San Diego Community Resources

An curation of services offered for members of the San Diego community

  • Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank: Call 858-527-1419

    Feeding San Diego: Call 619-233-9662

    Meals on Wheels San Diego County: Call 619-260-6110

    Mama's Kitchen: Provides meals for individuals with critical illnesses.

    Jewish Family Service – Foodmobile & Hand Up Pantry: Call 858-637-3055

  • 1. Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (HACSD) Rental Assistance Portal

       - Section 9 Housing Choice Voucher

       - VASH for homeless veterans

       - Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

       - Public Housing and Moderate Rehabilitation Programs

       - Contact: 858-694-4801

    2. San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC): Offers additional housing programs and support services. - Contact: 619-231-9400

    3. 211 San Diego, call 211 or https://211sandiego.org/

  • Mental health and substance use services are available countywide:

    1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988

    2. San Diego Access & Crisis Line- 1-888-724-7240

    3. Sharp Mesa Vista Mental Health: 858-836-8434 or Sharp Mesa Vista Mental Health: 858-836-8434

    4. Mobile Crisis Response Teams- 1-888-724-7240

    5. Maria Sardiñas Wellness Recovery Center-619-428-1000

    6. NAMI San Diego - Helpline: (619) 543-1434 – M-F, 9 am-5pm Warmline: (619) 295-1055 – 7 days/week, 3:30pm-11pm (except major holidays)

  • San Diego County has extensive resources for veterans and families:

    1. Office of Military & Veterans Affairs Benefits counseling

       - Call 1-666-766-28831

  • 1.       Find a Meeting – Narcotic Anonymous, https://sandiegona.org/find-a-meeting/

    2.       Find a Meeting near you- Alcohol Anonymous   https://www.aa.org/find-aa

    3.       Sharp Mesa Vista Recovery Programs 858-637-6920

    4.        DEPENDENCY DRUG COURT- 619-668-4265

    5.       McAlister Institute (619) 442-0277

    6.       McAlister Institute – Kiva Learning Center for Women and Children 619-465-7303

    7.       DON ALLEN PARENTCARE FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER – EAST- Phone: 619-668-4200

    8.       PARENTCARE FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER – CENTRAL- 619.266.0166

  • 1. Positive Parenting Program (PPP): 858-637-3375

    2. Kids Turn San Diego: 858-521-0027

    3. SAY San Diego: 619-283-9624

    4. SBCS: (619) 420-3620, 24/7 Hotline: (800) 640-2933

    5. Home Start: 619-203-2108

Legal Service Providers

  • Provides direct legal representation to women, men, and families who are victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. Services include assistance with restraining orders, child custody, guardianship matters, and dissolution cases. 

     Location: 5998 Alcalá Park, Barcelona Bldg. 301, San Diego, CA 92110
    Contact: (619) 260-7470

  • Provides first-come, first-served assistance with completing paperwork for Petitions or Responses to Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. Staff assist with forms and explain court processes. Does not provide in-court representation.

    ●      South County: South County Courthouse, 500 Third Avenue, Room 155, Chula Vista, CA 91910
    Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–Noon & 12:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Parking: Free courthouse and neighborhood parking available.

    ●      East County: East County Courthouse, 250 E. Main Street, 1st Floor, El Cajon, CA 92020
    Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–Noon & 12:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Parking: Free courthouse, overflow, and neighborhood parking available.

    ●      Downtown: Hall of Justice Courthouse, 330 W. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Room 251, San Diego, CA 92101
    Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–Noon
    Parking: Paid meter or lot parking; nearby trolley and bus stops available.

  • Offers legal assistance in family law matters, including child custody, visitation, and support orders. Services include counsel, advice, and limited representation. Eligibility based on income; intake required.
                      Contact: (877) 534-2524 for screening and intake.

  • Provides legal clinics and volunteer attorney referrals for victims of domestic violence seeking restraining orders, custody, and support orders. Limited-scope or full representation may be available depending on volunteer capacity.


    Location: SDVLP Office, 110 West A Street, Suite 1100, San Diego, CA 92101


    Contact: (619) 235-5656 or apply online at www.sdvlp.org

  • Represents low-income litigants in high-stakes civil cases, including some custody and guardianship matters. Prioritizes cases with a represented opposing party.

    Eligibility: San Diego County residents with income ≤ 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

    Contact: (877) 534-2524

  • Provides neutral self-help services for family law litigants, including guidance on completing court forms for custody, visitation, and restraining orders. Does not represent any party. No income eligibility requirements.

    Locations: Multiple courthouses (Central, East County, North County, and South County).

    Website: www.sdcourt.ca.gov → “Self Help” → “Family Law”

  • One-stop resource center for victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. Offers on-site legal assistance, advocacy, and social services.
                     Location: 1122 Broadway, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101
                     Contact: (866) 933-4673 (toll-free) or (619) 533-6000
                     Website: www.sandiego.gov/fjc

  • Hosts on-site attorneys from the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) who assist with drafting declarations and filing restraining orders

    Location: 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92069

    Contact: (760) 290-3690

    Walk-in Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Housing Legal Services

  • Assists self-represented litigants in residential eviction cases.

    Location: Vista Courthouse, South Entrance, 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081
                      Walk-in Hours: Tue–Thu, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

  • Remote clinic for low-income tenants with eviction notices (not yet sued). Limited help with demand letters and buyouts.
    Clinic Hours: Thu, 9:30 AM (remote)
    Contact: (619) 235-5656 x127 or apply online

  • Housing assistance for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
                      Contact: www.sdvlp.org

  • Assists low-income residents facing housing instability, homelessness, eviction, foreclosure, uninhabitable housing, or harassment.

    Contact: (619) 260-7470 or online form

  • Lead agency for the Housing Justice Collaborative – a countywide network of nonprofit housing service providers. housingjusticecollaborative.org

    Community Education: Know Your Rights workshops, tenant rights/fair housing trainings, and outreach to CBOs and housing providers.

  • Location: Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Room 251, 92101

    Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (No income or asset limit)

    North County (via SDVLP): Vista Courthouse, 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081

    Hours: Tue–Thu, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

  • Shriver Civil Counsel Project – Tenants in San Diego County, income ≤ 200% FPL, facing eviction with landlord represented by an attorney.
    County Tenant Legal Services Program – Tenants in SD County, income ≤ 300% FPL or 65% AMI.
    City of San Diego Eviction Prevention Program – Tenants in City of San Diego, income ≤ 80% AMI.
    Fair Housing Representation:  Includes reasonable accommodation requests, conciliations, administrative complaints (CRD, HUD, DFEH), and affirmative litigation. Eligibility varies.

    Wrap-Around Case Management:
    For existing clients – housing navigation, document help, budgeting, warm referrals.

    Emergency Financial Assistance:  Previously for existing clients to stabilize housing; currently suspended due to funding cuts.

  • Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) – Tenant organizing and Know Your Rights workshops (English & Spanish). Eligibility: Statewide.
    California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) – Housing counsel/advice; occasional extended representation. Eligibility: LSC criteria.
    California Western Community Law Project (CLP) – Weekly clinics, brief services (no representation). No eligibility screening.
    Disability Rights California (DRC) – Housing rights counsel/advice; workshops. Eligibility: CA resident with household member who has a disability.