Where immigrant families can find emergency cash help

This page lists cash and rent help that does not depend on your own immigration status. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. For help after a detention, see Emergency money help when a family member is detained.

Is there any cash help for families like ours?

Yes, but it is spread out. No single program covers everything. Most families piece help together from four places:

1. Rent and bill help from county programs and nonprofits.
2. Tax credits you can get with an ITIN, paid as a refund.
3. Cash aid for citizen children in a mixed status family.
4. Emergency funds from nonprofits for immigration emergencies.

Start with the one that matches your most urgent bill. If rent is the problem, start with rent help, because losing housing is the hardest thing to undo.

Where can we get help with rent?

Santa Clara County. The Homelessness Prevention System helps low income residents who are at risk of losing their housing, with temporary financial help, legal support and case management. You may qualify if you are housed now but could lose your home within about 14 days, for example because you cannot pay upcoming rent or you got an eviction notice. The program says citizenship or legal residency is not required and it does not collect immigration status information (preventhomelessness.org).

How to apply:

1. Call (408) 516-5100 or email info@preventhomelessness.org for a pre-screening. It takes about one to two hours.
2. If you meet the first requirements, send papers. Usually that means ID for everyone in the home, your lease, two months of income records and recent bills. The program says the requirements are flexible.
3. If another group tells you that you do not qualify, call the main number anyway. Only its partner agencies can decide.

The income limit on the page is about $159,550 for a family of four, but the page's own table shows $162,400. Ask which limit applies when you call.

San Mateo County. The county's Core Service Agencies help with emergency housing, shelter and utility bills. In East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, that is Samaritan House South, 2396 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, (650) 294-4312, Monday to Friday, 9 to 12 and 1 to 5. Redwood City residents go to Fair Oaks Community Center, (650) 780-7500 (San Mateo County). Each agency serves certain cities. Ask whether they need proof of status. The county page and Samaritan House's site do not say.

Facing eviction? In Santa Clara County, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley gives free legal help at (408) 280-2424 (preventhomelessness.org). Your landlord may not ask about your immigration status or threaten to report it to make you move (Civil Code 1940.3).

Can we get money back from taxes?

Often, yes. This is the cash help most families miss.

California lets people without a Social Security number file a state return with an ITIN and claim state credits. The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), the Young Child Tax Credit and the Foster Youth Tax Credit are refundable, so you can get money back even if you owe no tax (FTB).

• CalEITC: up to $3,756 for tax year 2025, for working families and individuals who earned up to $32,900 (FTB).
• Young Child Tax Credit: up to $1,189 per return if you qualify for CalEITC and have a child under 6 at the end of the year (FTB).
• Missed past years? You can generally claim CalEITC for up to four earlier years by filing or amending a state return (FTB).

You need an ITIN for yourself, your spouse if filing jointly, and each child you claim (FTB 3514 instructions). Free tax help exists: in San Mateo County, Samaritan House runs free tax preparation in season (Samaritan House). See CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit with an ITIN for every step.

Can my children get cash aid if I cannot?

If your children are U.S. citizens, they may get CalWORKs, California's cash aid for families with children, even when parents cannot. The parents are not added to the aid, but their income is counted (Santa Clara County CalWORKs handbook). You apply at BenefitsCal or your county office (CDSS). In San Mateo County, call 1-800-223-8383 or (650) 594-5917 (San Mateo County HSA).

What if our emergency is about immigration?

Mission Asset Fund (MAF), ALMA Program. A national program for families facing an immigration emergency, such as detention, deportation, losing a work permit or losing income. If approved, MAF sends a virtual card for basic living costs. You must be 18 or older and send proof, like an ICE release or removal order, an expired work permit, or pay stubs or bank statements (MAF).

You pre-apply first. MAF invites some families to a full application based on eligibility and money available, and says it will tell you if help becomes available in your area. MAF says it is still raising funds and may not be able to help every family right now. It does not publish a grant amount (checked October 21, 2026).

Detention in the family? Rapid response networks connect families to mutual aid. In San Mateo County, call (203) 666-4472. In Santa Clara County, call (408) 290-1144. Both are 24/7. See Emergency money help when a family member is detained.

What else can stretch our money this month?

• Food. Free food frees up cash for rent. See Food help for your family.
• A zero interest loan. MAF's Lending Circles give loans of $300 to $2,400 at 0% interest, paid back $50 to $200 a month, and report to all three credit bureaus (MAF). They are slower than a grant, but safer than a payday loan. See Lending circles.
• Unpaid wages. If a boss owes you pay, you can claim it whatever your status. See How to file a wage claim.
• 211. In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, 211 is run by United Way Bay Area and is free, 24 hours (211). 211 does not cover every California county.

What should we bring when we call?

• Any photo ID each adult has, such as a consular card, passport or California ID
• Your lease or a letter from your landlord
• Any eviction notice or late rent notice
• Proof of income for the last two months, or a letter explaining cash pay
• Recent utility bills
• Your children's birth certificates if you apply for them

Do not have everything? Call anyway. Many programs help you gather papers.

How do we avoid scams?

• Real programs do not charge you to apply. Anyone asking for a fee before you can get a grant is a scammer.
• Never pay with gift cards or wire transfers to get aid.
• Check the website. Government sites end in .gov.
• Be careful with people who say they can get you aid because they know someone. Call the program yourself.

See Warning signs of an immigration scam and How to spot fake immigration agents and ICE scam calls.

Questions people ask

Will asking a nonprofit for help hurt our immigration case? The public charge review looks at government benefits, like the cash aid in the notice above (USCIS Policy Manual). If you are unsure about a program, ask a free legal aid group before you apply.

We already got help once. Can we ask again? Ask each program whether it limits how often you can get help.

Can I get help if I am paid in cash? Yes. Write a short letter that explains your work and pay. Tax credits need earned income reported on a tax return.

What if no program has money right now? Ask to be called when funds open, and keep calling the others. Funding changes month to month.

Who can help?

• Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System: (408) 516-5100.
• Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County housing law): (408) 280-2424.
• Samaritan House South (East Palo Alto and Menlo Park): (650) 294-4312.
• San Mateo County Human Services Agency: 1-800-223-8383.
• Mission Asset Fund ALMA: pre-apply online.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): (650) 326-6440, for housing and immigration questions (CLSEPA).

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

Is there a sheet I can print?