California assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in California
California residents may be able to get help with food, utilities, housing, healthcare, child care, cash assistance, work, legal concerns, phone costs, aging and disability needs, disaster recovery, and crisis support. Many programs are administered by county agencies or local providers, so begin with the statewide portal or locator that matches the problem you are trying to solve.
Money Fit serves California residents statewide. Nonprofit credit counseling is available by phone and online throughout California. Debt Reduction Services, Inc., operating as Money Fit, is registered with the California Secretary of State under registration no. C2650772.
Where to start
You do not need to know the exact program name before asking for help. Choose the starting point that most closely matches what is happening now.
Applying for public benefits
BenefitsCal is California's main online portal for CalFresh food assistance, CalWORKs cash aid, Medi-Cal, and other county-administered benefits.
Open BenefitsCalFinding nearby help
Call 211 or search by location for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, employment, family services, and crisis support.
Search 211 CaliforniaContacting the correct county
County social services agencies handle applications, case questions, interviews, documents, General Assistance, and many local benefit programs.
Find a county officeCounty routing matters in California. BenefitsCal can start or manage many applications, but county agencies make eligibility decisions and administer CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance or General Relief, Medi-Cal cases, housing support, and other services.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with CalFresh or WIC when it fits your household. For food needed sooner, use the statewide food-bank network or call 211.
CalFresh food assistance
CalFresh provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible California households through an EBT card. Applications, renewals, document uploads, and case information can be handled through BenefitsCal or a county social services office.
CalFresh information line: 877-847-3663
California WIC
WIC provides healthy food, nutrition guidance, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC offices handle appointments and enrollment.
California WIC: 800-852-5770
California food-bank network
California Food Banks can direct residents to the regional food bank serving their area. Local food banks may provide pantry locations, mobile distributions, meal programs, emergency groceries, and CalFresh application help.
Housing, rent, and utility help
California housing and utility assistance is divided among local energy agencies, county welfare departments, public housing authorities, legal-aid organizations, and homelessness systems. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
LIHEAP and weatherization
LIHEAP may provide a one-time energy payment or other assistance for eligible households. Weatherization programs may help reduce energy use through qualifying home improvements. Applications go through the provider serving the household's city or county.
Provider help line: 866-675-6623
CARE and FERA
CARE may reduce qualifying electric and natural-gas bills. FERA may provide an electricity discount to families whose income is above the CARE limit but within FERA guidelines. Applications are handled through the participating utility.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing agencies. Waiting lists may be closed, and households may need to check more than one nearby agency.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Homeless and housing assistance for CalWORKs families
Eligible CalWORKs families experiencing or at risk of homelessness may be able to receive temporary shelter, moving help, rental support, housing search assistance, or related services through county programs.
Emergency shelter, eviction, and tenant support
Call 211 for nearby shelter, rent assistance, utility help, homelessness services, and coordinated-entry contacts. LawHelpCA can direct residents to local civil legal-aid providers, while California Courts explains eviction notices, response deadlines, and court procedures.
Avoid old pandemic-era rental-assistance links. California's former statewide COVID-19 rent-relief program is no longer a current application route. Use 211, a county or city program, a local housing authority, CalWORKs housing support when applicable, or legal aid.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Medi-Cal applications can be started through BenefitsCal, Covered California, or a county office. Covered California also screens applicants for marketplace savings when Medi-Cal is not the correct program.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal provides no-cost or low-cost health coverage to eligible California residents. Applications, renewals, and case management can be handled through BenefitsCal, Covered California, or a county social services office.
Covered California
Covered California determines whether applicants may qualify for Medi-Cal, premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, or a private marketplace plan. Enrollment periods depend on the type of coverage and qualifying events.
Service Center: 800-300-1506
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and other services. Fees are generally based on ability to pay, but services and appointment availability differ by location.
Some Medi-Cal eligibility rules changed in 2026. Current rules affect certain adults based on immigration status and other circumstances. Use the current Department of Health Care Services guidance or speak with the county rather than relying on older eligibility summaries. Review current Medi-Cal changes.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
California cash assistance and subsidized child care are administered through county agencies and local child care resource and referral organizations.
CalWORKs
CalWORKs provides temporary cash aid and services to eligible families with children. County programs may also offer employment services, child care, housing support, and other help connected to the family's plan.
Subsidized child care programs
California offers several child care subsidy programs for eligible families, including programs connected to CalWORKs and other state-funded child care. Availability and application routing depend on the county, family situation, and local agency.
Child Care Education Hotline: 800-543-7793
General Assistance or General Relief
California counties operate General Assistance or General Relief for adults who cannot support themselves through income, other public benefits, or another assistance program. Payment amounts, eligibility rules, and application methods differ across all 58 counties.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
California unemployment insurance
Unemployment benefits provide temporary income to eligible workers who lose work or have hours reduced through no fault of their own. The fastest application route is through myEDD.
English and Spanish: 800-300-5616
America's Job Center of California
AJCC locations provide no-cost job-search help, training referrals, career guidance, employer connections, and access to workforce services. CalJOBS provides statewide online job-search tools.
LawHelpCA
Search for free or low-cost civil legal services involving housing, public benefits, debt collection, family matters, employment, healthcare, immigration, and other covered issues. Help and representation are not guaranteed.
California LifeLine
California LifeLine may reduce the cost of qualifying home or cell phone service. Households may qualify through income or participation in an eligible public-assistance program, and enrollment starts through an approved provider.
General information: 866-272-0357
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
California provides county-based navigation for aging and disability services, in-home care, caregiver support, transportation, meals, Medicare counseling, long-term services, and certain cash-assistance programs.
California Aging and Adult Information Line
The statewide line routes older adults and caregivers to the Area Agency on Aging serving their location. Local programs may include meals, transportation, caregiver support, legal help, benefits counseling, and other community services.
Phone: 800-510-2020
In-Home Supportive Services
IHSS may help eligible older adults, blind residents, and people with disabilities remain safely at home by authorizing qualifying personal care, household, accompaniment, and related services. Applications go to the county IHSS office.
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
CAPI may provide monthly cash benefits to eligible aged, blind, or disabled noncitizens who cannot receive SSI or SSP solely because of immigration status. County social services agencies handle applications.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide concerns, substance use, or another behavioral health crisis. Support is available 24 hours a day.
Local domestic violence organizations
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence maintains a map of local organizations and hotlines. The National Domestic Violence Hotline also provides confidential support, safety planning, and referrals 24 hours a day.
National hotline: 800-799-7233
Report elder or dependent-adult abuse
California Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation involving adults age 60 or older and dependent adults. The statewide hotline routes callers to the correct county.
Hotline: 833-401-0832
211 California
Call 211 for free referrals to local food, shelter, utility, healthcare, transportation, family, disaster, and crisis programs. Online search coverage and contact methods may vary by county.
California and federal disaster assistance
The California Disaster Help Center provides current guidance on shelter, food benefits, county housing support, unemployment, document replacement, and other services after wildfires or natural disasters. FEMA assistance is available only for eligible losses connected to an active federal disaster declaration.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with one urgent cost while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help California residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may be discussed when it fits the budget and eligible unsecured debts. It is not a new loan or debt settlement, and creditor participation and concessions can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
