Sacramento County
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2018 People’s Guide to HEALTH, WELFARE AND OTHER SERVICES SACRAMENTO COUNTY $ ? Introduction The Peoples Guide is a partnership between the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness [SRCEH], Sacramento Steps Forward, Sacramento Central Labor Council, SacSOS and United Way CA Capital Region. The People’s Guide is a practical self-advocacy information guide and directory on how to get food, income, jobs and training, housing, health and dental care, legal advice, and other important help from local, state and federal programs and community services in Sacramento County. The Guide is not only a self-advocacy guide to these programs, but also gives you advice on what you can do if you are treated unfairly or do not receive what you are entitled to by law. The Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness [SRCEH] believes that every person has the right to healthy and nutritious food, healthcare, and safe, decent, accessible and affordable housing. Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness: 916-993-7708 www.srceh.org 2-1-1 Sacramento 2-1-1 is a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week telephone information and referral service. Operators are SacSOS available in many languages. They can help you SRCEH has partnered with SacSOS [www. find emergency food and shelter, legal and financial sacsos.org] to create a People’s Guide assistance, counseling and many other resources. “app” for cell phones and computers Dial 2-1-1 that will be identical to this print edition. Currently SacSOS is a continuously updated TTY line (800) 660-4026 list of free and low-cost resources available Sacramento County 311 Mobile App: While 211 is for to Sacramento residents. information and referral, 311 can provide emergency information. Get notifications by email, text, cell and landlines in local emergences. Sign up at www.Sacramento-Alert.org The People’s Guide is based on the long-running publication The People’s Guide to Welfare, Health & Other Services in Los Angeles County ©2017-2018 Hunger Action LA Editor: Frank Tamborello Research Associate: Kai Erlenbusch, Elizabeth Medrano Editorial Committee and Major Contributors: Sacramento Central Labor Council, Sacramento Department of Health and Human Services; Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance; Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency; United Way California Capitol Region; Sacramento Employment and Training Agency; Alchemist; Bob Erlenbusch; Cara Dwyer; Paul Freese; Stephen Goldberg; Alan Lange; Paula Lomazzi; Hayley Mead; Farah Saberi; Amy Williams; Shahera Hyatt; Andrew Geurkink; Greg Larkins Contributors and Funders: Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefits Program; Rabobank; Sacramento Central Labor Council; Sacramento Municipal Utility District [SMUD]; Sutter Health Valley Area - North Valley; Teichert Foundation ; and Wells Fargo Foundation DISCLAIMER: The Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness and other contributors to this book are not responsible for the action, conduct, treatment you receive, and/or quality of service of any private (non-government) agencies listed in this book and their staff. Government agencies have their own complaint procedures (see pg. 81.) 2 The People’s Guide 2018 Contents Tax Credits ...........pg 56 If You Just Lost Health Care Extra money for workers and renters Your Job.........pg 4 $ CalWORKs ..............pg 57 Shelter and Healthcare/ Cash and other aid for families with Medi-Cal .......pg 35 children under 19 Housing: Medical assistance for families, seniors, the disabled Child Care & Education Persons Experiencing ......................pg 65 Homelessness Children’s Healthcare Assistance for working parents ......................pg 10 ................................pg 39 Foster Care ...pg 67 How to stay safe while homeless Low Cost Health Social Security Programs and where to find basic shelter Care (includes ......................pg 68 dental, hearing and eye Low Cost Housing care)........................pg 40 For people who are disabled, blind, or ......................pg 17 Health carefor those who don’t qualify over 65 for Medi-Cal Veteran’s Services Renters and ......................pg 73 Homeowners Rights Free & Low Mental Health ......................pg 18 and Developmental Services .......pg 43 General Assistance Help with foreclosure: Tenants ......................pg 74 issues: Your rights against eviction In Home Care and Long Cash aid for single adults Utility and Phone Term Care .....pg 45 Assistance ...pg 19 Transportation Help with utility bills and special ......................pg 77 Drug and Alcohol phone equipment for the disabled Bus passes:affordable car insurance Treatment .....pg 46 Food: Clothing ........pg 78 Medicare .......pg 48 ? More Advice: CalFresh (Food Stamps).... ....pg 21 Income, Jobs, Guide for Non-Citizens Assistance to buy more food & $ .............................pg 79 Free & Low Cost Food Training: ..................... pg 25 Job Training..........pg 49 Hearings and Complaints Community colleges and job training Food pantries, meals for seniors, .............................pg 81 farmers markets, community gardens How to get the benefits you’re entitled to Persons in Re-Entry...pg 51 WIC..................pg 33 Help for persons coming out of prison or Legal Advice ............pg 82 Nutrition assistance for mothers, jail infants and children Legal Aid and crisis resources Worker's Rights and Child Nutrition .....pg 34 Unemployment ....pg 53 Department of Human Free meals for children Unemployment, worker’s rights, and Assistance Offices.......pg 84 aid for the temporarily disabled 3 The People’s Guide 2018 If You Just Lost Your Job $ Insurance, Accrued vacation pay/compensation time, Social Creating Financial Stability Security Benefits (if you are drawing them), Reimbursement from pension funds,/401ks, and Deferred Compensation programs. As soon as you become aware of a layoff or termination, you should quickly face the financial realities of your job loss. Now is the time to prepare for the future, and create a Step 3: List Your Assets personal money management plan. Planning now can help ease the pain. There are steps you can take to help handle When your normal monthly income has stopped, you may this financial crisis until you go back to work. By develop- have to use some of your assets to help cover the shortfall ing budgetary plans early, you can forestall or avoid more until you get back to work. Cash becomes one of your most severe spending reductions later. precious assets when income is interrupted, or changed. Other asset possibilities may include some of the following: Equity in your home, Cash value of insurance Financial Action Plan policies, Prepaid burial or funeral policies, Time share vacation homes or other real estate, Social Clubs & Season tickets packages, Commodity Investments, and Step 1: Prepare A Complete Household Budget Resale value of vehicles, motorcycles, boats, trailers, etc. A budget or spending plan helps you see where you must spend your money, and what you can postpone for a while Step 4: List Your Monthly Household Expenses or where you can save by eliminating some expenses. Your budgeted expenses should include: Expenses come in two forms - fixed and discretionary. There . Fixed expenses, including rent, mortgage, home is a range of monthly fixed living expenses that must be equity loans, utilities, healthcare/prescription insurance, paid. These include mortgage or rent payments, auto and life insurance, loans, credit card and installment utilities and property taxes. Discretionary expenses include payments and other monthly payment obligation that are entertainment and clothing. Some expenses such as scheduled for monthly payment. transportation and food fall into both categories. Reduce or . Monthly living expenses, including food, gas, eliminate discretionary expenses at the first sign of your repairs, dues, social/recreation activities. job loss. Do not take on any new debts unless absolutely . Future expenses, income/property tax, tuitions, necessary! dental, and any other outstanding debts. Financial Action Plan Prepare a complete monthly budget. Step 5: Make a Complete List of Your Creditors & 1. List all of your family’s income. Credit Obligations 2. List all of your family’s assets. 3. List fixed, monthly, and future expenses. Make a list of ALL of your creditors, and include: Total 4. Make a list of credit obligations. Amount Owed, Payment Schedule and Amount, Credit Card 5. Set priorities for your expenses. numbers, and the name, address & phone number of the 6. Contact creditors, and develop a plan. contact person. 7. Reduce your household expenses. 8. Check into other financial resources. Stop using all your credit cards. Why compound your financial problems? Interest on most credit purchases is Step 2: List Your Monthly Income - Even if you lost extremely high. Do not add to your burden. your job, there may be other wage earners in the house. Calculate your monthly net income and include all sources Step 6: Set Priorities For Your Expenses no matter how small or large: wages, tips, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and disability Place your payments in order of importance, with the insurance, income from odd jobs, or things you have been most important at the top. Place, the next most important paid for in cash. second, and so on. This will help you pay first things first when money is short. Your monthly budgeted income should include: Buy out/ severance pay, Unemployment Insurance benefits, State Disability