211 California
Free, confidential referrals to local help with food, housing, bills and more. Dial 211, or call 866-346-3211 and enter your ZIP code to reach your local 211. A few rural counties have no active 211 service.
Your next step
Call 211 or 866-346-3211 and enter your ZIP code. Ask the specialist for two or three programs, and write down each name and number.
Questions to ask
- Is this program accepting requests?
- What area does it serve?
- What are its costs and application requirements?
If this one cannot help
Other starting points for the same need:
- USAGov food assistance: Federal guide to SNAP, WIC, school meals and emergency food. For food today, the National Hunger Hotline is 1-866-348-6479 or 1-877-842-6273, weekdays 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific.
- California services and assistance: Find state starting points for food, shelter, health coverage and community services.
- HRSA health center finder: Federal map of community health centers. Health centers adjust fees to income and family size and serve people who cannot pay. Search by ZIP code, then call the center.
What this listing can tell you
The programs listed by local services have their own rules and capacity. Ask each provider to confirm current details.
Do Not Lose Hope does not determine eligibility, appointments, or outcomes. A listing does not imply a partnership.
Official source & review
Source page checked: .
Official pages read on 2026-10-21 for service area, contact methods, cost, languages, intake and eligibility. Each field below names its source. Current openings and individual eligibility are not confirmed.
What the official pages say
- Service area
- Local 211 programs by county. Modoc and Sierra counties list no 211 service; Yuba lists a provider with no phone number. Stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
- How to contact
- Dial 211 where available, or call 866-346-3211 and enter your ZIP code to be routed. Online search at 211ca.org. Stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
- Cost
- Free and confidential. Stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
- Languages
- Phone help in over 200 languages. Stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
- How to start
- Call, text where offered, or search online; specialists give referrals. Stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
- Stated limits
- No eligibility limits stated. Not stated on the official page, checked October 21, 2026. Source
Current openings and whether you qualify are not confirmed. Ask the organization.
How we check sourcesGuides on this topic
- 211 HelpNeed food, rent help, a place to stay or a doctor? Dial 211. It is free, it is open day and night, and a real person will help you find services near you. You do not have to figure this out alone.
- Food HelpYour children can get food help, even if you do not have papers. Here is what your family may get from CalFresh, WIC, school meals and food banks, how to apply, and what the new federal public charge rule may mean before you sign up.
- Housing and Tenant Rights Complete GuideIn California, your rights as a renter do not depend on your papers. Your landlord cannot ask about your status, cannot threaten to call immigration, and cannot put you out without going to court. This guide covers rent increases, evictions, deposits, repairs, help paying rent and what to do if a landlord uses fear against you. Read it top to bottom, or jump to what is happening to you today.Complete guide
- Health Care Complete GuideYou and your family deserve care, whatever your papers say. Medi-Cal changed in 2026 and will change again in 2027, but many doors are still open. This guide puts it all in one place, from who can still sign up to free clinics, children, pregnancy, privacy and public charge. Read it top to bottom, or jump to your situation and leave knowing your next step.Complete guide