Services for the Unhoused

Resource Documents

These documents provide information for community members to connect with local resources and organizations. The Santa Clara County Community Resource Guide features county-wide resources relating to emergency and homeless assistance, social services, community outreach resources, employment resources, housing resources, and more. The Community Services Document features a list of public bathrooms and local organizations that may be able to assist with food, shelter, and more. 

Local Resources

Find local resources and organizations to support a variety of needs.

Additional resources, such as emergency financial assistance and employment training, are available on the Information & Referral page. 

Assistance for Individuals and Families Living in Vehicles
Move Mountain View Safe Parking Program
2672 Bayshore Drive, Suite 920, Mountain View
(650) 861-0181
contact@movemv.org
Provides safe and secure overnight parking for individuals and families living in a vehicle. Each parking lot has access to bathrooms, hand washing stations, and is monitored by staff.
The Karat School Project

Email: ekeomian@theksp.org
Provides services to families with children living in vehicles with the purpose to reduce educational gaps that may occur due to a lack of access to basic necessities and extra-curricular activities. 

Clothing

EHP “Clothes Closet”
2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto
(650) 323-7781
Distributes clothing, furniture, appliances, and household essentials, such as blankets, sheets, and dishes. 

Sacred Heart Community Services “Clothes Closet”
1381 South First St, San Jose
(408) 278-2160
Distributes free clothing, shoes, accessories, and linens Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-4pm; Tuesday 9am-6pm; Friday 9am-12pm. Families may visit twice per month and take up to 5 items per visit.  

St. Anthony's – Clothing Distribution Center
3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park
(650) 365-9664

Distributes free clothing 10-11 a.m. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays (women and children) and 1st & 3rd Thursdays (men).

Cold and Hot Weather Resources
County of Santa Clara Office of Emergency Management
Hot Weather Safety and Cooling Centers
Cold Weather Safety and Warming Centers 
Overnight Warming Location (OWL)
A seasonal shelter program for up to 10 unhoused individuals who are provided overnight shelter when the County of Santa Clara declares an Inclement Weather Alert during periods of extreme cold. No referral needed, first 10 people get in. Operated by the City of Palo Alto and Heart and Home Collaborative. People interested in the program can call (650) 463-4953 for more information and to check if the shelter is open. 
Drop-In Center: Case Management and Resources

LifeMoves Opportunity Center
33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 853-8672
Provides drop-in services for single adults including food, clothing, laundry/shower facilities, and case management. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Food and Meals

For a list of food and meal resources, please see the Food Resources page.

Healthcare

Please see the Health Resources page for a full list of service providers.

Peninsula Healthcare Connection
33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 853-0321

Offers free healthcare and wellness services for people experiencing homelessness and low-income households. Insurance is not required, however private insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare insurance are accepted.

Ravenswood Family Health Network: Mayview Palo Alto Clinic
270 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 330-7400
Provides comprehensive Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Optometry, Chiropractic, and Dental services. Under and uninsured patients are welcome, sliding scale payments available. 
Stanford Medicine: Arbor Free Clinic

114 Fifth Ave., Redwood City
(650) 724-1332
Provides transitional health care at no charge to underserved population on Sundays from 8-10 am on a first-serve basis. Clients are referred to resources for long-term care.

Valley Homeless HealthCare Program - North County Mobile Health Center
Rotating locations in Sunnyvale and Mountain View
(408) 885-5000
Free mental and physical health services and referrals to long-term care. 
Homeless Prevention

Additional financial assistance resources are listed on the Emergency Assistance page.
Local affordable housing providers are listed on the Affordable Housing Resources page.  

CalWORKS (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
Provides time limited cash assistance, childcare and health care coverage to families with dependent children (under 18). Apply through the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency online or by phone, (408) 758-3800.
County of Santa Clara General Assistance
Provides cash assistance and employment services to adults with no dependent children and who have no other means of support. Apply through the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency onlineor by phone, (408) 758-3800.
County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing
2310 North First Street, Suite 201, San Jose
(408) 278-6400
Housing Industry Foundation Emergency Housing Fund

info@hifinfo.org
Awards emergency aid fund money to low-income individuals/families that are at risk of losing their housing. Accepts applications only from partner agencies.

Santa Clara County Homeless Prevention System
Resource Hotline (408) 926-8885

Provides assistance to low-income families or individuals who are at risk of losing their housing, including: temporary financial assistance, legal support, case management and other services. The local provider for Palo Alto is the LifeMoves Opportunity Center (650) 853-8672.

Mental Health Services

Please see the Mental Health Resources page for a full list of service providers. 

Community Health Awareness Council 

(650) 965-2020
Offers many different kinds of mental health services and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and couples as well as psychological assessment services for children, adolescents and adults. Services are provided on a sliding scale.

County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services 

(800) 704-0900
The Behavioral Health Call Center is the entry point to all Santa Clara County behavioral health services. Services for individuals and families include behavioral health urgent care, emergency psychiatric services, inpatient and outpatient services, community mobile response team, substance use services, suicide crisis and prevention, and a behavioral health navigator program.

La Selva Group: Community Clinic

(650) 617-8350
Provides free mental health services in English and Spanish. Services include, but are not limited to, psychiatry (assessment and medication management), case management (coordinating care and discharge planning), counseling, day program, and discount medication support.

Peninsula Healthcare Connection
Opportunity Center, 33 Encina Avenue Palo Alto
(650) 853-0321
Offers free healthcare and wellness services for people experiencing homelessness and low-income households. Insurance is not required, however private insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare insurance are accepted. Behavioral health services include individual counseling, referrals to case management and other resources, substance abuse disorder treatment, and psychiatric medication management. 

Ravenswood Family Health Center: MayView Palo Alto Clinic
270 Grant Ave, Palo Alto
(650) 330-7400
Provides comprehensive Behavioral Health services, including individual counseling. Under and uninsured patients are welcome, sliding scale payments available. 

Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline
9-8-8 or (800) 704-0900
Provides direct connection to free, confidential, and compassionate support in Santa Clara County. Use when you are a loved one are experiencing something that produces emotional, mental, physical and/or behavioral distress; are having mental health distress, including thoughts of suicide; just need to talk.

Suicide Hotline Resources
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. If you are not in immediate danger because of thoughts of suicide, but need someone to talk with about your suicidal feelings, please call one of the following national suicide prevention lines: 1-800 SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433); 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); 24/7 CRISIS LINE 1-855-278-4204
Shelter
Here4You Hotline
(408) 385-2400
Provides referrals for openings at emergency shelters and temporary housing programs. Hotline is available daily.

Homeless Prevention Services 
(408) 786-8538
A countywide network of agencies working together to prevent homelessness. Resources for connecting to services.

Shelter Bed Hotline
(800) 774-3583
The homeless shelter hotline is available 24-hours a day and has information about Bay Area shelters.
Bill Wilson Center
3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 243-0222
Runaway and youth shelter for ages 12-17 years old.

Heart and Home Collaborative Women's Shelter (seasonal from November to April)
(650) 600-1555
Shelter for single women at alternating locations in Palo Alto.
Family Supportive Housing
692 North King Road, San Jose, 95133
(408) 926-8885
Provides a variety of services for overcoming poverty, hunger, and homelessness for families with children.
LifeMoves Hotel de Zink
(650) 853-8672

Emergency shelter for adult men and women in alternating locations in Palo Alto. Access the program by going in-person to the LifeMoves Opportunity Center at 33 Encina Ave., Palo Alto, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

LifeMoves Haven Family House
260 Van Buren Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-8719
Interim shelter and services for families with children.
LifeMoves Mountain View
2500 Leghorn Street, Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 853-8672
Interim housing community, with private units, and services for families and single adults.
WeHope
1858 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 330-8000
Shelter and meals for single individuals; Entry at 4:30 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m.
YWCA Crisis Support Line - Sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking
(800) 572-2782
Emergency shelter for individuals and families fleeing, or attempting to escape, domestic violence.
Shelter services for those with COVID-19
(408) 278-6420
Shelters for Youth

Bill Wilson Center
3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, 95050
(408) 850-6125
Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter for youth ages 12-17. 

StarVista Daybreak Shelter
StarVista Office: 610 Elm Street, Suite 212, San Carlos, 94070

(650) 771-0782
Transitional housing program for homeless teens aged 16-21.

Showers and Laundry
LifeMoves Opportunity Center
33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 853-8672
Showers and laundry open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. 
WeHOPE: Dignity on Wheels
Rotating locations in Santa Clara County
(650) 330-8000
Offers showers and laundry services Saturdays, 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. at the Opportunity Center, 33 Encina Ave in Palo Alto. Check the online schedule for all locations.
Transportation
Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)
(510) 465-2278
A rapid transit system serving the Bay Area. Discounts are available for low-income adults, youth ages 5-18 years old, seniors aged 65 and older, and persons with a disability.
Caltrain
(800) 660-4287
A commuter rail line that runs from San Francisco down to Gilroy. Discounts are available for low-income adultsyouth ages 5-18 years old, seniors aged 65 and older, and persons with a disability.
Marguerite Shuttle
(650) 564-3336
Stanford University's free public shuttle serves the main university campus, the Stanford Medical Center, Downtown Palo Alto, and the Stanford Shopping Center.
Palo Alto Link
(650) 505-5772
A City of Palo Alto rideshare service. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available. Standard fares are $3.50 per trip with discounts available for youth, seniors, low-income, and disabled fare rides. 
SamTrans
(800) 660-4287
Bus service throughout San Mateo County including parts of San Fransico and Palo Alto. Discounts are available for low-income adultsyouth ages 5-18 years old, seniors aged 65 and older, and persons with a disability.
Valley Transit Authority (VTA)
(408) 321-2300
Provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services in Santa Clara County. Discounts are available for low-income adultsyouth ages 5-18 years old, seniors aged 65 and older, and persons with a disability.
Veterinary & Pet Services
Humane Society of Silicon Valley Emergency Boarding Program
901 Ames Ave., Milpitas
(408) 262-2133 extension 110
intake@hssv.org
Provides short-term boarding for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or another crisis situation. Program subject to availability.
Humane Society of Silicon Valley Pet Pantry
901 Ames Ave., Milpitas
(408) 262-2133 extension 110
petpantry@hssv.org
Provides pet food to residents of Santa Clara County who are experiencing financial instability. Program subject to availability.
Palo Alto Humane Society Spay and Neuter Fund
(650) 424-1901
pahs@paloaltohumane.org
Provides funding assistance for spaying or neutering pets of low-income individuals.  
Pets in Need Outreach Program
(650) 496-5971
outreach@petsinneed.org
Provides pet food, supplies, and medical care assistance to low-income pet owners and those experiencing financial hardship. Pets in Need also offers low-cost vaccine clinics and low-cost spay and neuter clinics.
Work Experience Program

Other work resources listed on the Employment and Training page. 

Downtown Streets Team
For more information, contact dale@streetsteam.org
(408) 613-1313
Meetings are Thursdays at 12 p.m.
All Saints Episcopal Church
555 Waverley Street
Palo Alto, CA  94301