No money for textbooks or supplies

The CARE/FERA Programs are two discounts on energy bills for income qualified households.

California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): CARE offers around a 30% monthly bill discount. Qualification is based on participation in certain public assistance programs or by income guidelines.

Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA): If you're not eligible for CARE, you may qualify for an 18% monthly electric bill discount through FERA. FERA is only open to households with three or more people. Qualification is based on income guidelines.

To request an application form and more information, please contact your utility company or check out their websites for more information. Here are some of the major utility company's CARE/FERA information:

CalFresh is California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provides a debit card that can be used for food at a wide variety of stores. You qualify based on your income, family size, and other eligibility requirements. If you live outside of the state of California, it is most likely referred to as SNAP and you can learn more about your state's assistance here.

Depending on what county you live in, you can apply in different ways. Student Wellness would recommend that you can call 2-1-1 to see if they assist with applications. Applying through 2-1-1 will allow you to have a direct link to your application so that it can stay on track within the county’s system. (While you are speaking with 2-1-1 you can also ask about immediate food assistance as they can provide referrals to local providers.)

Typically CalFresh takes about 30 days to process, you may qualify for CalFresh Expedited Service (receiving benefits within 3 business days) if:

The California Bureau of Automotive Repair has "the Consumer Assistance Program’s (CAP) repair assistance option, which offers eligible consumers whose vehicles fail a biennial Smog Check inspection financial assistance toward emissions-related repairs at a STAR test-and-repair station. Owners of model year 1996 or newer vehicles may receive up to $1,200 in emissions-related repairs. Owners of model year 1976 through 1995 vehicles may receive up to $900 in emissions-related repairs."

You can go to their website to review the eligibility requirements and online application: https://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Consumer_Assistance_Program/CAP_Repair_Assistance_Program.aspx

CashCourse offers access to a wide variety of financial tools in order to help you make informed financial choices and start taking charge of your money. CashCourse covers many topics such as: borrowing, paying for education, saving, investing, spending, and earning with videos, calculators and tutorials to help you learn more about each topic.

Click here to register for a free account. When registering, select California and then National University will become a school in the drop down box.

They have various locations across the US so if you are having trouble finding a support group near you, try to reach out to your local NAMI for assistance: https://www.nami.org/findsupport

Their Childcare Assistance program is a ground-breaking and unique approach to ensuring that women veteran mothers are able to maintain employment and/or persist towards their degree. They provide childcare stipends to student or working mothers of children ages 0-5 that allows them to place their children in trusted and enriching care with any licensed childcare provider of her choosing. They also provide stipends for summer, spring break, and winter break camps for those children of veterans in grades 1 through 6 so that their care is uninterrupted during breaks in their school schedule.

If you want to learn more, review this page and then click the link for the "inquiry form" towards the bottom of the page (above the 'donate button').

They can provide emergency assistance through their Warrior Assistance program, which offers short-term, high impact financial assistance. Warrior Assistance grants may be used to cover rent, utilities, car registration, car repairs, or other necessities that will serve as a safety net when unforeseen necessary expenses or events place women veterans and their children at risk for falling into (or back into) homelessness.

Eligibility:

Computers 2 Kids (C2K) believes all children and their families in San Diego, regardless of their economic status, need to be computer literate and have equal access to technology and the crucial educational, occupational, and financial resources that technology can provide to improve their educational options and their futures. Our Technology Assistance Program recycles and refurbishes used computers and delivers them to families in need.

Our systems come with a one-year free warranty. After the first year, C2K provides lifetime technical support to our recipient families for only $20 a service call. If we cannot fix the system, we replace the system with a newer model, ensuring the family stays connected for years to come.

Fees:

Computer Technology Assistance Corps (CTAC) accepts donations of recently retired computers from businesses and individuals. Computers are then provided back to the community on a cost-recovery basis.

Fees:

Computers with Causes main goal is to provide a refurbished computer from one of our many generous donors towards an educational, needy individual, or future learning program.

Apply Today!
All applications are valid for 30 days. If you do not hear back within that time frame then you can apply again.

Please do not call. The phone line is for those donating computers.

EveryoneOn is a nonprofit dedicated to creating social and economic opportunity by connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills trainings.

You can utilize search feature to find low cost internet services and/or computer resources in your area: https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers

Human-I-T connects low-income individuals to technology (desktops, laptops, etc.) and internet. By reusing instead of recycling electronics, our team transforms e-waste into opportunities to promote digital inclusion and digital access. Click the link to view the products they currently have in stock.

This program offers student discount laptops to students, including college students. They also offer a free 4-year warranty with purchases as well. They ship laptops and devices to pretty much anywhere in the US. (please read that section as you will have to sign for it upon arrival).

The On It Foundation’s – (Opportunities Necessary to Increase Technology) mission is dedicated to providing free computers along with computer training and Internet access to low-income families with students in grades K-12 receive a free or reduced school lunch and reside within the United States. Click the link to learn more about how to apply.

Our local San Diego County CEL is here to support families in need of help paying for child care by applying for subsidized care. If you'd like to learn more about the service, read through the commonly asked questions page.

"STEP builds financial self-sufficiency among junior active duty enlisted members and recently discharged enlisted Veterans and their families facing financial crisis through counseling, education, and grants."

"STEP's Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) program focuses on ensuring you do not lose a basic need, while developing an individualized plan for your overall financial well-being now, and for the future. Your personal Social Worker, certified in Financial Counseling, will work one-on-one with your current situation, and help you get on a path to financial self-sufficiency. In some cases, a grant will be required to help get you there. They can help with: food, past due rent and mortgage payments, past due utility expenses, past due auto payments, mechanical repairs, critical baby items (for families with a solid sustainability plan)."

Emergency Financial Assistance applicants must meet three primary prerequisites:

Veterans Community Services (VCS) is a division of Community Catalysts California serving Veteran families in San Diego and Imperial Valley counties. Our primary goal is to help our nation’s military service members and Veterans transition successfully into civilian life.

Services Provided: