California Financial Help
California Financial Help & Basic Needs Directory
A statewide directory of financial assistance, benefits, and basic-needs programs across California. Some providers specialize in serving people returning from incarceration or under supervision; others are general safety-net resources that must be approved by your supervising authority before use.
Statewide & Online
Coverage: All California counties (online / statewide programs)
✅ Verified Reentry & Justice-Focused Support
Root & Rebound – Reentry Legal & Benefits Navigation
Statewide nonprofit assisting justice-involved individuals with benefits access, fines and fees, ID recovery, employment barriers, and reentry planning.
Statewide nonprofit assisting justice-involved individuals with benefits access, fines and fees, ID recovery, employment barriers, and reentry planning.
Website: rootandrebound.org
Statewide
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
Paid transitional employment program offering immediate income, job coaching, and stability supports for people returning from incarceration.
Paid transitional employment program offering immediate income, job coaching, and stability supports for people returning from incarceration.
Phone: (212) 422-4433 · ceoworks.org
Multi-county
CalAIM – Justice-Involved Community Supports
Through Medi-Cal, eligible justice-involved individuals may receive housing navigation, transportation, meals, and care coordination depending on county and health plan.
Through Medi-Cal, eligible justice-involved individuals may receive housing navigation, transportation, meals, and care coordination depending on county and health plan.
Ask your Medi-Cal plan about “CalAIM justice-involved supports”
Statewide
🛠️ Eligible Statewide Benefits & Referrals
BenefitsCal
Official portal to apply for CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Assistance in most California counties.
Official portal to apply for CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Assistance in most California counties.
Online
GetCalFresh
Mobile-friendly CalFresh application assistance with reminders and document uploads.
Mobile-friendly CalFresh application assistance with reminders and document uploads.
Online
211 California
Statewide referral system for food, rent, utilities, transportation, and emergency aid.
Statewide referral system for food, rent, utilities, transportation, and emergency aid.
Dial 2-1-1 · 211ca.org
Statewide
Los Angeles County
County: Los Angeles
✅ Verified Reentry & Justice-Linked Support
DOORS Community Reentry Center (JCOD)
Los Angeles County–run reentry hub providing benefits navigation, ID assistance, employment referrals, and connections to emergency financial and basic-needs support for people leaving county custody or under supervision.
Los Angeles County–run reentry hub providing benefits navigation, ID assistance, employment referrals, and connections to emergency financial and basic-needs support for people leaving county custody or under supervision.
Phone: (213) 744-9600 · Search “DOORS Community Reentry Center LA”
Los Angeles
LA County Probation – AB 109 & Day Reporting Centers
Probation-linked reentry centers serving AB 109 and other supervised populations. Many locations provide bus passes, benefit referrals, work clothing, and connections to housing and financial assistance through partner agencies.
Probation-linked reentry centers serving AB 109 and other supervised populations. Many locations provide bus passes, benefit referrals, work clothing, and connections to housing and financial assistance through partner agencies.
Ask your probation officer about local DRC locations
Multiple locations
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
Reentry organization offering stipends, emergency financial assistance, employment placement, and long-term support for people returning from incarceration.
Reentry organization offering stipends, emergency financial assistance, employment placement, and long-term support for people returning from incarceration.
Website: antirecidivism.org
Los Angeles
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & Safety-Net
LA County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, and emergency assistance. Many applicants are on probation or parole; disclose supervision status if relevant.
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, and emergency assistance. Many applicants are on probation or parole; disclose supervision status if relevant.
Phone: (866) 613-3777 · dpss.lacounty.gov
Countywide
211 LA
Referral service for food banks, rental and utility assistance, clothing closets, and transportation programs across Los Angeles County.
Referral service for food banks, rental and utility assistance, clothing closets, and transportation programs across Los Angeles County.
Dial 2-1-1 · 211la.org
Countywide
Bay Area & Northern California
Counties: San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Sonoma
✅ Verified Reentry Resource Centers
San Francisco Adult Probation – Reentry Services
Provides benefits navigation, emergency assistance referrals, and coordinated reentry planning for adults on probation in San Francisco.
Provides benefits navigation, emergency assistance referrals, and coordinated reentry planning for adults on probation in San Francisco.
Ask your probation officer about Reentry Division supports
San Francisco
Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center
One-stop reentry hub offering ID help, employment referrals, benefits enrollment assistance, and connections to housing and food programs.
One-stop reentry hub offering ID help, employment referrals, benefits enrollment assistance, and connections to housing and food programs.
Phone: (408) 808-0400 · Search “Santa Clara Reentry Resource Center”
Santa Clara County
Contra Costa Reentry Network
County-supported reentry coalitions connecting justice-involved residents to employment, benefits, food assistance, and emergency financial support.
County-supported reentry coalitions connecting justice-involved residents to employment, benefits, food assistance, and emergency financial support.
Ask Contra Costa Probation or Public Defender for referrals
Contra Costa County
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & 211
San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA)
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, and local emergency assistance. Many reentry programs help clients apply through HSA.
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, and local emergency assistance. Many reentry programs help clients apply through HSA.
San Francisco
Bay Area 211 Services
Regional 211 systems help locate food pantries, rental assistance, utility relief, and transportation programs across Bay Area counties.
Regional 211 systems help locate food pantries, rental assistance, utility relief, and transportation programs across Bay Area counties.
Dial 2-1-1 from your county
Regional
Sacramento & North Valley
Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, Shasta, Nevada and surrounding areas
✅ Verified Reentry & Supervision-Linked Support
Sacramento County Probation – Reentry & Day Reporting Programs
Probation-linked reentry and day reporting programs offering benefits navigation, transportation assistance, referrals to food and emergency financial help, and coordination with county and nonprofit partners.
Probation-linked reentry and day reporting programs offering benefits navigation, transportation assistance, referrals to food and emergency financial help, and coordination with county and nonprofit partners.
Ask your probation officer about available reentry or DRC supports
Sacramento County
Yolo County Reentry & Day Reporting Programs
County-supported reentry services assisting justice-involved adults with benefit enrollment, housing referrals, transportation help, and basic-needs support.
County-supported reentry services assisting justice-involved adults with benefit enrollment, housing referrals, transportation help, and basic-needs support.
Contact Yolo County Probation for current program locations
Yolo County
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) – Sacramento Region
Paid transitional work program for people returning from incarceration, offering immediate wages, job coaching, and referrals to benefits and financial supports.
Paid transitional work program for people returning from incarceration, offering immediate wages, job coaching, and referrals to benefits and financial supports.
Sacramento
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & 211
Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance (DHA)
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid. Many applicants are on probation or parole; disclose supervision status when required.
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid. Many applicants are on probation or parole; disclose supervision status when required.
Phone: (916) 874-3100 · dha.saccounty.gov
Sacramento County
211 – North Valley Counties
Connects callers to food pantries, rental assistance, utility relief, clothing programs, and transportation help across North Valley counties.
Connects callers to food pantries, rental assistance, utility relief, clothing programs, and transportation help across North Valley counties.
Dial 2-1-1
Regional
Central Valley & Central Coast
Counties: Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
✅ Verified Reentry Programs with Basic-Needs Support
Turning Point of Central California
Large reentry provider serving the Central Valley with housing assistance, benefit navigation, emergency financial help, and employment support for justice-involved adults.
Large reentry provider serving the Central Valley with housing assistance, benefit navigation, emergency financial help, and employment support for justice-involved adults.
Phone: (559) 233-5096 · tpocc.org
Fresno & surrounding counties
Fresno County Probation – Reentry Services
Probation-supported reentry programs assisting clients with benefit enrollment, transportation support, and referrals to food and emergency financial resources.
Probation-supported reentry programs assisting clients with benefit enrollment, transportation support, and referrals to food and emergency financial resources.
Ask your probation officer about reentry referrals
Fresno County
Monterey County Reentry Resource Programs
County-supported reentry coordinators and partners connecting justice-involved residents to food assistance, housing navigation, and financial stability programs.
County-supported reentry coordinators and partners connecting justice-involved residents to food assistance, housing navigation, and financial stability programs.
Contact Monterey County Probation or Health Dept.
Monterey County
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & Community Supports
County Human Services / Social Services Offices
Human Services departments administer CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid across Central Valley and Central Coast counties.
Human Services departments administer CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid across Central Valley and Central Coast counties.
Apply via BenefitsCal.com
Multi-county
211 – Central Valley & Central Coast
Local 211 systems provide referrals to food banks, rental assistance, utility relief, and transportation programs by ZIP code.
Local 211 systems provide referrals to food banks, rental assistance, utility relief, and transportation programs by ZIP code.
Dial 2-1-1
Regional
Inland Empire & Orange County
Counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange
✅ Verified Reentry-Oriented Basic-Needs Support
LightHouse Social Service Centers
Inland Empire nonprofit serving homeless and justice-involved adults with housing navigation, benefits assistance, emergency food, transportation help, and case management.
Inland Empire nonprofit serving homeless and justice-involved adults with housing navigation, benefits assistance, emergency food, transportation help, and case management.
Phone: (951) 778-0490 · lsscs.org
Riverside & San Bernardino
San Bernardino County Reentry Initiative
County-supported reentry programs assisting individuals leaving custody or on probation with benefit enrollment, employment referrals, and basic-needs support.
County-supported reentry programs assisting individuals leaving custody or on probation with benefit enrollment, employment referrals, and basic-needs support.
Ask probation about local reentry hubs
San Bernardino County
Orange County Justice-Involved Services (HCA)
OC Health Care Agency programs for justice-involved adults, connecting clients to housing navigation, benefits, and community-based financial supports.
OC Health Care Agency programs for justice-involved adults, connecting clients to housing navigation, benefits, and community-based financial supports.
Orange County
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & 211
Riverside & San Bernardino County Human Services
County social services departments administering CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid.
County social services departments administering CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and emergency aid.
Apply via BenefitsCal.com
Inland Empire
211 – Inland Empire
Connects callers to food banks, rental assistance, utility relief, transportation help, and clothing resources.
Connects callers to food banks, rental assistance, utility relief, transportation help, and clothing resources.
Dial 2-1-1
Regional
San Diego & Imperial Counties
Counties: San Diego, Imperial
✅ Verified Reentry & Care Coordination
San Diego County Reentry Services
County-supported reentry and justice-involved programs connecting individuals to housing navigation, CalAIM supports, benefits enrollment, and emergency assistance.
County-supported reentry and justice-involved programs connecting individuals to housing navigation, CalAIM supports, benefits enrollment, and emergency assistance.
Ask probation or parole about reentry referrals
San Diego County
Second Chance Program – San Diego
Community-based reentry organization supporting formerly incarcerated individuals with employment readiness, benefit access, and financial stability coaching.
Community-based reentry organization supporting formerly incarcerated individuals with employment readiness, benefit access, and financial stability coaching.
San Diego
🛠️ Eligible County Benefits & 211
San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA)
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, and emergency basic-needs programs for eligible residents.
Administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, and emergency basic-needs programs for eligible residents.
San Diego County
211 – San Diego & Imperial
Regional 211 system connecting callers to food, rental assistance, utilities help, shelters, and transportation programs.
Regional 211 system connecting callers to food, rental assistance, utilities help, shelters, and transportation programs.
Dial 2-1-1
Regional
Verification & supervision notice: Listings marked ✅ Verified are programs that publicly describe serving justice-involved individuals or operate as county-supported reentry hubs. Eligibility, funding, and capacity change frequently.
- Always call ahead to confirm acceptance of people on probation or parole.
- Ask whether benefits affect restitution, fines, or court-ordered payments.
- Get approval from your supervising authority before relying on any program.
OACRA is informational only: OACRA does not provide legal advice, financial aid, or eligibility determinations. We organize public information so individuals can make informed decisions with their probation officer, attorney, or court.
Providers: Offer financial help, benefits navigation, or basic-needs services in California for justice-involved individuals? Contact contact@oacra.app to request review or updates.
