The Department of Social Services would like to inform you that the monthly CalFresh Emergency Allotment also known as the Emergency CalFresh benefits which started March 2020, is ending. The last emergency allotment will be issued in March 2023. We hope this advanced notice helps you prepare and budget to minimize any hardship for your household. If you have any questions, please ask a worker.

El Departamento de Servicios Sociales desea informarle que la asignación mensual de emergencia de CalFresh, también conocida como los beneficios de emergencia de CalFresh que comenzó en marzo de 2020, está terminando. La última habilitación de emergencia se emitirá en marzo. Esperamos que este aviso anticipado le ayude a prepararse y presupuestar para minimizar cualquier dificultad para su hogar. Si tiene alguna pregunta, pregúntele a un trabajador.

The State of California provides state-funded CalFresh food benefits through the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for qualified non-citizens who do not qualify for federal benefits. CFAP benefits are issued through the same case as federal CalFresh benefits.

Great News! Soon all California immigrants age 55 years or older will be able to get CFAP food benefits regardless of immigration status as long as they meet all of the other CalFresh eligibly criteria. With this change, all Californians age 55 years or older, regardless of their immigration status, will be able to receive a monthly food benefit to help meet their basic needs.

Important! This benefit is not available yet and an implementation date has not been established yet.  The CDSS webpage will be updated once an implementation date for the CFAP expansion has been confirmed. Visit the CDSS webpage for more information on CFAP expansion at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/california-food-assistance-program.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) would like you to take a survey to ask you some questions about the ways you are managing to meet your food needs.  The survey asks questions about the food situation in your home.  The CDSS is conducting this survey to collect information and stories from individuals who may be impacted by the expansion of the CFAP food benefits. The best person to answer would be an adult who shops for food or participates in meal preparation. 

The survey is available in both English and Spanish and will take between 5-10 minutes to complete.

Please click HERE to begin the survey. 

If the link does not work, please copy and paste the following URL into your browser:  https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7016915/CFAP-Expansion-Participant-Stories-Survey

Please feel free to forward this survey to anyone who might be interested in participating.  For more information contact CFAP@dss.ca.gov.  

Thank you for your participation!

There has been a reported increase in EBT Scams. If you receive a text, phone call, or email asking for your account information, indicating your account has been blocked, or to call and activate your benefits, please contact the EBT vendor at 1-877-328-9677 or call the Department of Social Services at 1-855-832-8082. Remeber, we will never ask you for your PIN.

Please see the flyers below for more information on how to protect your benefits from scams. Thank you.

Click here to view the Scam flyer in English

Click here to view the Scam flyer in Spanish

Click here to view the Prevent EBT Fraud flyer

How to Apply

Contact Fresno County Homeless Assistance general information line at 559-600-5315 Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:30am and 3:30pm. Calls will not be taken after 3:30pm.

If in office, Submit verification for Homeless Assistance via the drop box using the provided Homeless Assistance envelopes located in the lobby. Verification can also be submitted for Homeless Assistance via email and fax. Do not use these methods of submitting verification for your CalWORKs case as this may delay processing time. 

Homeless Assistance Flyer English

Homeless Assistance Flyer Spanish

The Department of Social Services has partnered with RH Community Builders LP to provide emergency rental assistance to individuals who have not been able to pay rent due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. To be eligible, you must reside in:

• Clovis            
• Sanger                     
• Reedley                   
• Selma            
• Parlier            
• Kerman                    
• Coalinga
• Kingsburg    
• Mendota       
• Orange Cove 
• Firebaugh    
• Huron 
• Fowler
• San Joaquin
• County islands within City of Fresno
• Unincorporated areas of Fresno County 

This program is not open to the City of Fresno residents as the City has an emergency rental assistance program. 

To learn more and to apply, please visit: 

Residents outside the City of Fresno: www.fresnorentalhelp.com

City of Fresno Residents: Mayor | Emergency Rental Assistance Program (fresno.gov)