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Local Resources
Jump to: BASIC NEEDS | CHILD NEEDS | GROCERIES ASSISTANCE
San Diego County residents can access essential resources, including diapers, groceries, breastfeeding support, and tax assistance. The County provides these services at no cost, ensuring residents can benefit from them without any financial burden. We encourage students who are San Diego residents to take advantage of these services, which can significantly enhance their quality of life.
Basic Needs
211 San Diego
211 San Diego is a non-profit organization that connects people with community, health, and disaster services through a free, 24/7, stigma-free, confidential phone service and searchable online database.
By dialing 2-1-1, callers are linked to a live, highly trained Client Service Representative (CSR) who will assess their needs and match them to their community's best and closest resource. The call is confidential and offered in more than 200 languages and dialects. 2-1-1’s highly trained CSRs, the majority of whom are Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS)-certified, provide a wide range of immediate resources to local individuals and families.
Below is a list of some financial assistance 211 can help with:
BenefitsCal Student Center
Students can apply for food, cash, and health coverage benefits. Assistance with applying for these benefits while on-campus. A county representative is available on Tuesdays from 10am-2pm at the ASI Cougar Pantry and virtually on Wednesdays.
CalWORKs
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is a welfare program that provides cash aid and services to eligible Californian families in need. CalWORKs may be able to help with housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, and immediate short-term help.
Examples of services CalWORKS can help with:
- Childcare costs
- Employment services
- Mental health services
- Substance use support
- Domestic abuse support
- Housing support and homeless assistance
Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
The California Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program helps families nationwide by providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods and referrals to health care and other community services.
WIC serves infants and children up to age 5 and people who are pregnant or have given birth or experienced pregnancy loss. Partners, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC, too.
Child Needs
Diaper Bank Program
The San Diego Food Bank and North County Food Bank chapter partners with dozens of nonprofit organizations to distribute diapers to families in need throughout San Diego County. Each location has different operating hours, and may have different eligibility criteria for diapers.
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
San Diego Couty Breastfeeding Coalition (SDCBC) is a central resource for information such as breastfeeding helplines, providers of lactation services, hospital breastfeeding services, general resources, ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) services, and WIC offices serving San Diego County.
San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List for Childcare
Parents can get help paying for child care. Families can apply to San Diego subsidized childcare programs through the San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List (CEL). The CEL is an "eligibility list" rather than a "waiting list." Families are ranked in terms of their eligibility for services rather than the time on the list.
Tax Credits
A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar amount taxpayers claim on their tax return to reduce the income tax they owe. Eligible taxpayers can use them to reduce tax bills and potentially increase refunds. As a parent or guardian of a dependent, there are five tax credits you may be eligible for:
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)
- California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
Additionally, if you make $64,000 or less in San Diego County, you may qualify for free tax filing assistance.
Groceries Assistance
Feeding San Diego
Established in 2007, Feeding San Diego is the leading hunger relief and food rescue organization in San Diego County. It has nine programs serving families and initiatives for service members and seniors. Some of these programs include:
San Diego Food Bank
The San Diego Food Bank (SDFB) and our North County Food Bank chapter partner with more than 500 organizations to help families access free and nutritious foods. Whether you prefer to receive walk-up assistance or drive-thru assistance, there is an option available for everyone. For specific information on the Food Bank program, please call 1-866-350-FOOD (3663) toll-free. Some of the SDFB programs include: