Sacramento County is home to various faith-based or church-affiliated community programs that offer emergency assistance, housing support, help with utility payments, food, and essential daily necessities. Since the funds managed by these organizations are generally subject to availability, it is recommended that you call ahead or check local guidelines.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Diocesan Council of Sacramento
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Diocesan Council of Sacramento) operates as a network of local volunteer groups—referred to as “conferences”—based in Catholic parishes throughout Sacramento County. Their primary focus is providing direct, person-to-person aid to families experiencing financial crises.
How to Request Assistance
To request help with bill payments, rent, or basic needs, you must contact their central assistance line:
Assistance Phone Number: 916-572-7553
How it works: When you call, please leave a clear message stating your full name, phone number, and your exact ZIP code or the major cross-streets nearest to your home.
Home Visit: Because the organization is decentralized, the central office will forward your message to the volunteer group closest to your home. These volunteers (known as “Vincentians”) will contact you to conduct an assessment or schedule a home visit to provide the necessary resources.
Services Offered
Assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the funds available at the parish conference in your area. Support typically includes:
Housing and Utility Assistance: Emergency financial aid (partial) for overdue rent, security deposits, or utility bills (such as those for SMUD or PG&E), aimed at preventing individuals from losing their housing or experiencing an interruption in essential utility services. Basic necessities: Vouchers for clothing, bedding, mattresses, and essential household furniture.
Food security: Immediate provision of groceries, supermarket gift cards, or referrals to a parish-run food bank.
Transportation support: Limited assistance in the form of public transit passes or fuel cards, intended to facilitate travel to essential medical appointments or to a workplace.
Information regarding the Central Council and the Thrift Store
While emergency financial assistance is managed exclusively through the 916 helpline, the Central Council oversees regional programs, vehicle donations, and retail operations:
Central Council Main Office: 7171 Harms Way, Sacramento, CA 95823
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store: 2275 Watt Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825 (Proceeds from thrift store sales directly fund the community assistance programs administered by local parish conferences.)
The Salvation Army of Sacramento Metro
The Salvation Army of the Sacramento metropolitan area coordinates emergency services for low-income individuals, including housing stabilization programs, utility payment assistance, and emergency shelters throughout Sacramento County.
How to Access Family Services (Rent and Utilities)
All essential financial aid and emergency resources must be accessed through their centralized intake phone line:
Centralized Helpline: 916-678-4010 (select option 2)
Intake Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tip: Funds are allocated based on strict monthly quotas. It is highly recommended to call first thing in the morning at the beginning of each month, before funds are exhausted.
Key Programs and Eligibility Criteria
Family Services Office (North Highlands): Serves as the primary hub for the distribution of aid, emergency supplies, and housing-related case management.
Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention: Provides small grants to cover shortfalls in rent payments. Applicants must submit a current lease agreement, the landlord’s W-9 form, a formal “3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit,” and verifiable documentation of recent financial hardship.
Food Box and Diaper Distribution: Food distribution takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eligible low-income families may also receive vouchers for diapers.
- Location and Hours: 3213 Orange Grove Ave, North Highlands, CA 95660. Administrative hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Alhambra Community Center and Campus: Serves as the primary hub for utility assistance strategies aimed at low-income individuals in the metropolitan area.
SMUD Residential Energy Assistance: Manages local energy bill assistance grants designed to help Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) customers who have outstanding balances and are at risk of service disconnection.
Note: These grants cannot be used for security deposits or to cover reconnection fees.
- Location and Hours: 2550 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95817. Open Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“Center of Hope” Emergency Shelter: Provides crisis shelter services and transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Emergency and Transitional Housing: Offers short-term emergency shelter spaces, along with structured housing programs. This includes the “E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center,” which features 34 units and provides safe accommodation, as well as case management for up to two years, to help families transition into stable housing.
- Location: 1200 N B St, Sacramento, CA 95811. Operates 24 hours a day.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is a non-profit organization—supported by a robust logistics network—dedicated to providing essential human services and hunger relief throughout Sacramento County. As an official member agency of Catholic Charities of California, the organization serves more than 320,000 residents each month through an extensive, decentralized network.
Contact & Central Facility Information
Central Phone Line: 916-456-1980
Primary Distribution Campus: 1951 Bell Ave, Sacramento, CA 95838
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Direct Assistance and Family Support Programs
Food Assistance and Partner Pantry Network: SFBFS serves as the primary food bank for the county, supplying fresh produce, groceries, and essential household items to 112 partner pantries in local neighborhoods.
Finding Food: To locate emergency food assistance in your neighborhood, use the SFBFS “Food Finder” digital tool. This tool allows you to search by zip code to find temporary distribution sites, large-scale “drive-thru” distribution events, and pantries located at nearby community centers or religious organizations.
CalFresh Application Assistance: Free, one-on-one guidance is available to help eligible low-income individuals apply for and maintain their food assistance (SNAP/CalFresh) benefits.
- Access: Multilingual staff (speaking English, Spanish, and Hmong) guide applicants through the eligibility verification process and submit enrollment documentation directly to county caseworkers.
Diaper and Family Resources Program: Helps address shortages of essential early-childhood items by distributing more than 2.6 million diapers annually throughout the county.
- Access: The distribution of diapers and newborn essentials is coordinated directly through 52 community partner agencies across Sacramento.
Food Program for Seniors: Provides free boxes of nutritious food (supplied by the USDA and weighing 30 pounds each) to low-income adults aged 60 and older. Eligibility: Available to seniors who meet established income limits (for example, a maximum annual income of $23,940 for an individual).
- Distribution sites: Food is distributed monthly at various locations, including the Hart Senior Center (Midtown), Arcade Church (Arden-Arcade), the Elk Grove Food Bank, and the South Natomas Community Center.
Immigration legal services: Comprehensive, low-cost legal counsel is offered to assist immigrants on their path toward long-term stability.
- Services offered: Legal representation for citizenship and naturalization applications, family-based visa petitions, work permit renewals, and educational workshops on legal topics.
Union Gospel Mission Sacramento
Union Gospel Mission Sacramento is an independent, Christ-centered, non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter, essential supplies, recovery services, and daily provisions to homeless individuals and families in Sacramento County.
Contact & Location Information
Central Phone Line: 916-447-3268
Physical Address: 400 Bannon Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Administrative hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon (12:00 p.m.). (Essential emergency services operate on their own daily schedules.)
Essential Emergency Services and Programs
Emergency Shelter for Men: Provides free overnight lodging, security, and hygiene supplies for men experiencing homelessness.
- Admission requirements: Beds are assigned on a daily basis. The intake process typically begins in the late afternoon. Guests receive clean clothing, hygiene kits, and access to hot showers in the evening.
Daily Meal Service: Hot, nutritious, free meals are provided every day of the year to anyone in need; no documentation or prior registration is required.
- Dinner hours: Served every evening from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Sundays: A meal is provided in the afternoon, following the chapel service.
Clothing Distribution Center for Women and Family Supplies: A space dedicated to providing clothing, safety-related items, and household goods for women and young children.
- Services offered: Seasonal clothing, footwear, baby diapers, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, and emergency food bags—all provided free of charge.
- Access: Please call the main office to check the weekly in-person service hours or to schedule an appointment.
Community Food Box Program: Helps meet the nutritional needs of low-income families who have permanent housing but are facing severe food insecurity.
- Services offered: Distribution of sturdy boxes containing non-perishable goods, canned food, grains, and frozen meats for households in the neighborhood.
“New Life” Rehabilitation Program for Men: A structured, long-term residential program designed for men seeking to break free from addictions and homelessness.
- Program Structure: An intensive, 10-month, cost-free program with a capacity for 24 men. It includes a Bible-based recovery plan, individual counseling, occupational therapy, life-skills training, and support for entering the workforce.
Love INC (In the Name of Christ) – Sacramento
Love INC is a collaborative network of Christian churches throughout Sacramento County. Rather than providing cash, they mobilize volunteers and gather resources to meet specific needs for basic household items.
Love INC Sacramento Clearinghouse: The central point of contact for anyone seeking material aid or guidance in navigating available support systems.
- The Clearinghouse Process: When you call, a volunteer will receive your request, verify your information, and assess your family’s specific needs. Once processed, your request is referred directly to a local partner church or community agency that has the requested items available.
- Services offered: Direct delivery of donated furniture, appliances (large and small), household items, boxes of fresh food, personal hygiene kits, baby supplies, and gently used seasonal clothing. Depending on volunteer availability, they may also be able to coordinate minor yard work or basic home maintenance tasks.
- Strict limitations: Love INC does NOT provide cash or financial assistance for paying bills, rent, deposits, or hotel vouchers.
- Contact and access: Requests for assistance are processed by phone or through the secure Love INC online portal (Love INC Request Help Portal).
Helpline: 916-383-3232
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Note: Please do not call the administrative line (916-383-3999) to submit a request, as staff will direct you to contact the helpline instead.
Parkside Community Church (UCC)
Parkside Community Church is an open and inclusive congregation, affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC), located in the Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento. They maintain an independent community assistance fund specifically designated for sudden, immediate hardships affecting local residents.
Parkside Community Church (UCC): Offers financial assistance for very specific, localized crises, and provides direct food assistance to the community.
Community Assistance Fund: A local-level fund, overseen and distributed directly by the senior pastor. It is specifically designed to provide quick, one-time support to neighboring families and community members facing immediate hardship.
Services offered: Distribution of fuel cards, immediate delivery of groceries to residents, and public transportation (bus) passes.
Collaboration with the South Sacramento Care Center (SSIP): Parkside works directly with the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership (SSIP) Food Closet, channeling donations and ongoing support to their regional emergency food pantry.
Contact and Location:
Physical Address: 5700 S Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone Number: 916-421-0492
Office Hours: Generally, services are available on Tuesdays starting at 11:00 a.m. and Thursdays starting at 10:00 a.m.
How to Access Assistance from Churches at the County Level
Since funding limits may reset at the beginning of each month or require specific geographic verification, consider the following strategic starting points:
- Contact Sacramento 2-1-1: Most local church networks channel requests for assistance—such as for rent payments—through the Sacramento 2-1-1 database. Call 211 or 844-546-1464 to receive personalized assistance based on your zip code.
- Prepare documentation verifying your need: If you are requesting assistance from churches to pay bills (such as rent or utilities like SMUD or PG&E), have your lease agreement, a utility shut-off notice, a “pay or quit” (3-day) notice, and proof of your financial hardship on hand.
- Inquire directly with various religious denominations: Regional entities, such as the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, fund assistance programs through more than 100 local parishes. If the main telephone line is busy, contacting a local parish office directly may allow you to access emergency funds specifically intended for residents of that area.
