If you or someone you know needs help in San Bernardino County, there is a robust network of faith-based organizations and local churches that provide essential assistance. These programs offer everything from hot meals and emergency groceries to temporary financial aid for rent and utility payments.
Since financial assistance often depends on available funding cycles, please always call the organization in advance to confirm that you meet their eligibility requirements and that they are currently accepting applications.
List of Faith-based Organizations and Church Assistance Programs in San Bernardino County
These large-scale organizations serve as hubs for various assistance programs throughout the county.
Catholic Charities – San Bernardino Regional Center
The Catholic Charities San Bernardino Regional Center is one of the primary providers of faith-based social services in San Bernardino County, offering essential safety-net programs for families in crisis. Their services are available to all local residents, regardless of religious affiliation.
Key Assistance Programs
Financial Assistance: They offer emergency aid for rent payments—to help prevent evictions—and for utility bills (including programs to help cover costs for Southern California Edison and SoCalGas), subject to the availability of funds.
Family Services and Case Management: Beyond immediate financial aid, they provide long-term case management to help families stabilize their economic situation, find employment resources, and access other county benefits.
Immigration Services: This regional center typically offers low-cost legal assistance for immigration matters, citizenship applications, and document preparation.
Location and Contact Information
Address: 1441 N D St, San Bernardino, CA 92405
Phone Number: (909) 880-3625 (Note: For a specialized financial assessment, you may be referred to their central service line at 909-388-1240.)
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Sundays).
Official website: Catholic Charities San Bernardino & Riverside Counties
The Salvation Army – Redlands Corps and San Bernardino Citadel
The Salvation Army of San Bernardino County centers its primary regional social services and administrative operations at its Redlands headquarters, serving as a vital safety net for individuals and families throughout the San Bernardino metropolitan area.
They offer comprehensive crisis stabilization programs designed to combat food insecurity, prevent homelessness, and provide emergency shelter.
Available assistance programs
Emergency food assistance: The center operates a food pantry that provides boxes of groceries during emergencies. They also organize monthly community food distribution events.
Housing and shelter programs: They manage a Transitional Living Center (TLC) and offer emergency shelter resources, specifically aimed at helping homeless families, single mothers, and women stabilize their lives.
Financial and utility bill assistance: Depending on the availability of funds, they provide aid to households with outstanding utility bills (water, electricity, etc.) to help prevent the disconnection of these services.
Hygiene services: The Redlands location provides community showers for public use, available on weekday mornings (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.).
Youth Programs and Holiday Assistance: They organize the annual “Christmas Angel Tree” program, which provides toys, clothing, and holiday food boxes—free of charge—to low-income children and families in the local area.
Location and Contact Information
The regional center manages administrative social services and application intake for the broader “San Bernardino Citadel” service area from this location:
Address: 838 Alta St, Redlands, CA 92374
Social Services Phone: (909) 888-1336
Alternative Office Phone: (909) 792-6868
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Official Website: The Salvation Army Redlands & San Bernardino County
Because the funds available for utility and rent assistance fluctuate throughout the month, please always contact the social services department at (909) 888-1336 before visiting in person to verify whether applications are currently being accepted.
Local Churches Offering Assistance with Rent, Utilities, and Housing
The following churches operate local resource centers specifically designed to prevent homelessness and help families get back on their feet.
The Way World Outreach (Arrowhead Campus)
The Way World Outreach (Arrowhead Campus) serves as a vital community pillar in the city of San Bernardino. In addition to their regular religious services, they operate a Community Resource Center dedicated to helping low-income individuals, families in crisis, and those experiencing homelessness address their immediate material and financial hardships.
Core Support Services
Guidance on utility services and bills: On Mondays and Tuesdays, your local resource center provides assistance to individuals facing the disconnection of their utility services. While they do not always cover the payment of bills directly, they offer guidance, case management, and help with completing applications for regional utility assistance programs.
Emergency food and grocery distribution: The church organizes regular distributions of emergency food boxes. Typically, these distributions—along with the operation of food banks—take place toward the end of the week (usually on Wednesdays and Fridays).
Free hot meals: Hot meals are regularly provided to anyone experiencing hunger or homelessness. The “Way Mart” clothing ministry offers clothing, footwear, and basic personal hygiene items, free of charge, to community members in need of immediate assistance.
Location & Contact Details
Address: 1001 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92410
Phone Number: (909) 884-1385
Official Website: The Way World Outreach
CityLink (Water of Life Community Church)
CityLink Outreach Center is the local social outreach and community development ministry of Water of Life Community Church. Based in Fontana, CityLink serves as a comprehensive resource center designed to provide immediate emergency assistance while helping individuals find a path toward long-term physical, mental, and spiritual stability.
Its programs are specifically aimed at local individuals and families facing severe economic hardship, housing instability, or hunger.
Core Social Services and Assistance Programs
Path to Housing (Rental and Utility Assistance): In formal partnership with the City of Fontana, CityLink offers emergency financial subsidies to households that are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of eviction.
Rental Assistance: Available to Fontana residents whose household income does not exceed 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). To qualify, applicants must have a current lease agreement in Fontana and provide an official “pay or quit” notice issued by their landlord. Individuals experiencing homelessness may also request assistance with a security deposit or the first month’s rent.
Utility Assistance: Provides one-time emergency financial aid to help Fontana residents pay overdue bills or prevent the disconnection of gas, electricity, or water services.
Note: Both housing and utility subsidies are strictly subject to the availability of funds at the time of application.
Emergency and Transitional Shelter: The center coordinates supportive housing programs, shelter accommodations, and street outreach efforts to help individuals transition into stable, permanent housing.
CityLink Food Assistance: Various food distribution services are provided from their facility:
Weekly Choice Pantry: Available exclusively to Fontana residents. Requires an advance appointment and a registration process using an identification key-tag.
USDA Commodities: Open to all San Bernardino County residents on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (while supplies last).
“Showers of Blessing”: Provides access to hygiene facilities and mobile showers for community members experiencing homelessness.
Location & Operational Hours
Administrative Address: 16029 Arrow Blvd, Fontana, CA 92335
Main Contact Phone: (909) 803-1059
Office Operating Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Daily closure: The office is closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch, Monday through Thursday.
Operation Grace
Operation Grace is a local, faith-based, high-impact non-profit organization that has been operating in San Bernardino since 1993. With an impressive 90% success rate in transitioning individuals to permanent housing, the organization focuses on alleviating homelessness and helping local families regain long-term financial stability and self-sufficiency.
Available Assistance Programs
Financial Assistance and Eviction Prevention: They offer targeted financial support to help families settle outstanding debts or cover unexpected housing expenses, with the goal of preventing evictions and stabilizing households.
Emergency Shelter: Operation Grace provides a safe emergency shelter environment, specifically designed for vulnerable women and children in need of immediate accommodation.
Transitional and Low-Income Housing: They manage a transitional housing program that helps participants move toward independent living; they also oversee affordable rental units for individuals and families with limited financial resources.
Comprehensive Case Management: To help families fully recover from homelessness, they combine housing with comprehensive support services, including personal counseling, job training, and financial education.
Location and Contact Information
Address: 1595 Art Townsend Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408
Main Contact Phone Number: (909) 382-8540
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. m.
Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Official website: Operation Grace
To access any of their social services or to check the current availability of funds for financial assistance, you must schedule an initial assessment by calling (909) 382-8540 or by sending an email to agoode@operationgrace.com.
Emergency food and essential household items distribution centers
If you are facing immediate food insecurity or are in need of household items, these organizations offer weekly community distributions.
The Rock Church and World Outreach Center
“The Rock” operates a comprehensive and highly efficient resource center that serves as a large-scale food distribution hub, assisting thousands of families each month. They also provide excellent-condition (like-new) clothing and baby items to parents in need.
Address: 2345 S Waterman Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408
Next steps: Food distribution hours vary; please contact the church office at (909) 825-8887 before visiting.
San Bernardino Community Church (SBCC)
SBCC runs the “Second Chance Food Ministry” program, through which it provides bags of nutritious food—completely free of charge—to families and individuals throughout the community.
Address: 2372 E Lynwood Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92404
Distribution hours: Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
How to proceed
- Call 2-1-1 first: If you are facing an imminent disconnection of essential utilities (water, electricity, etc.) or an eviction, call 2-1-1 (the “Inland SoCal 211” helpline). They have real-time, up-to-date information on which churches have received county grants for the current month.
- Gather the necessary documentation: Churches that offer financial assistance will almost always ask for a copy of your unpaid utility bill, your lease agreement, and proof of local residency or income. Have these documents ready in advance to expedite your request.
