Santa Clara County assistance programs.

Rent Assistance

Catholic Charities in Santa Clara provides emergency rent assistance to people in need. There are no religious affiliations, and anyone can apply for help. There are of course conditions, such as income, financial hardship, and others. They can help people find an apartment or housing that will meet their needs, and work with landlords to ensure the housing is a good fit. (408) 468-0100

They offer other programs to help people in need. For example, they can provide grants to families to help pay utility bills, help someone find a job, even provide food aid. Find additional California charities.

Find rent, housing, food, and medical assistance

Tens of thousands of Mountain View, Los Altos, and Santa Clara residents can receive help from the Community Services of Mountain View and Los Altos organization. Many are finding emergency rental assistance and other aid. A new safety net program, called the Urgent Community Response Fund, will be funding many charities as the result of a generous one-time cash grant of $1 million from Applied Materials Foundation.

This new charitable fund, which will be managed through social service agencies such as the United Way, will help the needy with shelter, food, prescription medication, provide rent and security deposit help, and even transportation services. Call the United Way of Santa Clara/Silicon Valley to apply. (408) 345-4300.

Some other charities that people can turn to for help include the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in San Jose. They  receive daily calls of people inquiring about emergency rental assistance. At CSA in Mountain View, the number of homeless and struggling families picking up brown bags of food and groceries for the day have more than doubled in the last year. Also, the lines to the daily food pantry and kitchen are usually a block long. Many families continue to struggle, but there is help out there.

Food Assistance from St. Joseph’s Family Center in Gilroy

Has received a grant of tens of thousands of dollars to provide additional assistance to people who are seeking help from the food pantry. They are providing resources to thousands of people every year. They can also provide help with paying rent. Phone (408) 842-6662.

Food from Sunnyvale Community Services

They have experienced a record number of people seeking aid. SCS has received a $30,000 grant that will be used to buy bulk food and also to provide rental assistance to low-income residents and families. (408) 481-9423.

Additional groceries and food aid

Another option is to visit the Reach Out station in the St. Catherine Church parking lot at 17400 Peak Avenue. Emergency food is usually available, as resources allow, from Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Reach Out center to aid hungry and low income people in town. Contact 779-3959 for more information on the groceries and food.

Emergency assistance for rent and energy bills

All of these non-profits and charities provide emergency finanancial aid for paying bills, debts, and rent.

• InnVision Georgia Travis Center. San Jose headquartered. (408) 453-3124
• InnVision Opportunity Center. Palo Alto. (650) 853-8672
• St. Joseph’s Family Center. Gilroy. (408) 842-6662
• Sunnyvale Community Services. Call them at (408) 738-4321.
• Cupertino based West Valley Community Services. Dial (408) 255-8033.

Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos offers emergency help and runs programs that offer safety-net services to low-income individuals, the unemployed, families, and seniors. The agency ensures that those individuals who are facing economic challenges that are associated with financial emergencys or hardships, and who are low-income are able to maintain independence and self sufficiency over the long term. Call them at (408) 968-0836.

InnVision The Way Home (408) 292-4286 Provides a variety of financial and emergency assistance. The programs and resources they offer focus on preventing homelessness and hunger. For example, they provide rent help, funds for energy bills and eviction prevention, as well as access to mortgage help. Together these options serve as a countywide safety net for those families and individuals facing eviction, utility disconnections, and hunger.

Salvation Army of Santa Clara County provides low income, the unemployed, elderly and others with a wide variety of emergency help for bills. Get access to assistance services that can pay your rent, offer one time housing payments, funds for utility bills, and free food. (408) 282-1165

Sacred Heart Community Service is another leading non-profit agency that provides essential services to low income families and individuals. Get access to food baskets, infant formula, diapers, sack lunches, gently used clothing, rental and housing assistance, and information and referral services to California and federal government programs. (408) 278-2160.

Information on free medical services

Mayview Community Health Center provides a medical clinic and access to free or discounted, high quality primary health and medical care at three clinics in Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto California. Both uninsured or under-insured patients with low incomes receive age-appropriate, free and well coordinated health care. (650) 327-1223