Financial Resources and Literacy

The CSULA student food pantry is available Tuesday-Thursday each week from 10am-2pm located in the student union building on the third floor in Room 308E. It is held in a very large building during convenient hours each week to best accommodate the students that need it most.

Included in the financial aid services is a special circumstances appeal that uniquely helps students struggling with poverty to best suit their needs despite the normal structure of typical financial aid services.

Federal work study specializes in funding and providing employment opportunities to the students that are in the greatest need of being provided jobs due to severe financial circumstances.

Cal State LA's Basic Needs Grant Program allows for students who are experiencing financial crisis due to recent, serious, unexpected circumstances beyond their control to apply for up to $500 in financial hardship support funding per school year. For more information please visit or contact the Dean of Students at (323) 343-3103 located in Student Services, 4th Floor - Room 4380

This particular program helps first generation undergraduate students, a service that applies to the overwhelming majority of impoverished students statistically. It primarily rewards students with overcoming social and economic barriers while rewarding grants for academic success. 

Academic Supply and Textbook Support is available to any Cal State LA student who is enrolled in a degree-seeking program.  Academic Supply and Textbook Support is available for use in-person at the campus bookstore and has no cash value. For more information please visit or contact the Dean of Students at (323) 343-3103 located in Student Services, 4th Floor - Room 4380.

Students can explore career options and create action plans to help gain experience while in college. Students can also receive feedback on resume and cover letter writing. For more information or to schedule an appointment for career advising, please visit or contact the Career Center at (323) 343-3247.  

Private Education Loans, also known as Alternative Loans, are credit-based loans that can help bridge the gap between the actual cost of your education and the amount of your other financial aid funds. Private loans are offered by private lenders and should only be considered after exhausting all other sources of funding – including federal loans) 

323-343-6260 

This page gives insight into what work they are doing to help those who are struggling financially. They have links on how others can help, resources for those who need it from housing to financial assistance.

This page allows those who need help find a local food pantry near them.

The Shower of Hope has helped create a mobile shower service for those who need it. The program has 14 locations where they set up weekly, location times on what time and day they set up varies from location.

This site allows those who are experiencing homelessness or on the brink of losing their home to find a shelter they can stay in. If they are sleeping in their car they can help find parking lots that are safe to sleep in. The site also has various links to resources that are accessible for those who need it such as Healthcare, food resources, preventing eviction etc.

Barrio Action is a non-profit organization that offers free family and youth programs and services.  This program provides utility bill assistance for gas companies and South California Edison residential customers.  

To apply you can call them at 323-221-0779 or visit them in person at: 4927 Huntington Dr., North, Ste. 200 Los Angeles, CA 90032.  They are open Mon-Fri. 9:00 am-6:00 pm.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA is a program for low-income Los Angeles residents where IRS-certified volunteers help you file your taxes for free.

Students can apply for assistance for their college that they will be attending by applying for financial aid.

With the Affordable Connectivity program, you can get assistance in paying your internet bill, and if you qualify you may be able to get free internet service. Eligibility depends on household income.

Cash course is a free online financial tool designed to help students learn more about credit scores, creating budgets, applying for health insurance, and educating on money management

This page will provide insight into cash assistance programs available in LA County.  This site provides individuals with assistance applying for jobs, clothing, and other necessities to get a job etc., applying for housing and getting themselves off the ground.  

Section 8 is a housing choice voucher program that aids eligible low income and moderate-income individuals and families to rent housing.  This page will provide insight on how to apply for low-income housing, what you need to be eligible, and find different locations.

Downtown Women’s Center is focused on empowering unhoused women and formerly unhoused women. This center provides help for women to find permanent housing, assist with personal well-being and employment.

(213) 680-0600

Food Oasis is a food locating service for free food in Los Angeles County.  This service will find food pantries that give food and meal programs that include frozen meals, canned goods, bagged lunches and more. 

This website provides a full list of locations and Links where you can find free clothing, and furniture as well as many other resources such as rental assistance, food pantries and even job training. 

 Quickly Connecting People in Need with Local Community Resources Across a spectrum of care for Addiction Recovery, Anti-Human Trafficking, and Incarceration Reentry and includes commonly searched basic needs like housing, food, clothing, employment, and mental health. Anonymously find available resources for addiction recovery, anti-human trafficking, and incarceration reentry services in your local area in just 3 clicks! This free, easy to use database is geo-location driven and includes great search and sort features. Sort by gender, age range and even see results sorted by Faith-Based Providers, Non-Government Organizations, or Government Providers. Look for our simple icons in your search to help you find the services that best fit your specific needs! Search results can be printed, emailed, or shared on social media. 

   The California Department of Social Services Housing and Homelessness Division is a team of dedicated professionals who strive to improve the lives of Californians by promoting security in the form of equitable housing. 

    An estimated 1 in 4 people in Los Angeles County face food insecurity. The Food Bank provides critical food assistance through our Partner Agency Network, as well as through Food Bank Programs. The Food Bank collects food from hundreds of resources. With the help of hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually and an agency network of more than 600 partner agencies, we serve more than 900,000 people on a monthly basis. We distribute food and other essentials to children, seniors, families and other individuals in need. We distribute nutritious food to our network of partner agencies and meal programs, with locations near you. 

     Founded to break information barriers and support LA’s most vulnerable, leverages technology to help youth, families and adults of any age in need or experiencing homelessness easily connect to essential resources. OCLA’s programs help ANYONE who is Homeless or Resource-Insecure find free programs to meet their needs.   

     CollegeBuys is a program of the Foundation for California Community Colleges that leverages the buying power of the largest public higher education system in the nation to secure discounted and value-based offerings with industry leading partners for California’s educational institutions, students, faculty, and staff. CollegeBuys is a program built for and by the California Community Colleges with the core mission of supporting student and professional success – especially in today’s dynamic educational landscape.  

     The CalFresh Program (formerly known as Food Stamps) helps low-income households increase their food-buying power to meet their household’s nutritional needs. CalFresh benefits issued through Electronic Benefit Transfer, also known as EBT card, can be used in grocery stores and participating Farmers Markets. Homeless, elderly or disabled persons may purchase prepared meals from participating restaurants with their EBT card.   

 You can apply for CalFresh benefits online, or in the following methods:

- In person through a Drop Box located at any DPSS District Offices

- In person with any CalFresh Outreach partners

- By Mail to any local DPSS District offices

- By Fax at (310) 215-8220.

The Customer Service Center is available to assist you:

Monday – Friday from 7:30AM – 6:30PM

We are closed on weekends and County Holidays.

      Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.The social safety net was created to ensure people’s basic needs are met, but the collaboration between government programs, philanthropy, and community-based initiatives is clunky, frustrating, and inefficient. That’s where Findhelp comes in. We build software to support collaboration across the public and private sectors. 

      We educate, train and support young people, ages 14-24, who are looking for a second chance to earn their ​high school diploma and the opportunity to earn a vocational training certificate.  

  NAEHCY has been a champion for students facing homelessness for decades, empowering them to pursue academic success and break the cycle of poverty. By fostering a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields, NAEHCY empowers younger students experiencing homelessness to explore their academic interests and unlock pathways to a brighter future.The NAEHCY Scholars Program awards individual scholarships of up to $5,000 annually to postsecondary students who have experienced homelessness and are actively enrolled in their post-secondary education.

  The Los Angeles Public Library helps connect residents who are unhoused with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living. This site will help you find work, food, housing and many other helpful services near our library branches.

Instagram: @lapubliclibrary

  The Law Center seeks diverse, well-qualified candidates with a passion for social justice. In addition to permanent staff positions, the Law Center hosts sponsor-paid and unpaid fellowships, internships, and pro bono opportunities. The Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. Persons of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities, and persons with direct experience of homelessness are especially encouraged to apply.

 The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center at Cal State LA is

dedicated to creating safe and respectful learning spaces, catering specifically to the empowerment of all individuals across the gender and sexuality spectrum.The Gender and Sexual Resource Center also offers free gently used clothing.

Address: 5154 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Room 206

Contact: (323)-343-3370

Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Instagram: @ gsrc.ccc