Serving Low-income Sacramento County Residents

Background

The Department of Human Assistance administers various federal, state, and local government programs designed to provide temporary cash aid, food assistance, and health insurance for eligible low-income Sacramento County residents.

CalFresh can help you and your family.

CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) enables you to buy more food, improve health and nutrition, and stretch your grocery budget.

To request a CalFresh application or get more information, call

(916) 874-3100 or (209) 744-0499

Apply for CalFresh online.

For more information about how to apply and use CalFresh, read brochure.

In certain situations, you may qualify to receive emergency CalFresh within three (3) days.

CalWORKs

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program is California’s replacement of the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) Program. Also known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), this program provides cash assistance for eligible families with children (time-limited for non-exempt adults). In 2008, approximately 31,300 families received CalWORKs in Sacramento County.

Cal-Learn Program

The Cal-Learn Program, a program for pregnant or parenting teens under the age of 19 on welfare, is a statewide, mandatory program designed to help them graduate from high school and become self-sufficient.

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a state-funded cash assistance program for certain aged, blind and disabled immigrants. DHA is the lead county in the North State/Orange CAPI Consortium. DHA staff processes applications and maintains continuing cases for Orange County and 24 Northern California counties.

Child Care

CalWORKs provides temporary child care subsidies to eligible needy families. The CalWORKs Child Care system aids families in getting connected to local child care resources, stabilizing their child care arrangements and continuing with their services until they no longer need aid.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a special refund for low income working families that is in addition to any income tax refunds they may already receive. In 2008, DHA helped 2,489 low income working families complete their Federal and State income tax returns electronically at no charge. The total refunds were more than $3.8 million.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

The Golden State Advantage Card, a new, easy to use part of Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT, will soon replace FAIR cards, food stamp coupons, and paper checks for Sacramento County recipients.

AFDC—Foster Care (AFDC—FC)

The AFDC—Foster Care (AFDC—FC) Program provides cash and Medi-Cal benefits for providers of out-of-home care for children placed into foster care by Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS) or the Probation Department.

General Assistance

The General Assistance (GA) Program is a repayable program designed to provide short-term assistance to indigent adults who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, unemployed or verified unemployable and who have no other means of support.