The below list has been compiled with assistance from Student Affairs Staff.

Basic Needs:

• SF Marin Food Bank: Use SF Marin Food Bank's Food Locator tool to find food assistance in San Francisco and Marin, including weekly free groceries, one-time emergency food, or help to enroll in CalFresh (food stamps).
• Alameda County Community Food Bank: Provides CalFresh application assistance and a helpline to connect you to a source for groceries or a hot meal the same day you call.
• CalFresh for College Students: CalFresh is a state program that helps students buy food and eat healthier by providing awards up to $250 a month for groceries.
• FoodPantries.org: Provides a list of food pantries, soup kitchens, food shelves, and food banks throughout California.

Health Resources:

• Native American Health Center: Open to everyone in the community regardless of tribal affiliations or ethnicity. Can help determine how to meet your healthcare needs even if you are uninsured or struggling with finances.
• Planned Parenthood (San Francisco & Oakland Locations): Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With or without insurance, located at 1522 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
• USPS Free COVID Tests: Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.
• Free Binders: Point of Pride provides free chest binders (specially-designed chest compression garments) to any trans person who needs one and cannot afford or safely obtain one.
• Free Femme shapewear: Point of Pride provides free femme shapewear (specially-designed compression underwear/gaffs) to any trans femme person who needs one and cannot afford or safely obtain one.
• Substance Abuse Resources

Housing Needs:

• Lark-Inn for Youth: Emergency shelter for youth ages 18 to 24. Open 24 hours.
• East Bay Housing Organizations: Get support on rental assistance and housing legal assistance.
• City of San Francisco Rental Assistance: Learn more information about applying to get 18 months of rental assistance in the city of San Francisco.
• 7 Tips for Renting as a College Student: Get tips as a college student when looking for a place to rent.

Financial Wellness:

• Cash Course: A free online budgeting and money management tool specifically for college students.
• Napkin Finance: An engaging online tool to introduce yourself to important financial topics in 30 seconds, including investing, Money 101, and Michelle Obama's course on higher education.
• Clever Girl Finance: 100% free financial literacy courses and resources, designed to empower women to ditch debt, save money, and build wealth. Includes podcasts, videos, and articles about financial mindset and motivation, budgeting, investing, credit building, credit cards, savings, business and side hustles, and more!
• Smart About Money: A free resource with 13 online self-directed courses, articles, calculators and tips to help individuals seeking general financial education on common economic situations, including spending, saving and investing.
• NerdWallet: Financial tools and advice to help people understand their options and make better financial decisions (e.g. student loans, credit cards), ask questions and get advice, and learn about ways to reduce your bills.
• Mint: A free app that helps you reach your goals with personalized insights, custom budgets, spend tracking, and subscription monitoring.

NOTE: Please contact CCA Financial Aid for more information on scholarships and financial aid opportunities, including steps to apply for financial aid.

Other

• Orion Fund: Grants for college students under the age of 30 in a health crisis and needing to cover health costs, medical technology, and other living expenses.

EBT/SNAP Benefits:

• San Francisco Museums for All: Valid with EBT or Medi-cal Card, this program offers eligible residents free or reduced admission to local museums and cultural centers.
• Touchstone Climbing: Offers discounts for day passes, classes, and youth camps in their gyms located throughout the City. EBT or Medi-cal card holders are eligible for a discounted day pass for just $10, and free equipment rental.
• Clipper Start: Single-ride discounts for low-income Bay Area residents include 20% off BART and 50% off MUNI, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit and Ferry. 
• Bike Share for All (Lyft): Bay Area residents who qualify for CalFresh, SFMTA Lifeline Pass, or PG&E CARE utility discount are eligible to join this Bike Share for All program for $5 for the first year.
• Lime Access Electric Scooter Rental: Free Lime scooter rides up to 30-minutes
• All other EBT cardholder resources

RESOURCE SEARCH ORGANIZATIONS:

• FindHelp.Org:
  • Search and connect to support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help.

Entertainment:

• San Francisco Public library: (100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102) Rent books and movies for free, records and CDS. Residents of California may receive a free library card. In addition to borrowing books, LPs, and museum passes, your card allows you to download digital media, use electronic databases, take online classes, use library computers, and more. 
• Potrero Branch: (1616 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94107) Closest to SF campus, 15 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride. 
• Rent music practice room - Little Mission Studio: Rent a private practice room for $20/ hr. Rooms include pianos. 
• Thrift books: ThriftBooks offers quality used and new books, accurately graded, at everyday low prices. Sometimes textbooks are available, depending on intake.

Student Discounts:

• Hulu: Can use your student email for verification for a discounted membership $1.99/ month.
• Spotify Premium: With student verification you can get Spotify Premium with Hulu and SHOWTIME for $4.99/ month.
• Youtube Premium: YouTube and YouTube Music ad-free, offline, and in the background. $6.99/ month with student verification.

Art Resources:

• SCRAP: SCRAP is a Creative Reuse center and arts education Nonprofit founded in 1976 in San Francisco, California. Low cost reusable crafts.

Use this form to submit:

• Programming Ideas (workshops, trainings, events)
• Community Resources (on or off-campus, online, in-person)
• General Feedback (let us know how we could be supporting the community more effectively)

As always, feel free to set up a meeting to discuss your questions and feedback with us or reach out to ccacares@cca.edu.