SDG&E's Community Assistance Fund
Working together to create a healthier and brighter future for everyone.
About the Community Assistance Fund
The SDG&E Community Assistance Fund is a $10-million shareholder funded grant program that provides local nonprofit organizations with transformational support ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. It’s the single largest one-year charitable initiative SDG&E has ever launched.
The grant recipients selected provide services in the areas of food security and housing stability. SDG&E grants will enable these nonprofits to expand food pantries, emergency rent assistance, financial coaching and much more.
This funding is intended to support the region’s most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, low-income individuals and families, as well as under-resourced communities.
Over the past 12 years, SDG&E has invested more than $100 million in shareholder dollars to improve lives in our communities. Most of that money went to diverse and underserved communities for workforce development, education, public safety and environmental stewardship among other things.
For more information about SDG&E in the community, visit our community page.
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Learn more about how the grant recipients are making a positive impact throughout our region
Grant Recipients
Making a difference in food security and housing stability
Casa Familiar is the leading service and community development organization in San Ysidro, providing over 40 bilingual programs and services at six different sites. The grant from SDG&E will enable Casa Familiar to provide more vulnerable families and individuals direct service programs. This includes providing a payment of up to $2,000 for past due rent to keep people housed, as well as the distribution of meals at two senior housing communities in San Ysidro.
Community Resource Center serves more than 6,400 people each year with emergency assistance, domestic violence emergency shelter, counseling, housing stability and access to food. CRC will use the SDG&E grant to expand programs that provide homelessness prevention and food assistance to vulnerable families in North San Diego County. This includes deploying a mobile food pantry vehicle and hiring an additional housing case manager who will serve more low-income families with eviction prevention, rental and bill assistance, landlord mediation and more.
ElderHelp provides personalized services and information that help seniors remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes. With the grant from SDG&E, ElderHelp will help older adults secure stable housing through their innovative HomeShare program. HomeShare matches senior homeowners who have an extra bedroom with other seniors seeking below market rent housing, in some cases in exchange for assistance with household chores. This program, combined with ElderHelp’s housing navigation efforts, helps seniors understand federal programs and all options to remain housed.
Families Forward provides food assistance, career coaching, mental health counseling and financial literacy education to families in Orange County. The financial support from SDG&E will allow Families Forward to continue its Homeless Prevention program in Southern Orange County, which provides financial assistance, legal fee assistance to prevent evictions, security deposits and/or past due rent support. Funds will also enable Families Forward to continue offering its Client Choice Food Pantry Program customized for each family’s dietary and cultural food preferences.
Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) assists people in need with food, shelter and personalized coaching on their journey to independence. SDG&E’s grant will support FAM’s Virtual Front Door Program in partnership with 211 OC to provide housing assessment, eligibility screening and intake services for individuals in southern Orange County. Additionally, the funds will be used for rental and utility assistance programs and nutritious food options for families, seniors and children.
Feeding San Diego is the leading hunger relief and food rescue organization in San Diego County and the only Feeding America partner food bank in the region. SDG&E’s grant will support critical hunger relief programs with a focus on rural communities and food deserts. Efforts will include agency partner distribution, school pantries, mobile pantry, produce pantry and a backpack feeding program. The grant will also allow Feeding San Diego to continue its model of rescuing more than 75% of its food from the waste cycle, connecting good food with those in need.
Interfaith Community Services provides food, housing, employment, treatment and other emergency resources for local people in crisis. SDG&E’s grant will support housing, food security and basic needs, as well as subsidize the purchase of a new mobile outreach vehicle. These programs aim to provide financial relief and food security to keep 500 families in their homes and distribute 9,000 food kits during the grant period.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) San Diego supports refugees, asylees and asylum seekers, and immigrants in San Diego. IRC San Diego will use the grant to address the emergency needs of individuals and families recovering from international crises and conflicts. This includes case management and direct cash assistance for childcare, food, utilities, clothing, transportation, housing and participation in a resettlement plan, serving more than 50 households.
Just in Time for Foster Youth builds a community of support for foster youth to become capable, confident and connected so they can break the cycle of foster care after they leave the foster care system. Just in Time will continue to work toward reducing traditionally high levels of homelessness and instability for transition-age foster youth by using the SDG&E grant for emergency rent and food assistance, as well as case management for eviction prevention and other services that improve the chances of transitional-age youth to establish and maintain stable housing. Just in Time’s financial courses combined with case management help individuals aging out of the foster system to be financially independent.
Logan Heights CDC strengthens residents and businesses in Greater Logan Heights neighborhoods through community empowerment, education, economic growth and housing development. Funding from SDG&E’s grant will enable Logan Heights CDC to deploy rental relief and financial education to vulnerable populations. It will also expand case management and financial counseling accreditation for staff to better serve clients with budgeting and financial services education.
Meals-on-Wheels San Diego County delivers nutritious meals with friendly visits to older San Diegans, helping them stay in their homes, where they want to be. SDG&E’s grant will allow Meals on Wheels to continue its subsidized meal service delivery program to seniors, providing two meals a day, seven days a week. It will also allow clients to receive wellness checks from meal delivery volunteers and continue the “Companionship Calls Program” for seniors who seek support.
Lifeline Community Services is a community-based human services organization that provides support for youth and families to overcome poverty, homelessness and trauma. SDG&E’s grant will allow Lifeline to offer low-income clients in North San Diego County up to two months of rental or housing assistance and two months of food assistance, alleviating the pressures of meeting basic needs.
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to lower-income San Diego residents. Its programs – including immigration law, family law helps clients resolve challenging circumstances that threaten their housing and food security. SDG&E’s grant will enable San Diego Legal Aid Society to offer case management and flex funding to their legal clients who are often struggling with multiple intersecting needs.
The San Diego LGBT Community Center enhances and sustains the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, immigrant and HIV communities to the betterment of the entire San Diego region. The Center provides rent, employment and transportation assistance to prevent LGBTQ community members from becoming unhoused. SDG&E’s grant will also strengthen The Center’s outreach abilities to identify these needs and refer individuals to other programs and provide homeless prevention and food services to hundreds who identify as LGBTQ+.
SBCS is a community-based nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive range of services for children, youth and families in San Diego County. SBCS will use the SDG&E grant to keep community members housed, fed and safe through utility assistance, rental assistance, food distribution, gift cards for groceries and enrollment in federal and state assistance programs. Throughout South San Diego County, SBCS will provide emergency food assistance to thousands of families in need and support hundreds with housing.
Serving Seniors helps poor and homeless seniors thrive using an innovative model of whole-person, wraparound support including meals, housing, health and social services, and lifelong learning. SDG&E’s grant will support Serving Seniors’ Senior Nutrition Program, including congregate meals, and home-delivered fresh and frozen meals to hundreds of seniors within their medical and dietary needs. Serving Seniors will also use the funds for case management to address barriers to housing stability and offer rental assistance to keep clients housed.
The Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) supports the health, welfare, safety, education, cultural, economic and employment needs of its tribal members and descendants in the San Diego County urban areas. SDG&E’s grant will allow SCTCA to expand its scope and reach for emergency assistance to tribal families seeking aid for food and housing by increasing the scope of eligibility and duration of support to Native American clients. Through the grant, Native American families in San Diego County and southern Orange County can apply for up to $600 in financial assistance, with a focus on tribal elders, young adults and those with disabilities or access and functional needs.
Through counseling, education and grants, Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) builds financial self-sufficiency among junior active-duty, enlisted service members and recently discharged enlisted veterans and their families in Southern California facing financial crisis. SDG&E’s grant will support military and veteran families struggling with the high cost of living in San Diego. STEP’s Warehouse on Wheels program will distribute food, baby formula, diapers and other basic items to thousands of individuals annually. Additionally, STEP will provide emergency funds to support military members with bills, rent, physical resource needs and provide financial planning education.
The Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) provides health and human services focused on improving the overall well-being of underserved, diverse populations. UPAC will use the SDG&E grant to establish a Cultural Food Pantry, providing highly vulnerable residents of City Heights and Southeast San Diego with weekly access to basic food staples and culturally specific food items. UPAC will distribute an estimated 300,000 pounds of food and enroll 1,000 individuals in the Cultural Food Pantry program.
United Women of East Africa (UWEAST) provides health services, education and advocacy for the well-being of the East African community, women and families. SDG&E’s grant will enable UWEAST and ten other organizations that are part of the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition to provide case management to refugee communities including benefits application support, advocacy and health services with translation. Additionally, funding will support direct rental assistance payments and distribute emergency food to 600 households, as well as provide referral resources to help families establish themselves.