Bay Area Legal Aid provides legal assistance for reentry barriers including criminal record remedies, traffic court debt, driver's license suspensions, and housing denials. They host regular office hours and clinics in the Bay Area.

Provides low-income residents with a free 90-day unlimited ride pass and discounted fares thereafter on public transit.

Provides baby clothing, diapers, and other baby supplies at no cost. They also offer support services for families in need.

Private program. Provides free home energy improvements, such as furnace repair, water heater replacement, and weatherization, to income-qualified residential customers.

Government program. Provides cash assistance and employment services to needy families with children to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Government program. Helps low-income households reduce energy costs by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Services may include insulation, weather stripping, and minor repairs.

Local California Community Action Agency offering emergency rent, utility, and food assistance.

Official California portal to apply for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and other cash and food assistance.

The California Tobacco Quitline offers free, confidential phone coaching to help you quit smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to speak with a trained quit coach. Many callers qualify for free nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges mailed to their home. Open to all California residents — no insurance required. Coaching is available in English and Spanish, with specialized support for pregnant smokers, teens, and veterans.

Licensed bail bond company serving Carlsbad. Agents available to post bond and help secure release from jail, typically charging a state-regulated percentage of the total bond amount. Call for current rates and 24/7 availability.

Licensed bail bond company serving San Jose. Agents available to post bond and help secure release from jail, typically charging a state-regulated percentage of the total bond amount. Call for current rates and 24/7 availability.

Free professional grief counseling and consultation services available to California residents. Individual and family sessions help those coping with the loss of a loved one, with no cost and no insurance required. Reach out to schedule a confidential consultation. The Grief.com National Helpline (800-537-9353) offers free 24/7 grief support, and SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) provides free referrals to local grief counseling and mental health services.

Free grief support groups meeting in Los Angeles and throughout California. GriefShare offers weekly in-person and online grief recovery support groups where you can find comfort, encouragement, and practical help after the loss of a loved one. The Compassionate Friends provides free support specifically for families grieving the death of a child, with local chapters across California. The National Alliance for Grieving Children (Hellogrief) connects families with free children's grief support programs statewide.

California has one of the largest gig economies. Same-day pay opportunities through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Lyft, Amazon Flex, Instacart, Shipt, Instawork, Wonolo, TaskRabbit, Gopuff, and more.

California's network of senior centers, parks, and community organizations offer free yoga classes statewide. Contact your local parks department or Area Agency on Aging.

California's vast network of senior centers, community centers, and parks offer free Tai Chi classes. Contact your local parks department or Area Agency on Aging.

Habitat for Humanity California affiliates across LA, San Francisco, San Diego, and statewide build and sell affordable homes to qualifying low-income families. Zero-interest mortgages available.

Amazon has dozens of fulfillment and delivery centers across California — Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Bay Area, Sacramento, and more. Starting pay $18–$22/hr. No resume or interview needed. Background-friendly.

FAA-approved A&P technician program at one of California's leading aviation colleges. Day and evening classes available. Low community college tuition.

Emergency shelter, meals, and social services on LA's Skid Row. Serves men, women, and families. Recovery programs, employment training, and transitional housing available.

Emergency shelter, meals, recovery programs, and workforce training for homeless men, women, and families in San Diego.

Distributes 59 million pounds of food annually through 250+ partner pantries in San Francisco and Marin County. Free weekly pantries across all SF neighborhoods.

Free clothing for men, women, and children on LA's Skid Row. Available to shelter residents and walk-in guests. Union Rescue Mission is one of the largest homeless shelters in the US.

Network of food pantries, emergency assistance, and shelter referrals throughout Los Angeles County. Serves over 500,000 people annually regardless of faith.

Emergency shelter, transitional housing, and social services for low-income and homeless individuals. Meals, showers, clothing, and case management provided.

Comprehensive social services including emergency shelter, food pantry, rental assistance, and transitional housing for low-income and homeless residents of San Mateo County.

Emergency shelter and transitional housing for homeless adults and families in Los Angeles. Comprehensive case management, meals, substance abuse support, mental health referrals, and housing navigation.

Free 24/7 mental health crisis line, mobile crisis response, and connections to low-cost mental health services throughout San Diego County.

Free and low-cost mental health services for San Francisco residents. Medi-Cal accepted. Outpatient, crisis, and residential mental health programs.

Free and low-cost mental health counseling and crisis services. Suicide prevention hotline. Medi-Cal accepted. Outpatient, school-based, and mobile crisis teams.

Free and low-cost mental health counseling and crisis services. Medi-Cal accepted. Individual, family, and group therapy for all ages.

Free mental health crisis stabilization and outpatient services for Sacramento County residents. Medi-Cal accepted. Walk-in crisis services available.

Free mental health education, peer support groups, and family education programs. Free helpline, support groups, and navigation to low-cost treatment.

Free residential drug and alcohol treatment for women and their children. Specializes in women with co-occurring disorders. Medi-Cal accepted.

Free residential substance abuse treatment for low-income adults. Long-term therapeutic community model with job training, education, and counseling.

Free and low-cost residential and outpatient alcohol and drug treatment. Medi-Cal accepted. Detox, residential, and outpatient levels of care available.

Free mental health and support services for LGBTQ+ individuals, people with HIV, and other underserved populations in San Francisco. All services are free. Returning citizens are welcomed.

FQHC serving the Watts and South Los Angeles communities with primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy on a sliding fee scale. Strong history of serving formerly incarcerated and reentry individuals.

FQHC network with multiple San Diego County locations providing primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy on a sliding fee scale. Returning citizens and uninsured individuals are actively served.

FQHC providing culturally competent primary care, HIV/AIDS services, behavioral health, and social services in San Francisco. Sliding fee scale. Returning citizens and formerly incarcerated individuals are actively served.

One of the largest free clinics in the US, Venice Family Clinic provides comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and social services to low-income patients across Los Angeles. Services are free or very low cost. Over 28,000 patients served annually. Returning citizens and unhoused individuals are actively served.

The Lions Eye Foundation of California-Nevada preserves and restores sight by providing free ophthalmic examinations, operations, and medication to low-income individuals. Uninsured patients are referred by Lions Clubs, physicians, clinics, or can self-refer. Examinations and operations are performed at Sutter California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) by board-certified ophthalmologists. Returning citizens with no insurance are actively served.

The Lions Optometric Vision Clinic (LOVC) has provided free quality vision care to individuals who cannot afford it since 1963. Services include comprehensive eye exams, glaucoma and eye health screenings, referrals for specialized care, and fitting and dispensing prescription glasses. Located in the Blind Community Center. Returning citizens with no insurance are welcome and actively served.

Free college application assistance in San Francisco. Helps adults apply to CCSF, SFSU, UC Berkeley, and private colleges. FAFSA, CADAA, Cal Grant, and scholarship support. SF has robust second-chance college programs for returning citizens.

Free college application assistance in Los Angeles through the California College Guidance Initiative and LA area college access organizations. Helps with UC, CSU, community college, and private school applications. FAFSA/CADAA completion, Cal Grant information, and scholarship matching. Returning citizens can access special programs at many LA colleges.

Free college application help in Sacramento. Assists with applications to Sacramento City College, Sac State, UC Davis, and other schools. FAFSA, CADAA, Cal Grant, and scholarship support included.

Free college application assistance in San Diego. Counselors help with applications to San Diego Community Colleges, SDSU, UC San Diego, and private schools. FAFSA, Cal Grant, and scholarship guidance. Returning citizens encouraged.

San Diego Continuing Education provides free GED and HiSET preparation at multiple locations. Fully accredited adult education. Returning citizens welcome with no background check for enrollment.

CCSF offers free adult education including GED/HiSET preparation and high school diploma completion. Multiple campus locations. Returning citizens with any background are welcome.

Sacramento City Unified School District Adult Education offers free GED preparation and high school diploma programs. Open to all adults. Returning citizens and individuals with criminal records encouraged to apply.

LA Unified School District Adult Education Division offers free GED/HiSET preparation and high school diploma completion programs at multiple locations across LA. Returning citizens and the formerly incarcerated are actively welcomed. Some programs offered inside LA County jails for transition.

Social Security Administration office serving Sacramento and the Central Valley. Full SSA services including disability, SSI, retirement, and Medicare enrollment.

Social Security Administration office serving downtown Los Angeles. Full SSA services. Returning citizens can apply for SSI immediately upon release — California supplements federal SSI with additional state payments. Replacement cards available same day.

Social Security Administration office serving San Francisco. Full range of SSA services. California state supplemental SSI payments among highest in US, making SSI a critical resource for returning citizens with disabilities.

Social Security Administration office serving San Diego. Handles SSDI, SSI, retirement, Medicare, and card replacement. Important resource for returning citizens needing identification and benefit reinstatement.

LA Metro's LIFE program offers 50% discounted fares on all Metro buses and rail lines for low-income riders. A monthly pass costs only $26 instead of $100+. Free fare for youth under 18 and seniors. Covers the largest transit system in the western US.

BART and other Bay Area transit agencies offer the Clipper START program providing 20% discounts on BART, Muni, AC Transit, and more for low-income adults. Covers the entire Bay Area transit network including BART, buses, and ferries.

California has the strongest Ban the Box laws in the nation (AB 1008). Major employers including Dave's Hot Chicken, Homeboy Industries partners, Starbucks, Target, and hundreds of LA-based companies actively hire returning citizens. CA prohibits automatic criminal record disqualification.

World-famous social enterprise employing formerly gang-involved and incarcerated individuals. Businesses include bakery, café, grocery, and merchandise. Full job training and job placement with outside employers.

Free civil legal services for low-income residents in the San Francisco Bay Area. Handles housing, family law, immigration, and record clearance.

Free legal services for vulnerable LA residents including record expungement clinics, elder law, housing, and reentry legal support.

Emergency shelter, meals, and transitional housing for homeless men, women, and families in Sacramento. Strong reentry support and job training programs.

Comprehensive homeless services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, meals, and recovery programs for men, women, and families.

One of the largest rescue missions in the US, serving 1,000+ homeless men, women, and children nightly on Skid Row. Comprehensive reentry and recovery programs.

Distributes over 100 million pounds of food per year to nearly 900 partner agencies across Los Angeles County. Pantry locator available on website.

One of the top trade colleges in the US offering automotive, culinary arts, construction, fashion, and cosmetology. Strong reentry program called UNITE.

Paid conservation work combined with trade skills training including forestry, construction, and emergency response. Residential program available.

Oversees CalFresh (SNAP), CalWORKs (TANF), Medi-Cal, and extensive reentry support programs. County offices in every California county.

Affordable thrift clothing and goods. Run by AIDS Healthcare Foundation — proceeds fund HIV/AIDS programs. Free HIV testing on-site. Welcoming to all including formerly incarcerated.

Low-cost clothing, shoes, and accessories. Goodwill San Diego specifically employs people with barriers to employment including those with records.

Full-service VA medical center offering primary care, mental health, PTSD treatment, substance abuse programs, and specialty care. Free to eligible veterans. Homeless veteran services on-site including HUD-VASH housing vouchers.

Job training, resume help, interview coaching, and direct placement services. Goodwill is a well-known felon-friendly employer and helps place people with records at partner companies.

Temporary staffing for warehouse, construction, hospitality, and event work. Get paid daily through their app. Background-friendly for most assignments. Multiple LA-area locations.