Please consider using these alternatives to calling the San Diego Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention. 

We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources

• 211 San Diego
  • Referral service connecting San Diego County residents to shelter and other community services. 
  • 211 or (800) 211-2111
  • https://211sandiego.org/
• St. Vincent de Paul Village
  • Wrap around service and referrals for people experiencing hunger and homelessness in San Diego. Provides shelter and shelter referrals, lunch line, behavioral and physical medical care, and transportation services through the Travelers Aid Society.
  • Joan Kroc Center
    • Case management and referrals into the Coordinated Entry System for city shelters for adults with children. Lunch line daily at this location. Pick up badge for services here or at the Day Center. 
    • 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mon. – Fri. 
    • 1501 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92101
    • (619) 233-8500
  • Neil Good Day Center
    • Providing food, showers, respite shelter, and referrals to other social services, including entry into the Coordinated Entry System for city shelters for adults without children. In-person services recommended. 
    • 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mon. – Fri.; 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. weekends
    • 299 17th St., San Diego, CA 92101
    • (619) 230-7390
  • https://my.neighbor.org/get-help/
• La Posada de Guadalupe
  • Men’s short and long-term housing program for homeless men and employed farm workers, hosted through Catholic Charities. Sober living facility, provides AA sessions, medical referrals, case management, and necessities. 
  • Call M/W/F between 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. for admission
  • 2478 Impala Drive, Carlsbad CA 92010
  • (760) 929-2322
  • https://ccdsd.org/homeless-mens-services/
• Nueva Vida Haven 
  • Emergency shelter for homeless women and their children, up to age 17 Call for availability. 
  • 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. daily
  • 120 Elm Street San Diego, CA 92101
  • (619) 819-1844
  • https://www.sdrescue.org/our-programs/emergengy-shelter-for-women-and-children/

Use this link to find food distributions in your area. 

https://feedingsandiego.org/find-food/#locate

Here's a list of food and community resource serving the San Diego area:

CRF Jary Barretto

2865 Logan Ave

San Diego, CA 92113

Telephone: 619-232-4357

CRF New Vistas

Food pantry location - 734 10th Ave

San Diego, California 92101

Telephone: 619-239-4663

CRF Vista Balboa

Food pantry location - 545 Laurel St., San Diego, California 92101

Telephone: 619-233-4399

Crosspointe Life Church

8809 La Mesa Blvd

La Mesa, CA 91941

Telephone: 619-464-3077

Crossroads Foundation

3594 4th Ave

San Diego, CA 92103

Telephone: 619-296-1151

Covers the San Diego California region. May also have information on programs such as holiday and Christmas meals too. More on holiday and Christmas assistance.

Deaf Community Services of San Diego

Center address - 3930 4th Ave.

San Diego, CA 92103

Telephone: 619-398-2441

Desert Chapel

718 Shooting Iron Trail

Julian, CA 92036

Telephone: 760-765-1041

Call for meals, social services, and referrals to local San Diego charities and non-profits.

East African Community And Cultural Center

4061 Fairmount Ave

San Diego, California 92105

Telephone: 619-501-0977

East County Transitional Living Center

1523 East Main St.

El Cajon, CA 92021

Telephone: 619-447-4498

Food, clothing, and other support.

El Cajon SDA Church

1630 E Madison Ave

El Cajon, California 92019

Telephone: 619-405-0397

St. Vincent and its volunteers help families in poverty, whether they are seniors, disabled, or just going through a hard time.

Emmanuel Family Homes Inc.

4212 Lomo Del Sur

La Mesa, CA 91941

Telephone number is 619-660-1058. Call for hours.

Episcopal Community Services

Address is 3681 Fairmount Ave

San Diego, CA 92105

Telephone: 619-523-6060

A free food bank serves the needy. There are also cultural foods for Mexican speakers or immigrants. Get dairy, fresh fruits, baby formula, and many other items.

Ethridge Center Inc.

1053 10th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Call the San Diego food bank at - 619-231-6361

Exodus Journey

Location: 2215 Spring Oak Way

San Diego, CA 92139

Telephone: 619-325-9731

Faith Chapel Church

4999 Holly Dr.

San Diego, CA 92113

Telephone: 619-266-2626

Faith Tabernacle

3666 Madison Ave

San Diego, California 92116

Telephone: 619-282-3034

Free food, referrals, and support is available.

Fallbrook Food Pantry

Location of pantry is - 1042 South Mission

Fallbrook, California 92028

Telephone: 760-728-7608

Groceries, canned good, holiday food items, and much more. Also call for referrals to other non-profits and assistance programs.

Fellowship of San Diego

4353 Park Ave

San Diego, California 92103

Telephone: 619-298-1125

First Baptist Church of Chula Vista

494 E St., Chula Vista, CA 91910

Telephone: 619-422-0121

Can offer free food and meals. In addition, Christmas and Thanksgiving meals and gifts may be offered.

Gleaning Field Foundation

Pantry location is 2220 Watson Way

Vista, California 92083

Telephone: 760-599-4282

Gods Extended Hand

1625 Island Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

Telephone: 619-234-3251

Regardless of religion or background, call this church/charity for free food. Items can help low income families, seniors, and others feed their families and receive other support.

Grace Covenant Christian

2885 Clay Ave

San Diego, CA 92113

Telephone: 619-531-0901

Arabic Church of God

867 S Lincoln Ave. El Cajon, CA 92020

Phone: (619) 444-7444

The food bank is open Friday evenings.

Heartland Community

Location is 1012 E Bradley Ave

El Cajon, CA 92021

Telephone: 619-204-4536

Meals, including Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving may be offered. Also call for hours on the food pantry.

Hearts to Hands Womens Shelter

5524 San Mateo Dr.

San Diego, California 92114

Telephone: 619-886-2652

Victims of domestic violence and single moms can get help with nutritional needs and a food box.

Helping Hand Church

Address of church is 6493 Imperial Ave

San Diego, California 92114

Telephone number - 619-263-1792. Call for hours.

Homestart

5296 University Ave Ste F2

San Diego, California 92105

Phone number: 619-229-3660

• North County LGBTQ Resource Center
  • Supports, builds, educates, and improves the relationships of the LGBT community and allies. Services include youth shelter, case management, substance abuse treatment, assistance with name and gender marker changes, support groups, mental health intakes and referrals. 
  • 3220 Mission Ave Suite #2, Oceanside, CA 92058
  • 12 p.m. – 8 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
  • (760) 994-1690
  • https://www.ncresourcecenter.org/
• San Diego LGBT Community Center
  • Offers referrals and resources for the LGBTQ+ community. Emergency services including HIV testing, food assistance, emergency housing for transition age youth, behavioral health services, and case management. 
  • 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA 92103
  • Emergency help desk: 
    • (619) 800-4252 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mon. – Fri.) 
    • (619) 800-4216 (4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Mon. – Fri, & Saturday) 
  • General: (619) 692-2077
  • https://thecentersd.org/
  • Main line and physical locations closed due to COVID-19

• Methamphetamine Strike Force Hotline*
  • Completely confidential; call to report users, dealers, labs; call to get info on prevention, intervention, treatment. Secure voice mail after business hours.
  • 1 (877) 662-6384
  • https://www.no2meth.org/
  • *Please note, this is a task force that includes specialized law enforcement officers.
• San Diego ACCESS Crisis Line
  • Provides information and referral to County Drug and Alcohol treatment and recovery services for adults, adolescents, and pregnant and parenting women who are receiving Medi-Cal or who do not have health insurance. Calls are FREE and answered by trained professionals. Service is available in multiple languages.
  • 1 (888) 724-7240 (24/7)
  • Press 4 for referrals for substance and addiction services
  • https://www.optumhealthsandiego.com/
• Union of Pan Asian Communities
  • An Outpatient non-residential Substance Abuse Disorder treatment program specifically focused on Asian and Pacific Islander (API) adults 18+ ,Transitional Age Youth, refugees, immigrants and other underserved populations who reside in San Diego County. Services are offered in various languages, including Spanish. Clients are eligible for services if they have Medi-Cal, Medi-Medi, or are unfunded.
  • (619) 521-5720
  • https://www.upacsd.com/programs/atr

• Carol’s House
  • Emergency shelter for all victims of domestic violence and their children. Offering residents a safe home for 45 to 60 days. Services include legal advocacy, case management, individual and group counseling, parenting classes, therapeutic child center, and the possibility to be placed in the transitional housing program. Free. 
  • 1 (877) 633-1112 (24/7) 
  • https://crcncc.org/emergency-shelter/
• Center for Community Solutions – Project Safehouse
  • 24-hour toll free County-wide crisis line for crisis intervention and information referrals related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in San Diego. Also provides legal services, advocacy and counseling.
  • 1 (888) 385-4657 (24/7)
  • (858) 272-5777 (Office)
  • https://www.ccssd.org/
• Women’s Resource Center
  • Provides supportive services, counseling, shelter and education to North San Diego County women, children and men involved in or threatened by domestic violence or sexual assault. Crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency food and services, shelter, and more. 
  • (760) 757-3500 (24/7)
  • https://www.wrcsd.org/
• YWCA of San Diego
  • Gender-inclusive Becky’s House domestic violence programs encompass a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, legal support, and integrated services. bilingual hotline provides crisis counseling, and critical resource referrals for victims and the community.
  • (619) 234-3164 (24/7)
  • https://www.ywcasandiego.org/

• Community Helpline
  • Helps callers work through feelings that range from loneliness & depression, to suicide. Serves all of California.
  • 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
  • (877) 541-2525
  • http://chelpline.org/
• Deaf Community Services
  • Offers comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to Deaf, Deaf-Blind, late-deafened, and hard of hearing adults, youth and families in San Diego County. Services are designed to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care and ensure the highest quality of therapy services possible.
  • VB: (619) 550-3436
  • V: (619) 398-2441
  • info@dcsofsd.org
  • https://deafcommunityservices.org/behavioral-health-services/
• NAMI San Diego Helpline
  • County-wide, confidential, family and peer-staffed support phone line for individuals with mental illness and their loved ones. Provides non-crisis phone support and referrals and increases knowledge of mental illness, resources and related issues.
  • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
  • (619) 543-1434 or (800) 523-5933
  • https://namisandiego.org/helpline/
• North County Mobile Crisis Response Team
  • Mobile response team made up of mental health professionals, who can be dispatched to respond to urgent behavioral health concerns. Currently serves only the North Coastal region. Offer assessment for hospitalization, intervention, and linkage to community resources. Provide rapid crisis intervention to address, de-escalate and stabilize in least restrictive environment possible. Dispatch is through the ACCESS Crisis Line, which also dispatches the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, which includes police. Callers should specifically request MCRT. Dispatch requires that person is receptive to help. Will not be dispatched if situation involves immediate threat of violence, or person in crisis is intoxicated to level that there is a threat of violence. In these cases, counselor will recommend police dispatch, but have stated they will not dispatch police without caller consent.
  • 1 (888) 724-7240 (24/7)
  • https://www.exodusrecovery.com/san-diego-mcrt/
• San Diego ACCESS Crisis Line
  • Suicide hotline serving San Diego County. Provides mental health crisis intervention, information and referral to mental health services in San Diego County, including referrals to mental health care professionals who accept Medi-Cal and serve people who lack health insurance. Calls are FREE and answered by trained professionals. Service is available in multiple languages. Offers mobile assistance *only in North Coastal Region* through Mobile Crisis Response Team, a team of mental health professionals that does not include police and can provide on-site assistance in 1-2 hours. Mobile assistance in areas other than Northern Coastal Region available through Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) – however, this team will be accompanied by police, or may dispatch police if PERT not available.
  • 1 (888) 724-7240 (24/7)
  • https://up2sd.org/hotline/

Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.

• California Coalition for Youth 
  • Statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis with access to over 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families in crisis.
  • 1 (800) 843-5200 (24/7 Crisis Line) 
  • http://calyouth.org/cycl/
• San Diego Youth Services – Youth Emergency Shelter
  • Emergency shelter serving youth ages 13-17. Providing a safe home and services to help youth return to their families or find alternative housing. For youth who have no safe living arrangement or are victims of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, child abuse or exploitation.
  • 1 (866) 752-2327 (PLACE-2-STAY) (24/7)
• TAY Academy
  • Inclusive youth-led drop-in center serving youth ages 14-25. Provides trauma informed services and comprehensive support including substance use intervention, community referrals, sexual health resources, laundry, and food. Can link victims of crime ages 18-25 to transitional housing. 
  • 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesday – Friday
  • 2220 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92102
  • (619) 632-8126
  • https://sdyouthservices.org/services/homeless-housing-and-support/

• Elder Law and Advocacy 
  • Provides free and low-cost civil legal services, Medicare and Medicare related counseling and advocacy, referrals to community senior service providers and community education.  The majority of services are offered at no-cost to qualifying seniors. 
  • (858) 565-1392
  • http://seniorlaw-sd.org/
• Union of Pan Asian Communities
  • Serves Iraqi, Chaldean, Filipino, African American, Somali and Latinx seniors (60 years and over) with outreach, engagement and education for prevention and early intervention of mental illness and mental health challenges. Provides education in chronic diseases, diabetes, pain management as well as mental health and wellness. Additionally provides socialization opportunities.
  • (619) 232-6454
  • https://www.upacsd.com/programs/emass/

• Free To Thrive
  • Provides mobile, holistic and trauma-informed legal services to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Clients are also connected to a variety of supportive services. Does collaborate with law enforcement agencies for purposes of seeking justice for clients. 
  • (619) 693-6361
  • Para Español: (619) 354-8247
  • https://www.freetothrive.org/
• La Maestra Community Health Center
  • Provides assistance and support to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sex assault and other crimes. The legal advocates do not act as attorneys but they can give you information and referrals that will help you make informed decisions. Can also assist with asylum, DACA and immigration applications, public benefits, and shelter placement. 
  • (619) 564-7010  
  • https://www.lamaestra.org/legal-advocacy-and-social-services/default.html
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego
  • Legal Help with Housing, Debt Collection, Repossession, Sales Contracts, Housing Discrimination, Family Law, Immigration, Federal Tax Problems, CalWorks/CalFresh/General Relief, Conservatorships, Restraining Orders, SSI. Accepts collect calls, services in Spanish available. 
  • 1 (877) 534-2524
  • https://www.lassd.org/

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