|
Assistance Programs in Imperial County and El Centro, California
Imperial County residents across El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Holtville, Imperial, Westmorland, and the surrounding agricultural communities have access to emergency financial assistance. Options include food, utility help, and housing assistance through a network of nonprofits, community action agencies, faith-based organizations, and government programs. This page covers verified resources for emergency aid, housing as well as rent assistance, legal help, and senior support throughout the county.
Campesinos Unidos is Imperial County's designated community action agency and the primary source of federally funded LIHEAP energy assistance and weatherization services for the region. The Salvation Army's Imperial Valley Corps operates the largest multi-service emergency program in El Centro, combining overnight shelter, food distribution, hot meals, and family services. Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego runs emergency food and senior programs alongside the county's only comprehensive day center for unhoused individuals. Neighborhood House of Calexico has served the border community since 1938 with shelter, emergency food, and utility assistance for families. WomanHaven has been the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in Imperial County since 1977.
Start Here — Find Help Fast
- Utility bills / LIHEAP / weatherization: Campesinos Unidos — (760) 370-5100
- Emergency shelter, food, family services (El Centro): Salvation Army Imperial Valley Corps — (760) 352-4528
- Homeless day center, outreach & rapid rehousing: Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego — (760) 353-6823
- Shelter for women & children, emergency food, rent/utility help (Calexico): Neighborhood House of Calexico — (760) 357-6875
- Free legal aid (low income, farmworkers, immigrants): California Rural Legal Assistance — (760) 353-0220
- Senior services, meals, legal help, insurance counseling: Imperial County Area Agency on Aging — (442) 265-7000
- Food bank / food distribution: Imperial Valley Food Bank — (760) 370-0966. Or see a larger list at the page about Imperial County food pantries.
- CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, IHSS: Imperial County Dept. of Social Services — (760) 337-6800
Community Action & Emergency Assistance
Start here if you are facing an immediate crisis with utility bills, rent, food, or other basic needs. These organizations provide the broadest range of direct financial assistance for Imperial County residents.
Campesinos Unidos, Inc.
Campesinos Unidos has been Imperial County's federally designated community action agency since June 1989, governed by a tripartite board representing the public, low-income community members, and business, labor, and civic interests. The agency serves Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego counties and is the primary administrator of federally funded energy assistance programs throughout the Imperial Valley. Programs include:
- LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Federally funded utility bill assistance that provides credits directly to qualifying households' electric or gas accounts. Priority is given to households with the lowest incomes, seniors aged 60 and over, people with permanent disabilities, and families with children under five. Funding is limited and demand often exceeds supply; apply as early as possible when the program opens each cycle.
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): Free home energy improvements — including insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling system upgrades — for income-qualifying renters and homeowners.
- Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP): In partnership with SoCalGas and SDG&E, provides no-cost energy-saving home improvements for eligible low-income customers of those utilities.
- Emergency social services: Help paying past-due rent or utilities, emergency food access, and case manager referrals to community partners for additional support. Funded through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) partnership: Assists families who are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness with emergency food and shelter support.
- USDA Commodities distribution: In partnership with the Imperial Valley Food Bank, distributes USDA food commodities at two Imperial County sites.
- VITA (free tax preparation): Coordinates free electronic federal and state income tax filing for low- and moderate-income working households during tax season at two county sites. Also promotes the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the California EITC (CA EITC).
- Referrals: Case managers connect qualifying clients to additional local charities, churches, government programs, and support services across the region.
Contact: (760) 370-5100 | 1005 C. Street, Brawley, CA 92227. https://campesinosunidos.org/
The Salvation Army Imperial Valley Corps Est. 1865
The Salvation Army's Imperial Valley location in El Centro serves as the region's most comprehensive single-site emergency service center, operating year-round with overnight shelter, food distribution, hot meals, social services, and seasonal programs for individuals and families facing hardship. Programs include:
- Emergency night shelter: Overnight shelter for adults experiencing homelessness, available on a regular basis throughout the year. Call ahead to confirm current intake procedures and bed availability.
- Food pantry: Free groceries available to qualifying households on select weekday mornings. Call to confirm current schedule before visiting.
- Hot meals: Free meals served to anyone in the community on weekdays during midday hours at the Community Corps Center.
- Family Services Program: Emergency rent, utility, and food assistance for households in crisis. Case managers assess needs and may coordinate with other community partners for additional resources.
- Homeless outreach: Staff conduct outreach efforts to connect unsheltered individuals with shelter, services, and resources.
- Senior assistance: Help for elderly residents with food, utility support, and referrals to senior-specific programs in the community.
- Seasonal programs: Angel Tree Christmas gifts for children, Thanksgiving holiday meals, and back-to-school supply distributions.
- Family Thrift Store: Low-cost clothing and household goods available at a separate location (1301 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243).
Contact: (760) 352-4528 | Office: 375 N. 5th St., El Centro, CA 92243 | Community Corps Center: 397 W. Ross Ave., El Centro, CA 92243. https://imperialvalley.salvationarmy.org/
Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego
Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego has maintained a presence in Imperial County for decades and today operates both emergency assistance programs and the county's first dedicated day center for unhoused community members. Services are open to all regardless of religion or immigration status. Programs in Imperial County include:
- Catholic Charities Day Center (250 W. Orange Ave., El Centro): A daily resource hub for unhoused individuals open seven days a week. The center provides meals, showers, laundry, clothing, case management, rapid rehousing navigation, services coordination, and transportation from street outreach locations throughout the county.
- Street outreach: Staff conduct outreach throughout Imperial County, including Calexico, Seeley, and El Centro, transporting unhoused individuals to the Day Center and connecting them with housing resources.
- Emergency food assistance: Food distribution programs for qualifying residents.
- Senior Companion Program: Volunteer companionship and support for homebound seniors, with a dedicated office at the same El Centro location. Phone: (760) 353-6822.
- Congregate senior meals: Contracted through the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging to operate hot meal programs at designated community sites for residents aged 60 and over.
- Baby supplies and holiday programs for qualifying families.
Contact: (760) 353-6823 | 250 W. Orange Avenue, El Centro, CA 92243. https://ccdsd.org/
Neighborhood House of Calexico Est. 1938
Neighborhood House of Calexico is one of Imperial County's longest-operating social service agencies, serving the Imperial Valley continuously since 1938. Originally established as a settlement house through the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries, the organization provides comprehensive direct services for low-income families and individuals along the U.S.–Mexico border. Programs include:
- Emergency shelter for women and children: A residential shelter providing room, food, clothing, and intensive case management for homeless women and their children, supported by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and community donations. The shelter works with families toward self-sufficiency and community reintegration.
- Emergency Assistance Program: Short-term aid for low-income Imperial County residents including emergency food pantry, clothing vouchers, utility assistance (gas, water, electricity) when funds are available, and rental assistance when funds are available. Appointments are required; call ahead.
- Childcare and preschool: Subsidized childcare for working parents, including preschool, home visitation, and educational support programs for young children.
- ESL classes: English as a Second Language instruction for adult community members.
- Micro business support: Workshops and resources for residents interested in starting or developing small businesses.
- Diaper program: Diapers provided at reduced cost to income-qualifying Imperial County families.
- Mission Thrift Store: Located in El Centro, offering low-cost clothing, furniture, and household items for families in need.
- Contact: (760) 357-6875 | 506 E. 4th Street, Calexico, CA 92231. https://nhclx.org/
Housing, Shelter & Rental Assistance
For emergency rental assistance beyond public housing programs, also see Campesinos Unidos and Neighborhood House of Calexico above, both of which offer limited emergency rental help on an as-available basis.
Imperial Valley Housing Authority Est. 1950
The Imperial Valley Housing Authority (IVHA) has managed affordable housing programs throughout Imperial County since 1950, serving low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and agricultural workers. IVHA administers federally and state-funded programs at properties and offices across the county. Programs include:
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8): Subsidized rental assistance for qualifying low-income households in the private rental market. Vouchers allow participants to choose housing in the community while IVHA pays a portion of the rent directly to landlords. Applicants are encouraged to check the website for updates.
- Public Housing: IVHA-owned and managed affordable rental units in El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Holtville, and Imperial. Rent is calculated based on household income per federal guidelines.
- Senior and Disabled Housing: Dedicated affordable housing communities for seniors and individuals with disabilities at locations throughout Imperial County.
- Housing Opportunities for Farm Workers: Affordable housing specifically developed for qualifying agricultural workers and their families.
- Family Self-Sufficiency Program: A voluntary savings and goal-setting program for Housing Choice Voucher participants working toward financial independence.
Contact: (760) 337-7500 (El Centro office) | 1690 W. Adams Ave., El Centro, CA 92243 | Admin office: (760) 351-7000 | 1402 D St., Brawley, CA 92227. https://www.ivha.org/
Guadalupe Men's Shelter
The Guadalupe Men's Shelter in Calexico provides emergency overnight shelter accommodations for homeless men in the Imperial Valley, offering a safe place to sleep and access to basic needs for individuals in the Calexico–El Centro area. Call ahead to confirm current availability and intake procedures before arriving. Contact: (760) 357-0894 | 2545 Encinas Street, Calexico, CA 92231.
Food & Basic Needs Assistance
Campesinos Unidos, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Neighborhood House of Calexico also provide significant food programs — see their entries above. The organizations below focus primarily on food distribution and pantry services.
Imperial Valley Food Bank Est. 1991
The Imperial Valley Food Bank is an independent nonprofit that has served as the county's central food distribution hub since 1991, sourcing and distributing food to partner agencies throughout Imperial County and directly to households at its facility in Imperial. The food bank is the designated county agency for USDA commodity receipt and distribution. Programs include:
- Agency distribution: The food bank supplies food to a network of partner nonprofits and pantries throughout Imperial County, including the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Campesinos Unidos, the Imperial Valley Housing Authority, Neighborhood House of Calexico, and the Sister Evelyn Mourey Center, among others.
- Monthly food box distributions: Direct distribution events open to all Imperial County residents. Call or check the website for current schedule and distribution locations.
- USDA Commodities / Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP): Distribution of federally supplied food commodities through the food bank and its partner sites at multiple county locations.
- Mobile Food Pantry: Brings food distribution directly to underserved and rural communities throughout Imperial County on a rotating schedule.
- Weekend Backpack Program: Backpacks of food provided to school-age children to take home on weekends when school meals are not available.
- CalFresh Outreach: Helps eligible Imperial County residents apply for CalFresh (food stamps) benefits.
- Nutrition education and community garden programs throughout the county.
Contact: (760) 370-0966 | 486 West Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251. https://www.ivfoodbank.com/
Sister Evelyn Mourey Center Est. 1989
Founded in 1989 by a Catholic missionary sister who witnessed the daily struggles of working poor families in El Centro's Posada del Sol community, the Sister Evelyn Mourey Center has provided food, clothing, and skills-building services from within that neighborhood for more than three decades. The center obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2010 and has since expanded its programs in partnership with the Imperial Valley Housing Authority and local community organizations. Programs include:
- Emergency food pantry: Free food available to qualifying residents from the center's location inside the Posada del Sol apartment complex.
- USDA Commodities Distribution Center: Monthly distribution of federally supplied food commodities for income-qualifying households.
- Sisters Closet clothing boutique: Low-cost or free clothing, shoes, and household items for those in need.
- ESL classes, enrichment presentations, and community education workshops held in the Imperial Valley Housing Authority's Community Room.
- Micro-entrepreneurship programs: Skills training and support for residents interested in starting small businesses.
Holiday events and community meals throughout the year.
Contact: (760) 352-1039 | 1400 N. Imperial Ave., Apt. 141 (Posada del Sol Apartments), El Centro, CA 92243.
Senior Services
The following programs serve residents aged 60 and older throughout Imperial County. The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and the Imperial Valley Food Bank also offer senior-focused services within their broader programs — see entries above.
Imperial County Area Agency on Aging (ICAAA)
The Imperial County Area Agency on Aging is the county-administered planning and coordinating agency for services to seniors throughout Imperial County. It receives funding through both the federal Older Americans Act and the State of California and contracts with local service providers to deliver free or low-cost services to residents aged 60 and older. Programs coordinated through ICAAA include:
- Information and Assistance call center: Connects seniors and caregivers with appropriate services and resources across Imperial County.
- Congregate meals: Hot meals served at designated senior centers and community sites in El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, and other communities. Transportation to meal sites is available for eligible seniors.
- Home-delivered meals: Nutritious meals delivered directly to the homes of homebound seniors who are unable to travel to a congregate site.
- In-home respite care: Temporary relief services for family members and unpaid caregivers supporting dependent older adults at home.
- Legal assistance: Free basic legal advice and document preparation for seniors, covering wills, advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and deed transfers. Provided by contracted attorneys.
- HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program): Free and unbiased one-on-one counseling on Medicare, Medi-Cal, and supplemental health insurance options.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Advocates for the rights and quality of care of residents living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other licensed long-term care settings throughout the county.
- ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center): A coordinated single point of entry for seniors and people with disabilities seeking long-term services and supports, operated in partnership with Access to Independence.
- Senior health clinics and wellness education programs.
Contact: (442) 265-7000 or toll-free 1-800-510-2020 | 778 W. State St., El Centro, CA 92243. https://www.aaa24.org/
State & County Government Programs
Imperial County residents may be eligible for a range of state-administered benefit programs. The county Department of Social Services handles applications for multiple programs at a single office.
Imperial County Department of Social Services (ICDSS)
The Imperial County Department of Social Services administers state and federally funded benefit programs for low-income, disabled, and elderly residents throughout Imperial County. Programs include:
- CalFresh (formerly food stamps / SNAP): Monthly food assistance benefits loaded onto an EBT card for qualifying individuals and families to use at grocery stores and participating retailers.
- Medi-Cal: California's Medicaid program providing free or low-cost health insurance coverage to qualifying low-income residents, including families, seniors, children, and adults with disabilities.
- CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids): Cash assistance and employment services for qualifying families with children.
- In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): Provides personal care, meal preparation, domestic assistance, and other support to eligible seniors aged 65 and over, qualifying disabled adults, and eligible blind individuals, helping them remain safely in their own homes.
- General Relief: County-funded cash assistance for indigent adults with no other source of support and not otherwise covered by state or federal programs.
- Adult Protective Services (APS): Provides 24/7 investigation and intervention services for reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of dependent adults and elders. Elder abuse reporting hotline: (760) 337-7878.
- Family Justice Center: A coordinated service hub connecting survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and abuse with housing, medical, mental health, legal, and immigration support services from multiple partner agencies in one location.
Contact: (760) 337-6800 | 2995 S. 4th Street, Suite 105, El Centro, CA 92243. https://www.imperialcountysocialservices.org/
Free Legal Aid
The following organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal services to qualifying residents of Imperial County. Appointments are generally required; walk-ins may not be accommodated.
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) — El Centro Office Est. 1966
Founded in 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty — with Cesar Chavez and Cruz Reynoso among those present at its founding meeting — California Rural Legal Assistance is a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of California's rural communities and small cities. The El Centro office serves Imperial County and focuses particularly on farmworkers, immigrant populations, people with disabilities, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Services include:
- Civil legal representation: Free representation in a wide range of civil matters including housing, employment, immigration, public benefits, health care, consumer issues, and family law.
- Farmworker rights: Litigation and advocacy on behalf of agricultural workers regarding wages, working conditions, housing, and related issues.
- Eviction defense and housing: Legal assistance for tenants facing eviction, unsafe housing conditions, or landlord disputes.
- Immigration legal services: Assistance with immigration cases and advocacy for immigrant communities throughout the Imperial Valley.
- Public benefits: Help accessing CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, disability benefits, and other programs.
- Community legal education: Workshops and outreach events to help community members understand their legal rights.
- LGBTQ+ program and Indigenous program services.
An appointment is required; call or submit an online intake request at the website. Contact: (760) 353-0220 | 449 Broadway St., El Centro, CA 92243. https://crla.org/
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
Need help navigating programs?