If you are experiencing houselessness, please fill out the basic needs support form here, or email basicneeds@cuesta.edu
All Cuesta students have access to the Cougar Food Pantry and the monthly Food Bank Distributions; further resources are available to students in need through the Basic Needs office.
You are not alone! There is support for you.
Download Resources PDF
Cougar Food Pantry Location (SLO Campus):Building 5100 (Cafeteria) Room 5104BPhone: (805) 546-3289
Location (NC Campus):Building N1000 Room N1005 Phone: (805) 591-4301
Step 1: Check hours of operation and visit either campus location
Eligibility: To be eligible for our services, students must be currently enrolled and sign in/out with their student id number.
Service: We have a variety of food available including snacks (fruit cups, granola bars, snack nuts, and more) and meal components (soup cups, pasta, bread, canned vegetables). Students can take up to two separate items per day, so that we have plenty for everyone.
Food Bank Distribution SLO Campus 3:00pm – 5:00pm Parking Lot #2
North County Campus: 3:00pm – 5:00pm Parking Lot #2
For questions please call the Student Life and Leadership Office at (805) 546-3289
Step 1: Students and community members go to either SLO or North County campus locations on the scheduled dates for pick up.
Eligibility: Participants must be at least 18 years old and must certify that they meet USDA income guidelines by signing in. NO ID or proof of income is required to participate.
Service: One bag of pantry food and one bag of fresh produce is provided for free.
Basic Needs Office
SLO Building 5100 (Cafeteria) Room 5104B
Hours (SLO): 9AM-4PM Mon, Thurs, Fri
9AM-6PM Tues
Hours (NCC):
9AM-6PM Wednesday
Step 1: Apply for Basic Needs Support
Students can go to either location on the SLO or North County campus to access supplies
Eligibility: Enrolled Cuesta students experiencing insufficient housing, food, hygiene products, or otherwise not having their basic needs met.
Service: Free Hygiene products (soap, toothbrush/tooth paste, comb, brush, soap, towels, cotton balls, first aid kits, chap stick & Kleenex), scarf, hats, backpacks, laundry soap, menstruation products, gift cards to fast food restaurants (limited).
2-1-1 SLO County, a free program that is a one-stop way to get timely access to health and human services information and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone line is free, confidential, and provides bilingual assistance. You can also find this information online.
Friends of 40Prado 43 Prado Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 786-0617
Monday – Sunday 8:30am – 4:00pm Breakfast 8:30am – 9:30am Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Step 1: Fill out paperwork and do a short intake appointment (you do not have to schedule this appointment in advance)
Eligibility: Completion of the paperwork and intake appointment
Service: Restrooms and showers, laundry service, phones, bus tokens, mail and message service, employment listings and job application assistance, on-site health screenings, a children’s playroom and yard, a community garden, and access to community-based support services.
Family Care Network. Inc. Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents 1255 Kendall Road San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 (805) 781-3535
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Step 1: Must be referred through an agency
Eligibility: Foster youth age 18-21 (Non-Minor Dependents)
Service: Affordable housing and a wide range of supportive services, including one-on-one life skills development assistance and case management in order to successfully establish permanency and self-sufficiency.
Family Care Network, Inc. Transitional Housing Placement Program for Minor Foster Children (THPP-M)
1255 Kendall Road San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 (805) 781-3535
Eligibility: Foster youth preparing to leave the system
Services: provides youth with independent housing, substantial one-on-one counseling, support, instruction and guidance.
Family Care Network, Inc. Housing Support Program (HSP) 1255 Kendall Road San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 (805) 781-3535
Eligibility: Determined at intake
Service: Program participants are provided necessary case management services for life skills development, one-on-one guidance, work group classes and community linkage to ensure their successful transition to self-sufficiency post care.
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing 3533 Empleo Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 781-3088 info@pshhc.org
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Step 1: Call to be added to the waitlist
Eligibility: Low income, single parent head of household, farm workers, elderly on a fixed income, persons with disabilities, veterans, formerly homeless, mentally ill, and those with other special needs.
Service: Supportive housing services, housing counseling, home ownership opportunities
Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO)487 Leff Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-4347
(805) 543-4478 Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 5:00pm (closed 12:30 – 1:00 daily)
Step 1: Call to make an appointment for a screening process
Eligibility: Must be approved through the screening process to get on the waitlist
Services: Public affordable housing.
Independent Living Resource Center 1411 Marsh Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 462-1162
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Contact: Community Living Advocate, Nicole Janikowski extension 413
Youth Advocate (for ages 14-24) Alexa Martin
Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment
Eligibility: Person must have a disability (of any kind)
Services: Advocate on behalf of the person for housing, personal assistance, interpreting, assistive technology, advocacy (do not provide case management).
Stand Strong (Women’s Shelter)51 Zaca Lane, Suite 150 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Business Line (805) 781-6401 Monday – Friday 9:00 – 5:00pm Crisis Line (805) 781- 6400 open 24/7
Step 1: Call for a consultation
Eligibility: Must be referred through Stand Strong counseling, Safe House of community project partners
Services: Advocacy services, employment assistance, counseling, legal services, children’s services, life skill groups, and assistance with obtaining permanent housing.
Transitions Mental Health Association Community Residential Program 784 High Street San Luis Obispo (805) 540-6500
Step 1: Call for an intake appointment
Eligibility: determined at the intake appointment
Services: Each resident will be assigned a case manager who will assist the resident in developing individual service plans to address issues such as homelessness, mental/physical disabilities, substance abuse, credit repair, legal problems with the end goal of obtaining maximum level of independent living
5Cities Homeless CoalitionP.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483 (805) 574-1638
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
Contact: Intake and Resource Coordinator, Devon Mcquade. Referrals submitted to: info@5CHC.org
Klaproad Rapid Re-housing Program/ Case Management Services
Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment. Appointments can be done over the phone or in person. Appointments typically take 15 minutes.
Eligibility: South County ONLY. Clients must have become homeless while living in South County and must have been a resident in the area for at least 6 months.
Services: Provides case management to assist in obtaining long term stable housing. Support may be provided for deposit, rent and supportive need for those who are homeless.
5Cities Homeless CoalitionHomeless Youth Outreach P.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483
(805) 574-1638 Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
Eligibility: Homeless youth between 16-24 years old
Services: One-on-one case management helps youth with immediate needs, housing and development of an individualized
Action Plan to help them achieve independent living, steady employment, and continued education.
5Cities Homeless Coalition ESG Rapid Re-Housing Program P.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483 (805) 574-1638
Eligibility: Those who are homeless or facing homelessness. For rental assistance to prevent homelessness, clients’ income must be 30% or less of AMI (annual median income)
Service: Funding and case management support: deposit, rent and immediate needs. Move-in assistance with deposit and rent.
S.A.F.E Family Resources Center South County 1511 19th Street Oceano (805) 474-3690
1086 Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande (805) 474-2105
920 W. Teff Street, Nipomo (805) 474-2105
Step 1: Call to do a needs assessment
Eligibility: Under 18 years old, families with kids under 18 in the SLO Unified School District. Must be a SLO resident
Service: A community-based, school-linked, family-centered way of delivering and coordinating appropriate prevention and intervention services to youth and families in Southern San Luis Obispo County
El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) 6370 Atascadero Avenue, Atascadero CA (805) 462-3663
Monday-Sunday 4:30pm – 7:30am
Step 1: Stop by the office for an intake appointment or fill out the form on the ECHO website: http://echoshelter.org/begin
Eligibility: Determined at intake appointment
Services: Critical case management for clients to develop an action plan to resolve their housing crisis, bus passes, clothing vouchers, laundry vouchers, motel rooms for clients who become ill, furniture and other donations for clients who have found housing, postal address so clients my receive mail, gas and other types of transportation for stranded clients.
ALF Food Pantry
5411 El Camino RealAtascadero, CA 93422805-461-1504
Mon-Fri 1PM-3PM
If you live in Atascadero, Templeton, Santa Margarita, Creston or California Valley, we hope you'll come by if your food budget is a bit tight.Clients should NOT bring reusable bags; ALF Food Pantry will provide bags and/or boxes.
If you are a new client, you will be asked for information about your household and your current needs. (For example: address, phone number, birthdates, food allergies, etc.) [All info will be kept confidential.]
LINK 6500 Morro Road Unit A, Atascadero (805) 466-5404 – Atascadero
Service: Connects families with community resources, agency partners and mainstream benefits to help regain stability
ECHO Paso Robles
1134 Black Oak DrivePaso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 462-FOOD (3663)
https://www.echoshelter.org/pasorobles
Step 1: call or email for information, or fill out their Support Form
Eligibility: call or fill out the form to determine
Services: 90 day emergency shelter, housing placement, nightly emergency shelter, shower program, meal program, childrens' programs.
LINK
1802 Chestnut Street, Paso Robles (805) 238-2775 – Paso Robles
Los Osos Cares Resource Center Sunnyside School 880 Manzanita Drive, Room 18 (805) 592-2701
Tuesday-Friday 4:00pm
wecareinlososos@gmail.com
Step 1: Visit in person, call or email for information about what services are provided on which days
Eligibility: Call to determine
Services: Connections with county services, food, clothing, employment help, family support
Register for Summer and Fall