Homeless Programs & Services_BOOKLET_English

Being unsheltered doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

Homeless Programs and Services Offered by

and Community Partners

Website: www.alamedasocialservices.org Customer Service Call Center: 510-263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772 @AlamedaCounty SocialServicesAgency @AlamedaCounty SocialServices @socialservices

Table of Contents Housing 2 Medical Assistance

8 Food Assistance 10 Cash Assistance 14 Children and Family Programs 17 No Cost Tax Preparation 18 Shelter Services 20 SSA Office Locations Back cover

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Housing Programs

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CalWORKs Permanent Housing/ Temporary Housing Assistance CalWORKs recipients may apply for the following homeless assistance programs: Permanent Housing Assistance is a one-time support program that provides security deposits and up to four months of rental subsidy and other housing related expenses.

Temporary Housing Assistance is a one-time support program that provides up to 16 days of hotel/motel vouchers.

HOW TO APPLY Clients must apply for or already be receiving CalWORKs in order to apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance.

To apply for CalWORKs: • Visit in person at any SSA office location • Go online: mybenefitscalwin.org To apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance: • Visit in person at any SSA office location

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CalWORKs Housing Support Program The Housing Support Program (HSP) serves CalWORKs clients who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, and are not eligible for other housing support programs.

HSP assists with housing stability, case management, housing search, and placement services. HSP can provide temporary financial rental/utility/moving assistance to participants on a short or medium-term basis.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Must be a CalWORKs recipient and • Be referred to HSP by a Social Worker or

designated staff at an SSA office location.

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Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) HDAP provides outreach, case management, disability advocacy, and housing navigation assistance to General Assistance (GA) clients who are homeless and eligible for SSI. HOW TO APPLY: You must be receiving General Assistance.

• Call 1-888-999-4772 or 510-263-2420 OR • Visit any SSA office location

5

Season of Sharing Season of Sharing provides one-time crisis-based assistance for permanent housing and critical family needs to Alameda County residents.

The program aims to help eligible households regain stability after experiencing an unforeseen emergency situation beyond their control.

To be considered, applicants must be current residents of Alameda County for at least 6 continuous months or longer and meet one of the following criteria:

• Seniors age 55 and older; • Permanently disabled individuals; • Low to moderate income families with

dependent children age 18 and under;

• Emancipated foster youth, ages 18-24; • Veterans; • Victims of domestic violence or

violent crimes within the past 6 months; or

• Pregnant women in their second trimester.

HOW TO APPLY: To initiate an inquiry, call the automated pre-screening line at 510-272-3700. If you meet basic criteria for consideration, Intake Staff will contact you for additional screening.

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Youth Transitions Partnership (YTP) YTP provides intensive case management, skills coaching, case coordination, and access to services for current and former foster care youth age 14 and older in Alameda County who are facing a challenging transition to adulthood that may include homelessness and unstable housing.

HOW TO INQUIRE: • Call 510-272-0979 • Email info@firstplaceforyouth.org

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Medical Assistance Programs Medi-Cal – Health Care Access Provides free or low-cost health coverage for children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities with limited income and resources.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location • By mail: Call 510-777-2300 or 1-800-698-1118 (toll free) to request a Medi-Cal Mail-In Application and Instructions booklet.

• Online: mybenefitscalwin.org or through Covered California at CoveredCa.com

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Area Agency on Aging Prevents isolation, premature institutionalization, abuse, and negative health outcomes for seniors (age 60 or over).

Services include: Adult Day Care, Case Management, Community Services, Disease Prevention, Elder Abuse Prevention, Family Caregiver Support, Health Promotion, Health Insurance, Counseling and Advocacy Services (HICAP), Information & Assistance, Legal Services, Nutrition Programs, Ombudsman Program, Senior Employment, Senior Injury Prevention.

HOW TO INQUIRE: Call Senior Information and Assistance at 1-800-510-2020 or 510-577-3530.

For more info: Email to seniorinfo@acgov.org with your name to be added to the AAA email list and receive updates on senior services and events in Alameda County.

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Food Assistance Programs

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CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps) - Nutritional Assistance CalFresh provides monthly nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families to purchase healthy food. CalFresh benefits are accessed using an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location • By phone: 1-888-999-4772 or 510-263-2420 • Online: mybenefitscalwin.org

California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) - Nutritional Assistance State-funded assistance for qualified non-citizens, who do not qualify for federal benefits, to purchase nutritious food.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location • By phone: 1-888-999-4772 or 510-263-2420 • Online: mybenefitscalwin.org For more info: Website: https://california-foodstamps.org

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Farmers Markets - Market Match Many farmers markets across Alameda County are set up to accept CalFresh EBT cards through Market Match. Market Match is a federallyfunded nutrition incentive program that doubles the value of CalFresh purchases at participating farmers markets up to a certain amount.

HOW TO INQUIRE: You must be receiving CalFresh to participate.

Find farmers markets that accept EBT and operate a Market Match program at www.fmfinder.org

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Restaurant Meals Program The Restaurant Meals Program allows homeless, elderly (age 60 or over), and disabled CalFresh recipients to use CalFresh benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.

Participating restaurants will display a sign indicating they are an Alameda County Restaurant Meal location.

HOW TO APPLY: You must be receiving CalFresh to participate.

If you are eligible, Social Services can activate your current EBT card for this service. For more information, call 510-263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772 or visit one of our offices.

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Cash Assistance Programs

General Assistance This County-funded loan program provides cash assistance to single adults, married couples without dependent children, and emancipated minors. GA applicants and recipients may also be eligible for additional employment, food, and medical assistance.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location

CalWORKs (California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities to Kids) Time-limited cash aid, as well as employment support services, or homeless services based on individual and family income, to eligible families that have a child(ren) in the home.

CalWORKs recipients, unless exempt, are required to participate in Welfare-to-Work (WtW) activities or be employed for 20 hours per week for singleparent families with a child under age six; 30 hours per week for single-parent families with no child under age six; and 35 hours per week for twoparent families.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location • Online: mybenefitscalwin.org

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Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) CAPI provides benefits for legal non-citizens in financial need who are ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to their immigrant status.

Eligibility: Blind or disabled immigrants of any age or seniors aged 65 and older, who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) due to their immigration status, may be eligible to receive CAPI. Eligibility is dependent on individual circumstances. To be eligible, applicants must have limited to no income, combined assets at less than $2,000 if single, and no more than $3,000 if married.

HOW TO APPLY: • In person at any SSA office location For more info: Recorded info: Call 1-800-648-0954 or 510-268-2332.

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Children and Family Programs Department of Children and Family Services Emergency Response / Child Abuse Hotline Number for County Child Protective Services: 24 Hour Hotline: 510-259-1800 The hotline responds to law enforcement, hospitals, mandated reporters, and the general public when any of these entities calls to report child abuse or to get information. The hotline also provides consultation on potential referrals and provides information about community services.

During regular business hours (7:30 am - 5:30 pm weekdays), hotline referrals and reports regarding children alleged to be endangered by abuse, neglect, or exploitation are received at the ER screening unit.

After hours (7:00 pm - 7:00 am) and on weekends/holidays, hotline calls are received at Eden Information and Referral (Eden I & R) and referred to After-hours Workers.

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No Cost Tax Preparation Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program No cost tax preparation services are available to Social Service Agency clients and low-income individuals and households throughout Alameda County. Our IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers help ensure that low-income taxpayers receive every credit and deduction that they have earned.

The VITA program operates annually from late January until mid-April.

HOW TO APPLY: Appointments are required at SSA tax preparation sites. Go online to schedule: https://alamedasocialservices.org/eitc.cfm For more info: • Call 510-271-9141 • Email vita.eitc@acgov.org

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Shelter Services

Offered by Community Partners

ONLINE RESOURCE FINDER 211alamedacounty.org Search by city for housing, transportation, food, health, and human services offered by government and community providers in Alameda County.

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Abode Services 510-657-7409 • abodeservices.org

(510) 649-4965 • bfhp.org Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency 510-649-1930 self-sufficiency.org Building Futures 24-Hour Toll-Free Crisis Line: 1-866-A-WAY-OUT 1-866-292-9688 bfwc.org 21

Shelter Services

Offered by Community Partners Convenant House California 510-379-1010 covenanthousecalifornia.org

East Oakland Community Project 510-532-3211 • eocp.net Family Emergency Shelter Coalition 510-581-3223 fescofamilyshelter.org

1-844-249-2698 • loveneverfailsus.com 22

24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-888-339-SAFE rubysplace.org The Salvation Army (Garden Street Center, Oakland) 510-437-9437 alameda.salvationarmy.org Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 510-794-6055 save-dv.org 24-Hour Crisis Line: 925-449-5842 or 1-800-884-8119 trivalleyhaven.org 23

OFFICE LOCATIONS Hours of Operation Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm North County Self-Sufficiency Center 2000 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA 94612

Eden Area Multi-Service Center 24100 Amador St. Hayward, CA 94544

Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center 6955 Foothill Blvd., Suite 100 Oakland, CA 94605

Fremont Office 39155 Liberty St., Suite C330 Fremont, CA 94536

Enterprise Self-Sufficiency Center 8477 Enterprise Way Oakland, CA 94621

Livermore Office 2481 Constitution Drive, Suite B Livermore CA 94551

Website: www.alamedasocialservices.org Customer Service Call Center: 510-263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772