This referral guide can provide you with some key information during periods of financial challenge. Getting the services you need, getting on top of limited financial resources and knowing your rights can all help you during these stressful times. If you have any questions regarding community services in general, please Contact us.
Online
Helplink
Helplink is an information and referral program that provides assistance to individuals who need access to community resources, health care, employment, housing, substance abuse programs, and food programs. Helplink's operators are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Call to get more information: 415-808-HELP or 1-800-273-6222, www.211bayarea.org.
FirstGov.gov
The official site for United States Government information, services, transactions, and forms.
www.firstgov.gov
FTC's Do Not Call Program
California is joining in the national Do Not Call registry which is FREE to consumers. If you sign up today, you can stop unwanted telemarketing calls beginning in October 2003 under the nationwide program. Only California residential and mobile telephone numbers are eligible for this program. http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us
Federal Trade Commission
This organization provides consumer protection information and news. www.ftc.gov
Identity Theft Resource Center
A national nonprofit organization that focuses exclusively on identity theft. www.idtheftcenter.org
Child Care
Children's Council of San Francisco, 415-276-2900
One of the first child care resource and referral agencies in the United States, Children's Council of San Francisco has been helping local children, families, and child care providers for 28 years. Each year Children's Council provides more than 5,000 free child care referrals to parents; start-up training, technical assistance, and material support to 1,000 child care providers; child care subsidy assistance to low-income families, and child care advocacy and information to the general public. Children's Council supports parental choice in child care, and is committed to serving the needs of all of San Francisco's diverse communities.
Head Start, Economic Opportunity Council, 415-405-0500
Preschool and child development programs that provide education, health screening, and social services.
South of Market Child Care Inc., 415-820-3500
A multicultural day care provider for low income children.
Consumer & Financial Issues
Better Business Bureau, 415-243-9999
Offers consumer information, education, and protection, as well as binding arbitration to settle consumer/business disputes informally.
California Department of Consumer Affairs, 800-952-5210
California Public Utilities Commission, 800-649-7570
Receives and investigates complaints against California utilities.
Consumer Action, 415-777-9635
Provides a consumer information and referral hotline, resource library and advocacy project. Also offers educational material on credit and financing.
Federal Trade Commission, 877-382-4357
Oversees credit bureaus and collection agencies and enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
San Francisco District Attorney: Consumer Fraud & Environmental Protection Unit, 415-551-9595
Accepts, investigates, and mediates complaints against businesses.
TAX.AID, 415-434-5533
Attorneys and CPAs prepare tax returns for low income individuals.
Employment
Center for Employment and Training, 415-255-8880
Offers employment services such as training, counseling, placement, and GED preparation.
Employment Development Department, 415-695-6500
Job Service, 415-749-7599
This state agency provides job training and placement, as well as, applications to receive unemployment benefits.
Jewish Vocational Service, 415-391-3600
Offers career counseling, job search preparation, and job listings.
National Council on the Aging, Inc. Senior Community Service Employment Program, 415-982-7007
Provides job training and job search programs for low income seniors (55 and over).
San Francisco Department of Human Resources Employment Information, 415-557-4800
Job Hotline, 415-557-4888
SCORE, 415-744-6827
Service Corps of Retired Employees offer advice for small businesses and self-employed people.
Women's Initiative for Self Employment, 415-247-9473
Provides business consulting services, business support services, and financing services to low to moderate income women. Services also include workshops and individual consulting.
Food
Project Open Hand, 415-558-0600
Provides cooked meals for people with HIV; operates food bank.
San Francisco Department of Public Health: Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC), 888-942-9675
A supplemental food program that provides vouchers for nutritious foods to low income pregnant or breast feeding women, infants and children up to age 5.
Housing
The Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, 415-703-8634
Information provided on landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities.
San Francisco Department of Human Services Emergency Housing, 415-558-4773
San Francisco Housing Authority, 415-554-1200
Administers public housing programs in San Francisco.
San Francisco Rent Stabilization Board, 415-252-4600
San Francisco Tenants Union, 415-282-6622
Provides tenants rights counseling and publishes a handbook and newsletter on tenants rights. www.sftu.org
California Department of Consumer Affairs
Publishes California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities, available for download at
www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/.
Legal
Bar Association of San Francisco, 415-982-1600
Lawyer Referral, 415-989-1616
Legal Assistance to the Elderly, 415-861-4444
Provides legal assistance and referrals to seniors.
Bay Area Legal Aid, 415-354-6360
Provides free civil legal aid for low-income people
www.baylegal.org
San Francisco County Municipal Court Small Claims Court Advisor, 415-554-4565
Provides free advice to any small claims court litigation.
Medical
AIDS Hotline, 800-367-2437
www.aidshotline.org
Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, 415-487-5632
Provides health screening and general medical treatment.
Medi-Cal, 415-558-1955
Medi-Cal Women's and Children's Health Referral Line, 800-300-9950
A referral service for women and children who need Medi-Cal, free or low cost health care.
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, 415-206-8000
A county hospital providing medical care, fees vary according to income and service.
San Francisco Free Clinic, 415-750-9894
Provides free primary medical care services for the uninsured.
South of Market Health Center, 415-626-2951
A general family medical and dental clinic. No one is denied service.
St. Luke's Neighborhood Clinic, 415-647-8111
Offers medical outpatient services to low income individuals.
www.stlukes-sf.org
University of The Pacific School of Dentistry, 415-929-6500
Provides low cost dental care for adults and children.
Social Service
Bay Area Women's and Children's Center, 415-474-2400
Provides information and referrals for housing, medical, legal, food, and other social services.
Catholic Charities of San Francisco, 415-281-1200
Services include counseling, advocacy for the disabled, comprehensive services for homeless families, and seniors.
Debtors Anonymous, 415-522-9099
Family Service of San Francisco, 415-474-7310
Provides social service to individuals and families under stress.
Gamblers Anonymous, 800-287-8670
Self-help program for those affected by compulsive gambling.
General Assistance Advocacy Project, 415-928-8191
Advocates on behalf of individuals applying for, receiving, denied GA, food stamps, or SSI.
Social Security/Medicare, 800-772-1213
San Francisco Department of Social Services Aid to Families with Dependent Children, 415-557-5723
Provides financial aid to children and their families with little or no income.
San Francisco Department of Social Services Food Stamps Program, 415-558-1000
Provides coupons which can be used to purchase food for low income individuals.
San Francisco Department of Social Services General Assistance, 415-558-1000
Provides short term financial assistance and social service to needy residents.
San Francisco City and County Commission on the Aging Senior Information and Referral, 415-626-1033
Offers information and referrals for health care, social services, legal assistance, housing, etc.
St. Vincent De Paul Society, 415-379-7800
Administers a variety of social services including temporary assistance with food, clothing, and shelter.
|
