California State Government Bill Assistance Programs

State Government Assistance Programs

Here is a list of state bill assistance programs. Municipal government or non-profit organizations may also offer bill assistance options.

The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) partners with a network of private non-profit and public local community service providers dedicated to helping low-income families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency, meet their home energy needs and reside in housing free from the dangers of lead hazards. CSD administers California’s federal funding share for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program (LEAD).

It helps low-income, uninsured people receive the surgical and specialty care they need but cannot afford by leveraging community-based medical volunteerism. Operation Access is dedicated to restoring patients’ ability to work, support loved ones and enjoy healthy lives while preventing the development of more serious medical conditions. The donated surgeries and procedures provided through the organization also help reduce the strain on emergency rooms, where most Operation Access patients would otherwise turn for care.

RentAssistance is a free online database of agencies and organizations that will help residents pay their rent. Some listings are government organizations other are non-profits and charities that offer rental assistance programs.

The CHDAP provides a deferred-payment junior loan – up to 3% of the purchase price, or appraised value, whichever is less, to be used for town payment and/or closing costs. This program may be combined with a CalHFA or non-CalHFA, first mortgage loan.
For more than 35 years, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has supported the needs of renters and first-time homebuyers by providing financing and programs that create safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income Californians. Established in 1975, CalHFA was chartered as the State’s affordable housing bank to make low interest rate loans through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. A completely self-supporting State agency, bonds are repaid by revenues generated through mortgage loans, not taxpayer dollars.

As the nation’s foreclosure epidemic continues to worsen, the Center for Responsible Lending has formed the Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance (IFLA) to support groups giving legal representation to families facing foreclosure and financial ruin because of abusive subprime mortgages. The National Association of Consumer Advocates will manage the project, which recognizes that one of the biggest barriers families face to avoid losing their homes is the lack of access to quality legal services.
The Institute, launched with a $15 million grant from investment management firm Paulson & Co. Inc., will provide funding and training to organizations that help homeowners negotiate alternatives to foreclosure. The majority of the funds will be grants to support direct legal assistance to borrowers in 10 or more states to fight foreclosure, predatory lenders and abusive loan servicers. It will do this primarily by providing money to top non-profit legal-aid groups and law school clinics.

Children’s Home Society of California has three Child Care Assistance Programs that provide subsidized child care services to eligible families, including Alternative Payment, CalWORKs, and Child Protective Services.
Alternative program provides all or part of child care expenses while parents work, seek work, attend school, seek permanent housing, are deemed incapacitated and/or at risk by a legally qualified professional, and/or are receiving child protective services.
CalWORKs provides parents with child care referrals, technical assistance, and assistance with the cost of child care as families are transitioning off cash aid/welfare assistance.
Child Protective Services provide child care to children certified to be at risk of abuse or neglect because of inappropriate parenting, a family medical emergency, or other family crisis.

Temporary Energy Assistance for Families (TEAF) is a one-time payment program sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and administered by The Salvation Army.
This program, authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and made possible with partial funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), helps income-qualified families who are unable to pay for their energy needs due to an unplanned hardship. Federal rules apply in determining eligibility in this financial assistance.

This program provides assistance to low-income households that are in a crisis situation. Examples include a household that has received a 24- or 48-hour disconnect notice or service termination by their utility company or an energy-related crisis of life-threatening emergency exists in the applicant’s household.

Provides financial assistance to eligible households to offset the costs of heating and/or cooling dwellings.

Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 20 percent discount on their electric and natural gas bills and are not billed in higher rate tiers that were created for Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). CARE is funded through a rate surcharge paid by all other utility customers.

The LIEE program provides no-cost weatherization services to low-income households who meet the CARE guidelines. Services provided include attic insulation, energy efficient refrigerators, energy efficient furnaces, weathers tripping, caulking, low-flow showerheads, water heater blankets, and door and building envelope repairs which reduce air infiltration

Energy Management Assistance offered by the Southern California Edison for its customers to help them find smart energy and cost-saving solutions to control energy usage, improve brand value and comply with company-wide mandates for environmental performance.

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