Learn how the Salvation Army provides emergency financial assistance as well as free material items to struggling people in California. Services range from shelters for the unhoused or transitional housing to rental assistance, free food, or money for paying utility bills. There are also free school supplies, Christmas toys and transportation programs from the charity. Find how to get help from the Salvation Army near you in California, with links to local contact information below.

One of the primary missions of the Salvation Army is to address the economic, social, and emotional well-being of low income individuals and families in California. Therefore any help with bills, whether rent, electric, gasoline for a car or something else is combined with long term social services. The California Salvation Army centers listed below try to empower people, at the same time as providing emergency money to pay bills, in order to help people become self-sufficient.

Get financial help with housing and bills from CA Salvation Army

Housing options are for the low income and homeless. Some of the resources available in California include transitional living centers, low income apartments, and emergency shelters for un-housed people, including adults or women with kids. These locations can offer affordable or free housing on a temporary basis. Families that use the housing services will also be able to qualify for case management, which can include assistance with finding a job, permanent housing placement from the Salvation Army, and other support.

The Salvation Army offers assistance for utility, electric, and water bills. It has been proven that helping families across California pay their electric and water bills has stopped families from facing evictions. The short term support has allowed them time to get back on track. This utility assistance is one of the more effective ways that the Salvation Army in California has helped struggling families, including seniors or single moms, maintain basic amenities. Find more details about utility assistance programs in California.

Food banks and soup kitchens in California feed families or people with little or money. The Salvation Army in California helps families keep food on their tables. A number of grocery assistance programs are administered and they can give out free groceries, baby formula, produce, canned meat, and perishable goods. All of that are just a few examples of what may be distributed. Assistance is offered through both Salvation Army operated food pantries and soup kitchens. Some meals may even be delivered by volunteers to seniors or the homebound.

Emergency rental assistance programs help the low income. People who are on the verge of eviction may get a helping hand in maintaining their housing and paying their rent, storage fees or security deposits. Direct financial assistance may be paid out by the Salvation Army to help families across California maintain their homes or apartments, including single parents, the elderly or vets. Those families facing homelessness will receive priority of any available money to be used to pay rent.

Free items, transportation programs, and Salvation Army social services

Holiday assistance, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, may be provided. There are many programs across CA that the Salvation Army helps run, including Angel Tree, Thanksgiving meal baskets and others. Most of these rely on volunteers and donations.

To expand on those holiday programs, free meals or food boxes may be provided for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Also, without the Salvation Army and its programs such as the Angel Tree and other gift giving programs, many children would be without toys at Christmas - therefore the Salvation Army tries to give a free gift to anyone in need.

Salvation Army back to school giveaways are operated in most California counties. These take place during the summer and/or fall, and the Salvation Army helps students of all ages including those from immigrant households. Free school backpack packs full of supplies will be given out, such as with pens, pencils, clothes, lunch boxes and more. There may also be tablets, Chrome books and other items. More on help with school supplies.

Get help with transportation and free gasoline vouchers. While more vehicles are electric, California typically has some of the highest gasoline prices in the country. From time to time the Salvation Army may provide vouchers for free gas or other transportation assistance, such as money for car repairs or a bus ticket.

This service is very limited. A number of qualifications need to be met, and usually gas or repairs are provided in an emergency only. The Salvation Army center may help if someone needs fuel/transportation for a job interview or doctor appointment, such as a client with a disability. Also sometimes a volunteer may be able to drive someone to an appointment, including senior citizens. Find other sources of free gas.

Case management and advice is a core Salvation Army service. Get counseling and support, including education, housing counseling, access to budgeting workshops and specific job training. The Salvation Army seeks to meet the needs of such groups as single parents, pregnant teens, emancipated minors, disabled, and working poor. A major focus is on people with a disability in CA, and if more support is needed, finding a listing of government disability programs.

Employment services are offered at some California locations. A case worker can provide access to a computer, information on local employers, and maybe resume review and similar advice. This service is offered in California as part of job training. While limited, vouchers may be offered to pay for gasoline or bus tokens (as noted above) if you need it for a job interview. For more information on skill building programs, find California job training programs.

Seminars, meals, activities, and other programs are offered and wide ranging. Examples include day care, educational classes, free hot-lunch programs, credit counseling and pre-retirement seminars are just couple examples. Each local center will coordinate its own services.

Salvation Army locations in California

In addition to the links below to local county centers, there are other Salvation Army social services and thrift stores that help struggling people. In order to help as many people as possible across California, the Salvation Army's social service programs may vary slightly with the numerous regional and local needs. There are several city and county specific locations. The

There are multiple sites across Southern California , including in many of the cities / urban areas. While each has limited resources, including funds to help people pay bills, the charity does it best.
Or look here for northern CA Salvation Army programs for the low income. https://norcal.salvationarmy.org/northern_california/.

Alameda County

Oroville and Butte County Salvation Army assistance programs.

Contra Costa Salvation Army assistance

El Dorado County

Fresno County

Humboldt County Salvation Army

Hanford and Kings County Salvation Army

Imperial County

Kern County Salvation Army

Los Angeles County

Madera County

Marin County Salvation army assistance programs