Homeless Assistance in California
Locate emergency shelters, federal programs, state assistance, financial aid, healthcare, and employment support available to California residents.
Emergency Housing & Shelter
Immediate options for California residents who need a safe place to stay tonight.
Emergency Shelters
Find available shelter beds tonight across California. Call 211 for real-time availability and directions to the nearest open shelter in your area.
Get StartedFamily & Youth Shelters
Specialized shelters for families with children and unaccompanied youth in California. Safe environments with case management and wraparound support.
Get StartedVeterans Emergency Housing
Dedicated emergency housing for California veterans. HUD-VASH vouchers and VA-funded supportive services are available statewide. Call 1-877-4AID-VET.
Get StartedFederal Assistance Programs
Federal programs available to eligible California residents regardless of city or county.
HUD Continuum of Care
Primary federal program organizing housing and services for homeless individuals in California. CoC regions provide transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Get StartedEmergency Solutions Grants
Funds emergency shelters, street outreach, homeless prevention, and rapid re-housing. California receives federal ESG funding distributed through local providers.
Get StartedHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Rental assistance vouchers for very low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals. Apply through your local California Public Housing Authority.
Get StartedHUD-VASH (Veterans)
Combines Section 8 housing vouchers with VA supportive services for veterans experiencing homelessness. Available across multiple California locations.
Get StartedPATH Program (Mental Health)
Outreach, case management, and mental health support for homeless individuals. Operated through California community mental health centers statewide.
Get StartedSNAP Food Assistance
Helps low-income California residents buy food. Apply at your local benefits office. No permanent address required to apply.
Get StartedCalifornia State Programs
Programs funded or operated specifically by California for residents experiencing homelessness.
CalWORKs (TANF)
California’s TANF program providing cash assistance, childcare, and employment services to eligible families. Apply at your county social services office.
Get StartedCalifornia HHAP (Homeless Housing Aid)
Flexible state funding to local governments to develop local solutions to homelessness including shelter, housing, and services.
Get StartedMedi-Cal (California Medicaid)
California’s Medicaid program covering millions of low-income Californians. Apply at benefitscal.com or any county social services office.
Get StartedCalifornia Housing Programs
California Department of Housing & Community Development provides affordable housing resources, rental assistance, and housing grants for low-income California residents.
Get StartedCalifornia Workforce & Employment
Free job training, resume help, and career placement through California’s Workforce Development programs. Find your nearest office at the link below.
Get StartedLIHEAP Energy Assistance
Helps low-income California households pay heating and cooling bills. Distributed through local community action agencies. Call 211 to find your provider.
Get StartedLocal Resources by City
Major California cities with dedicated homeless services and housing authorities.
Los Angeles
LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) — homeless services, shelter placement, and housing assistance for Los Angeles area residents experiencing homelessness.
Get StartedSan Francisco
SF Dept. of Homelessness — emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing services for individuals and families in the San Francisco area.
Get StartedSan Diego
Regional Task Force on Homelessness — housing resources, case management, and emergency assistance for San Diego area residents experiencing homelessness.
Get StartedFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about getting homeless assistance in California.
- HUD-VASH — Section 8 vouchers specifically for veterans with VA case management
- SSVF — Rapid re-housing and prevention for veteran families
- California Veterans Housing — Affordable housing and support for California veterans
Assistance by State
Select a state to view its specific homeless assistance programs and resources.
Local directories
Browse homeless resources by city in California
Explore 143 NHREA city directories across California. Each directory collects published local listings and links back to statewide assistance.
- Alturas1 resource
- Anaheim6 resources
- Antioch1 resource
- Arcata1 resource
- Atascadero2 resources
- Atwater1 resource
- Bakersfield14 resources
- Bell1 resource
- Berkeley7 resources
- Boron1 resource
- Boulder Creek1 resource
- Buena Park2 resources
- Burbank1 resource
- Cambria1 resource
- Carlsbad1 resource
- Carson1 resource
- Cedarpines Park1 resource
- Chico4 resources
- City of Industry1 resource
- Colton1 resource
- Compton1 resource
- Concord4 resources
- Costa Mesa3 resources
- Covina1 resource
- Culver City1 resource
- Cupertino1 resource
- Dinuba1 resource
- East Los Angeles3 resources
- El Monte1 resource
- Encinitas1 resource
- Escondido1 resource
- Eureka1 resource
- Fairfield2 resources
- Felton1 resource
- Folsom1 resource
- Fremont2 resources
- Fresno17 resources
- FULLERTON3 resources
- Fulton1 resource
- Garden Grove3 resources
- Gilroy1 resource
- Glendale2 resources
- Granada Hills1 resource
- Grover Beach1 resource
- Half Moon Bay1 resource
- Hanford2 resources
- Hawaiian Gardens1 resource
- Hawthorne1 resource
- Hayward1 resource
- Hollister1 resource
- Huntington Beach1 resource
- Indio2 resources
- Inglewood2 resources
- Irvine4 resources
- Jackson2 resources
- Laguna Beach1 resource
- Laguna Woods1 resource
- Lancaster4 resources
- Leimert Park1 resource
- Long Beach7 resources
- Los Alamitos1 resource
- Los Angeles141 resources
- Lynwood1 resource
- Madera2 resources
- Manteca3 resources
- Marina1 resource
- Mariposa3 resources
- Menlo Park1 resource
- Merced3 resources
- Milpitas3 resources
- Modesto8 resources
- Monrovia2 resources
- Montebello1 resource
- Monterey3 resources
- Mountain View1 resource
- North Hollywood2 resources
- Novato2 resources
- Oakland4 resources
- Oceanside1 resource
- Orland1 resource
- Oxnard2 resources
- Pacific Grove1 resource
- Pacifica1 resource
- Paramount1 resource
- Parlier1 resource
- Pasadena6 resources
- Pescadero1 resource
- Placentia2 resources
- Pleasant Hill1 resource
- Pleasanton1 resource
- Pomona1 resource
- Porterville3 resources
- Rancho Cucamonga2 resources
- Red Bluff2 resources
- Redding2 resources
- Redlands3 resources
- Redwood City2 resources
- Richmond1 resource
- Riverside3 resources
- Roseville2 resources
- Sacramento21 resources
- Salinas2 resources
- San Bernardino3 resources
- San Diego18 resources
- San Fernando1 resource
- San Francisco32 resources
- San Gabriel1 resource
- San Jose21 resources
- San Leandro1 resource
- San Luis Obispo4 resources
- San Marcos1 resource
- San Mateo2 resources
- San Pedro1 resource
- San Rafael2 resources
- Santa Ana4 resources
- Santa Barbara3 resources
- Santa Clara1 resource
- Santa Cruz6 resources
- Santa Monica4 resources
- Santa Rosa3 resources
- Seaside1 resource
- Sonora3 resources
- South Lake Tahoe1 resource
- Stockton7 resources
- Sunnyvale1 resource
- Sylmar1 resource
- Temecula1 resource
- Thousand Oaks2 resources
- Thousand Palms1 resource
- Tracy2 resources
- Tulare3 resources
- Turlock2 resources
- Tustin1 resource
- Upland2 resources
- Vallejo1 resource
- Venice1 resource
- Victorville2 resources
- Visalia9 resources
- Walnut Creek1 resource
- Watsonville1 resource
- Whittier4 resources
- Woodland3 resources
- Yuba City1 resource
