Community action agency California assistance programs

Assistance from community action in California

Low income families in California can receive help from their local community action agency While they have some short term emergency assistance for bills, food, home repairs, education and grants for housing, the main goal of each agency is to help people overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.

Grant money and community action agency financial assistance in CA

Assistance from community action in California.

Get help from a California community action agency near you.

Each center is a non-profit organization that is focused on helping the working poor, seniors, disabled and low income families as well as unemployed adults. Therefore, community action agencies in CA organize job training and employment services. They also help with budgeting, credit repair and financial literacy.

Each location will offer its own types of programs (categories below) , including grants money to pay bills, based on funding and resources, so it is recommended to call to get the specifics.

Financial help from California community action agencies: Help for economic stability - exiting poverty:

Community action financial help for economic stability

Education and employment services from CA community action: Help with food and nutrition:

Community action specific programs for kids and students: Assistance for seniors in California:

Local California community action near you:

Grant money and community action agency financial assistance in CA:

Education, employment assistance and job training from California community action

Many community action agencies and partnerships process applications for the: Pacific Gas and Electric Energy (PGE) Savings Assistance Program

. It can provide income qualified customers free weatherization measures, energy education, and even appliances that can help them reduce gas and electric usage and therefore save money.

For example, some programs and people may even qualify for new energy-efficient refrigerators at no charge to them. Some of the PGE weatherization measures offered may include free compact fluorescent lamps, caulking, weather-stripping, attic insulation, and installation of showerheads.

Apply at community action for the LIHEAP program , known as: Home Energy Assistance Program

Community action agency food assistance programs in California

. This federal government utility bill assistance program provides one cash grant to low-income persons for paying their energy bills. Case managers will determine customer eligibility and the exact amount of cash payment to be made to the utility company based on state of California and federal government guidelines.

A similar service is the: Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP).

This is for low-income customers, disabled people, single parents and seniors that have received a 48-hour shut off notice from their energy provider. Or emergency assistance can be paid out to those senior citizens or disabled persons that have received a 15-Day Shut Off Notice.

Not only will it help those California families with a disconnect notice, but it can also offer assistance to customers in obtaining firewood and propane. Grants may also be paid out, as funding allows, for the repair or replacement of heating systems or your air conditioner. Or even find other sources of free firewood CalWORKs is a cash aid program that helps lower income and working poor families in need because of the absence of a parent, reduction in hours or unemployment.

It is part of the national TANF benefit. A cash grant is paid out based on your family size and income.

A homeless prevention program is also part of CalWorks. Community Action Agencies often can help families with applications to it. The program may assist with everything from back rent or mortgage payments to utility bills, storage costs and more. Continue with CalWorks homeless prevention

General Assistance from CA community action is more of a last resort. The state provides cash assistance to homeless or very-low income residents who have no other means of financial support and who do not qualify for other non-profit or public aid.

This can help single people pay the bills as well as get cash for basic needs. Find government cash assistance for single people Medical bill assistance and health care can be provided by Medi-Cal

Community Action Agency programs for children, infants and students

. Case managers at your local community action agency can often refer families to this, and it cares for low-income adults, children and elderly persons. Some of the assistance programs offered by California under Medi-Cal include assistance for Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD); Long Term Care; Board and Care; Asset Waiver Medi-Cal for children; County Medical Services Program (CMSP); and Healthy Families.

Rent and Homeless Assistance

from community action

may be provided. This is for homeless people or tenants facing eviction as well as to CalWORKs beneficiaries. When a person or family is no longer homeless and finds a place to stay, the state may also offer financial assistance to help the individual with paying a security deposit and the rent for the first or the most recent, past month.

Generally, any first month’s rent assistance and eviction prevention programs are available from several federal or non-profit grant sources; therefore funds are usually limited. Most California community action agencies will also require that clients need to be able to demonstrate the ability to continue rental obligation after receiving help.

Homeless motel voucher assistance also relies on grants from different sources. Clients can be assisted under this short term program for 1 to 30 days. Importantly, any recipients must be willing to make efforts towards becoming self-sufficient over the long term in order to receive continued assistance.

Help for seniors from CA community action agencies

Local government often work with community action agencies on this service. There may be free one night emergency motel vouchers from the state or non-profits in California. They are for the homeless, migrants, women fleeing violence, or those who were evicted.

Community action financial help for economic stability:

Community action agencies in California focus on long term economic self-sufficiency . The Community Services Block Grant funds are one of the main resources offered to help families in CA exit poverty.

The grant program allows the organizations to help farm workers, the unemployed, migrants and the working poor deal with a number of situations. Funds will help those who are suffering from poverty and/or extreme educational deficits.

As part of this process, a case manager will offer an assessment of each client. You will be assigned to a specialist who will continue to case-manage clients. Advice for long term success such as household budgeting information

will be provided, as well as the possibility of emergency assistance such as rental payments, food, shelter. Or if a community action agency can’t help you, then they may offer a referral to other non-profit agencies in surrounding towns and cities.

Transportation help from: CalWORKs Emergency Payment Program is an option, including access to a car for job seekers. The government tasked with offering advocacy and cash payments to job seekers, including a free used vehicle for work, gas vouchers, bus passes and repairs. This is for people on the path to self-sufficiency.

Any aid offered is for CalWORKS participants and it needs to go towards the continuation of their educational and employment goals. Learn

Locations of California community action agencies near you

how to get free cars Free local rides in California

can be arranged. This is when a free vehicle program is not an option, and it is for short tern needs such as a ride to a job interview or first day(s) at work. Community action agencies use grants and volunteers to help people get a ride so they can make money/increase their income, and locate a free ride service near you Some local:

Community Action community action agency in CA offer: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA provides free federal and state of California tax filing services for working individuals and low income families

Education, employment assistance and job training from California community action English As A Second Language , or ESL, provides basic vocational and daily life English survival skills.

What can be addressed are skills that are directed toward communication of basic needs and wants, ability to understand simple directions, and similar services. Job Placement Assistance

is provided by many local community action agencies. Get help in locating entry-level positions in the employment fields desired by the client of the non-profit organization. Most positions will be in your local town or county. Community action agencies can help immigrants, those lacking skills, non-English speakers in California and others by helping them find great entry level jobs The primary objective of the various job programs are to help people find and secure meaningful and productive employment for lower income and/or unemployed individuals.

All clients of an agency are provided career counseling and job search skills, and can assist with helping people develop personal and vocational skills necessary for fulfilling full time or part time employment.

For more information on employment assistance in California A main program is: Family Self-Sufficiency

. This was created to assist families and individuals who are currently participating in the Section 8 housing voucher program. Almost all community action agencies administer some type of Self-Sufficiency Program, and they can help individuals find employment, case managers teach parenting and life skills.

All of this is done while participants become independent of all California government assistance over a period of time.

Other services include advocacy, guidance, and referrals for clients of a community action agency. People can be given information about local food banks, rent