthcare, including dental, medical, optometry, medications, mental health, health education and training, and other ancillary services.

Another option for health care is Imperial Beach Health Center. This facility offers primary medical and health care services for low income individuals and those persons without health insurance. Fees for the health care are based on income and family size. (619) 429-3733.

La Maestra Community Health Centers offers medical and health care services to residents who live in  City Heights including parental, general primary care, pediatric, IC program, etc. (619) 584-1612

Get access to medical and psycho social health care from the San Diego Family Care facility. Their services are available to low-income, multiethnic families on a sliding fee basis. Call (858) 279-0925 to learn more or make an appointment, or click here for additional health care programs.

Patients of the South Bay area can contact San Ysidro Health Center. The center offers comprehensive health care to residents. A variety of payment options are allowed for medical bills, including flexible fees for low-income, medically indigent people and patients. (619) 428-4463.

A number of other government certified clinics and health care centers are located in the region. Find additional San Diego clinics.

Free legal advice

If you can’t afford an attorney, contact Legal Aid Society of San Diego. Attorneys from this non-profit law firm provides eligible individuals with high quality legal services to indigent residents of the City and County of San Diego. The goal of the law firm is to insure they receive the basic needs for survival and legal representation. Get legal advice for consumer debt issues, foreclosures, utility disconnections, and other aid. (877) 534-2524

Other options include the University of San Diego Legal Clinic. Dial (619) 260-7470. The facility provides pro-bono legal services to low-income residents of San Diego County. San Diego Volunteer Legal Program (619) 235-5656 is another resource. They agencies focus on civil law issues, such as foreclosures, debt issues, employment concerns, and more. They do not handle criminal cases. Click here for other California legal programs.

San Diego senior programs

Contact ElderHelp of San Diego at (619) 284-9281. This non-profit charity organization provides assistance programs to help seniors as well as the frail elderly remain at home, including shared housing, grocery shopping, care management, home updates and repairs, forms assistance, legal services and advice, and Project CARE.

Another resource is Senior Community Centers of San Diego. This non-profit offers services for seniors including , homeless, social service programs, home delivered meals, rent and housing aid, hot breakfast & lunch at three centers, shopping, health care assistance, information for paying medical and hospital bills, transportation, activities and advocacy. (619) 235-6538

Get help with rent

If you are struggling with making your monthly rent payments, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is a project that was created between the city of Vista California and North County Lifeline, which is a local Vista nonprofit service organization.

The rental assistance program has a goal of helping families and individuals who are struggling with paying their bills and housing expenses. Residents who qualify for aid can receive up to two months' of rent expense paid by the city and government agencies.

Vista city officials have said that since the rental-assistance program started in March 2007, dozens of families have been, and continue to be helped. The city averages about $1,300 per household who qualified for the program. In addition, they have also spent almost $50,00 fund a separate program that helps pay for utility and security deposits.

All of these various programs are funded by various government agencies and redevelopment revenue, state and federal grants, and Community Development Block Grant money.

North County Lifeline is in charge of reviewing and screening applicants to ensure they meet the criteria to qualify for the rental assistance program. Candidates must live in the city of Vista, and they need to be residents who have maintained the same home and address for more than six months and they also must also meet household income guidelines. In order to qualify for aid, an individual needs to have an annual income less than $34,680, a household of two must make less than $39,660 and a household of four must make less than $49,560 in total household income.

In addition if you do go ahead and apply, applicants also need to agree to participate in a case management program, which includes financial literacy training and counseling, and the applicant needs to commit to get their finances back in the black and become self sufficient.

If you need more information on Vista's Emergency Rental Assistance Program or would like to apply, contact them at North County Lifeline, 200 Michigan Ave., Vista California, or dial 760-726-4900.

The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, which is run by South Bay Community Services and can be reached at (877) 534-2524 x2632, provides rent help. The details of the program include providing assistance with paying past due rent. Maximum payment is for two months up to $1000 per month. They can also provide up to 18 months of future rent payments, money for security and utility deposits, counseling, and other aid.

 

 

San Diego mortgage and foreclosure assistance

Contact the HOME Clinic, which is a community service program of the Housing Opportunities Collaborative (HOC). The agency employs HUD approved housing counseling agencies, community and nonprofit organizations, offers information on government programs, and access to city jurisdictions that support all aspects of homeownership and housing rights and responsibilities. Counselors can help you avoid a foreclosure, and get back on track with your monthly mortgage payments. HOC provides educational training, foreclosure prevention, mortgage assistance programs, and community resources to assist families at risk of housing displacement. Dial 619-283-2200, or click here for other California mortgage programs.

The Foreclosure Prevention Center offers a wide range of foreclosure prevention and counseling services to San Diego families to help them avoid foreclosure and sustain their homeownership. Dial (619) 282-6647.

Get information and find the location of HUD approved foreclosure counseling and other non-profit organizations in San Diego California. Many offer free or inexpensive solutions to a borrowers personal housing situation. More on San Diego foreclosure programs.

Debt and credit counseling

Consumer Credit Counseling has multiple offices around the county. Counselors provide financial counseling, access to debt repayment programs, housing and foreclosure assistance programs, financial literacy programs, and credit report and repair counseling. Assists clients in establishing an repayment program with creditors as needed. Dial 866-889-9347.

The county is served by several other non-profit credit and housing counseling agencies. Some are local organizations, and others are part of a nationwide network. Find more San Diego credit counseling locations.

Food, emergency aid, and household items

Neighborhood House Association (619) 263-7761) - Provides qualified individuals with emergency food (a household may receive food once in a 6-month period). Formula/baby food and diapers are also sometimes available

San Diego Food Bank - They run the government Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)

There are dozens of other non-profit food pantries across San Diego that families and individuals can turn to for assistance. Find phone numbers, addresses, and more information on San Diego food pantries.

San Diego Head Start programs

Low income children as well as their parents may be able to turn to the government funded, but locally run, Head Start and Early Head Start programs. It offers education assistance, medical care, food, and a host of other social services for children up to five years old. More on San Diego Head Start as well as phone numbers to call for help.