Free food, hygiene items and housing help for young people

This page lists free help for young people's basic needs. It is general information. DNLH is not a shelter or a crisis line. For family food programs, see Food help for your family, whatever your status.

Do I need papers or my parents to get help?

For most of what is on this page, no. School meals and school homeless services are for every student. California public schools must give a free breakfast and a free lunch each school day to any student who asks, whatever their family's eligibility for other programs (Education Code 49501.5). Food pantries and drop in centers serve people in need. When you call a program, you can ask, "Do you ask about immigration status?" before you share anything.

Under 18? Ask each shelter, before you go, whether it will contact a parent or guardian, so you know what to expect.

What can my school give me?

Free meals every school day. Public schools, county offices and charter schools serving kindergarten to 12th grade must offer one free breakfast and one free lunch to any student who asks (Education Code 49501.5).

Free pads and tampons. Public schools with any of grades 3 to 12 must keep free menstrual products in every women's restroom, every all gender restroom and at least one men's restroom, at all times (Education Code 35292.6). If they run out, the notice in the restroom names who to tell.

A homeless liaison. If you are couch surfing, staying in a car, a motel, a shelter, or doubled up with another family because you lost housing, you count as homeless under federal law. Every school district must have a homeless liaison (42 U.S.C. 11432). You have the right to:

• Enroll right away, even without the usual records or after a deadline (42 U.S.C. 11432(g))
• Stay at the school you last attended, with transportation if you ask for it
• Free school meals automatically (California Department of Education)

Ask the liaison about clothes, hygiene items and local housing programs too. Ask the front office: "Who is the homeless liaison?"

Free California ID. If you are homeless under this law, the DMV offers a no fee ID card (DMV). A liaison can help you get the form signed. See California ID.

What can my college give me?

Every California community college campus must have a Basic Needs Center and a Basic Needs Coordinator (Education Code 66023.5). The law says basic needs include shelter, meals, clothing, menstrual products, diapers, technology, child care and mental health support. The center is meant to be one stop where you can:

• Get food and other basic needs on campus or be connected off campus
• Get help finding housing
• Apply for CalFresh, CalEITC, the Young Child Tax Credit and WIC
• Connect with financial aid and local homeless services

Go in person or search your college's website for "basic needs." Undocumented students can also ask for the campus Dreamer Resource Liaison, which every community college and CSU campus must have (Education Code 66021.8). See Paying for college in California, whatever your status.

Where can I get free food today?

• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley serves San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Use the Food Locator to find groceries or ready to eat meals by day and time, or call 1-800-984-3663 (Second Harvest).
• San Mateo County Core Service Agencies help with food and groceries, emergency housing and shelter, and utility bills (San Mateo County):
  • East Palo Alto and Menlo Park: Samaritan House South, (650) 294-4312
  • Redwood City: Fair Oaks Community Center, (650) 780-7500
  • San Mateo: Samaritan House, (650) 347-3648
  • Daly City: Daly City Partnership, (650) 301-3300
• Your campus pantry or Basic Needs Center, if you are a student.

More options, including CalFresh for students and families: Food help for your family.

Where can I get a shower, hygiene items or laundry?

Santa Clara County. The Bill Wilson Center Drop-In Center in downtown San Jose serves homeless youth ages 18 to 24 and young parent families. It offers food, personal care items, free showers, washers and dryers, phone and computer access, case management and housing referrals. It also has overnight respite for up to 10 guests a night. Go in person: 693 South 2nd Street, San Jose. Call (408) 925-0231 for hours (Bill Wilson Center). The page lists ages as 18 to 24 in one place and 13 to 24 in another, so ask if you are younger.

Health care is there too. A Valley walk in clinic at the same address sees young people ages 16 to 24 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, first come, first served. It offers primary care, confidential reproductive health care and mental health care (Santa Clara Valley Healthcare).

San Mateo County. Ask a Core Service Agency or your school liaison where to get hygiene items. Community college students can ask the campus Basic Needs Center.

Anywhere. Free pads and tampons are in school restrooms (grades 3 to 12) and through college basic needs centers.

Where can I sleep tonight?

Ages 12 to 17, Santa Clara County. Bill Wilson Center's Safety Net Shelter helps youth ages 12 to 17 who have nowhere else to go. Call the main line, (408) 243-0222 (Bill Wilson Center).

Ages 16 to 21, San Mateo County. StarVista's Daybreak program is a transitional living program for homeless teens, with stays up to 18 months, school and job support, life skills, counseling and case management. It lists no fee and Spanish language help. It is at 639 Douglas Avenue, Redwood City (SMC Connect directory). The directory does not list a phone number, so ask your school liaison or a Core Service Agency to connect you.

Adults 18 and over, San Mateo County. Call your Core Service Agency for emergency housing and shelter. In East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, that is Samaritan House South, (650) 294-4312 (San Mateo County).

Anywhere in the U.S. Call the National Runaway Safeline, 1-800-786-2929. It is open 24/7 by phone, text and chat, free and confidential, and helps youth find shelter and other help (National Runaway Safeline).

What should I bring?

You can get help without these, but bring what you have:

• Any ID: school ID, consular ID, passport or California ID
• Your phone and charger
• Any medicine you take
• A list of phone numbers you need, written on paper in case your phone dies
• School papers, if you want to keep going to school

Do not have ID? Ask anyway. Your school liaison can help you get a free California ID.

How do I ask for help without feeling embarrassed?

You are not the only one, and asking is a smart move. Keep it simple:

• To a teacher or counselor: "I do not have enough food at home. Can you help me find some?"
• To the front office: "Can I talk to the homeless liaison?"
• To a pantry or drop in center: "This is my first time. What do I do?"

Questions young people ask

Will they call immigration? None of the school, pantry or drop in programs on this page list immigration status as a requirement on the pages we read. You can ask any program what information it keeps before you share. California schools must not treat you differently because of immigration status (Education Code 220).

Will they call my parents? If you are under 18, ask the shelter this before you go. Each program will tell you its rules.

I am a young parent. Is there help for my baby? Yes. Bill Wilson Center's drop in center serves young parent families. Community college Basic Needs Centers can help with diapers and WIC.

Can I get CalFresh as a student? Some students can. Your college Basic Needs Center helps you apply. See Food help.

Who can help?

• School homeless liaison (ask your school front office)
• Community college Basic Needs Center (search your college website for "basic needs")
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: 1-800-984-3663
• Samaritan House South (East Palo Alto and Menlo Park): (650) 294-4312
• Fair Oaks Community Center (Redwood City): (650) 780-7500
• Bill Wilson Center (Santa Clara County): (408) 243-0222; Drop-In Center (408) 925-0231
• National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-786-2929
• 211 helps find local services in many California counties, including San Mateo and Santa Clara. It does not cover every county (211 California).

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Is there a list I can print?