Unlocking Food Security: How Coordinated Advocacy Helped a Client Access CalFresh and Stabilize Her Life

At Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego (CCDSD), our CalFresh Outreach program works to ensure vulnerable community members can access food assistance and other critical supports. One recent participant came to us through Homeless Services after experiencing housing instability. A knee injury had ended her career as a nurse, leaving her unable to work. Without local family support and with limited income after being deemed disabled, she struggled to meet her basic needs. When she could no longer remain at Rachel’s Women’s Center due to difficulty navigating stairs, she was referred to CCDSD. We provided her with a Hotel/Motel Voucher for temporary shelter and immediately began supporting her with a CalFresh application.

One of the main challenges she faced was a lack of access to technology, which made the online CalFresh application and follow-up process overwhelming. She also shared that she had tried to apply in the past but became so frustrated that she gave up. To address this, CCDSD staff provided in-person assistance, used office resources to complete her application, and acted as her point of contact with the County office. We also helped her gather required documentation and guided her through each step until her application was complete.

Within just three days, her CalFresh application was approved, and she received her EBT card in less than a week. She expressed great relief, saying how grateful she was that someone was willing to walk with her through a process she had once found impossible. With her immediate needs for both food and shelter addressed, she is now in a more stable position, and CCDSD continues to support her through recertification and additional services.

Through a combination of housing assistance, direct application support, and consistent advocacy with the County office, CCDSD helped her overcome barriers related to disability and homelessness. This case highlights the importance of integrated services and client-centered support in ensuring vulnerable individuals can access the resources they need in a timely manner.