San Bernardino County Church Assistance Program

Several churches and religious organizations throughout San Bernardino County offer support programs for residents facing economic hardship. Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and local parish ministries provide emergency financial aid, utility payment assistance, rent assistance, housing support, and food distribution.

Catholic Charities Regional Center in San Bernardino

The Catholic Charities Regional Center in San Bernardino is one of the primary crisis intervention hubs in the Inland Empire region. They specialize in stabilizing households experiencing financial hardship, housing emergencies, or complex immigration-related situations.

Location and Contact Information

Physical Address: 1441 N D St, San Bernardino, CA 92405

Direct Phone Number: (909) 880-3625 (Note: This is their main regional service line)

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Sundays).

Official Website: Catholic Charities San Bernardino & Riverside

Key Assistance Programs Available

Housing and Homelessness Prevention: They offer direct emergency rent assistance to prevent evictions, help cover deposits for new housing, and can arrange vouchers for local hotels or motels for families facing sudden displacement.

Utility Assistance: They provide direct funding to help pay overdue balances for Southern California Edison (SCE) and SoCalGas, thereby preventing the disconnection of these services.

Community Services for Families: In addition to immediate financial aid, the center offers case management, assists families in applying for CalFresh (food stamps), and organizes local emergency food distribution.

Immigration and Refugee Services: They have a specialized department that offers high-quality, low-cost legal services for citizenship applications, family-based petitions, work permit renewals, and matters related to DACA.

The Salvation Army – San Bernardino Division

The San Bernardino division of The Salvation Army serves as a vital crisis-response center for individuals and families facing economic hardship, housing instability, or food insecurity in San Bernardino and its surrounding communities.

Location & Essential Contact Details

Physical address: 925 W Tenth St, San Bernardino, CA 92411

Direct phone number: (909) 888-4880

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Sundays; please note that the office may also close during the lunch hour).

Official portal: The Salvation Army San Bernardino Citadel Corps

Key assistance programs available

Emergency financial assistance: When funds are available, they offer direct support for past-due rent to help prevent evictions, as well as assistance with moving expenses for eligible low-income families.

Utility payment assistance: They serve as a point of contact for accessing utility-sponsored aid funds (such as assistance programs from Southern California Edison and SoCalGas) to help prevent the immediate disconnection of utility services.

Food bank and hot meals: The organization runs a weekly food distribution program that provides boxes of groceries, fresh produce, and baked goods to local families, in addition to organizing special meals during the holiday season.

Services for individuals experiencing homelessness and shelter referrals: While this center focuses primarily on outpatient family services and community programs, it provides emergency supplies, hygiene kits, and clothing vouchers for their thrift stores, and facilitates direct placement or referrals to transitional housing and local shelters.

Operation Grace

Operation Grace is a non-profit organization dedicated to housing and social welfare services in San Bernardino. With over 22 years of experience, this faith-based entity focuses on assisting families experiencing homelessness, working to establish long-term pathways toward self-sufficiency.

Location and Essential Contact Information

Physical Address: 1595 Art Townsend Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408

Direct Phone Number: (909) 382-8540 (extension 2 for program admission)

Office Hours: Monday–Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Sundays).

Official Portal: Operation Grace

Key Assistance Programs Available

Emergency Shelter for Women and Children: Provides immediate, safe residential shelter for single women and women with children. In addition to a secure place to stay, residents receive intensive training in financial literacy, assistance with opening bank accounts, and personalized job guidance.

Rental Assistance: “Operation Grace” provides targeted financial support to cover rent expenses during emergencies. Please note that this fund is reserved specifically for households in the San Bernardino area where at least one member is 55 years of age or older, or has a documented disability.

“Marian’s House of Healing” (Recovery Care): A specialized facility for individuals discharged from the hospital, designed for older adults enrolled in Medi-Cal. It offers beneficiaries a stable environment for medical recovery, while support staff coordinate transition plans toward permanent housing.

Wellness Center Distributions: Provides direct access to essential items—such as baby supplies (diapers/wipes), household goods, blankets, fans, and personal hygiene products—for low-income families at risk of displacement.

Food Pantries and Basic Necessities at Local Churches

For immediate assistance with food, hot meals, or access to local community funds, the following neighborhood churches offer weekly services:

First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino

The First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino is a historic church that serves as a vital frontline resource for the neighborhood, offering weekly emergency food distributions to anyone in need.

Location and Contact Information

Address: 1900 N D St, San Bernardino, CA 92405

Phone: (909) 882-3308

Office Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed Mondays and Fridays).

Official website: First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino

Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church

Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in San Bernardino is a welcoming parish that addresses the immediate nutritional and social needs of local families through food pantry programs and the provision of hot meals for the community.

Location and contact information

Address: 1000 N Valencia Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92410

Phone: (909) 884-6375

Parish office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed on Saturdays and Sundays).

Official Portal: Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church

New Beginnings United Methodist Church

New Beginnings United Methodist Church (NBIE UMC) serves as a compassionate, multicultural community pillar in downtown San Bernardino. The organization maintains active support networks dedicated to combating hunger and addressing a lack of access to essential items, such as clothing, within the neighborhood.

Location and Essential Contact Information

Physical Address (Downtown Location): 785 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92401

Direct Phone Number: (909) 515-5770

Phone Support Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Official Website: New Beginnings UMC

Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church acts as an active, multicultural community resource center in Grand Terrace (located right on the border between San Bernardino and Riverside counties). They specialize in initiatives that promote the dignity of neighbors, provide direct assistance for basic needs, and manage community health networks.

Location and Essential Contact Information

Physical Address: 22633 Barton Rd, Grand Terrace, CA 92313

Direct Phone Number: (909) 825-8611

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed on Sundays).

Official Website: Azure Hills SDA Church

Next Steps and Coordinated Entry System

Because the funds available at these churches can change rapidly, the fastest way to access assistance for utility payments, rent, or housing is to dial 2-1-1 from your phone. Inland SoCal United Way’s 211 Coordinated Entry System manages a 24/7, centralized database of grants offered by faith-based organizations and housing vouchers available in San Bernardino County.