Resources for Families

Know Your Rights -- McKinney Vento Act

Graduation Modifications for McKinney-Vento Students

  • High-School Graduation Modifications: If your student is identified as a student protected under McKinney-Vento, then your student is able to request these modifications to fulfill high-school graduation requirements.
Other Resources 
  • Poster - "Know Your Rights": ​​Three visual information guides on how to know if students are McKinney Vento, what rights you have, and how to get assistance.​
  • Other Legal Resources: This is a list of Legal Resources across the Bay Area; compiled by Suitcase Clinic. 

Internet Access 
  • Oakland Unified School District WiFi Map: A map of locations in Oakland where OUSD provided technology will automatically connect
  • Everyone On: Search by zip code for free and low cost internet providers servicing your student's area.
  • Xfinity:  Xfinity is opening all of their WiFi hotspots to the public. Use the link to find the nearest hotspot and directions for accessing.
  • Comcast: Comcast is offering 60 days of free internet to qualifying families through Internet Essentials. Data Plans will be provided with unlimited data and no disconnects or late fees for 60 days.
  • Sonic Internet: Sonic is offering three months of free internet access to new households with K-12 and college students or adults 60 and older.​
  • Spectrum Internet: Spectrum is offering two months of free internet access to new households with K-12 and college students or teachers.​
  • Cell Phone & Other Providers: Berkeley Unified School District's overview of COVID-19 responses from AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.
  • Allconnect: qualifying households can be provided with a $50 credit on their internet bill each month.
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​Food Access ​
  • Free Breakfast & Lunch Programs: School Districts are providing free meals to all children 18 and under. Please visit your student's local School District website for location and hours of distribution.
  • Baskit: A pay-what-you-can produce service (currently) serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • SF-Marin Food Bank: The SF-Marin Food Bank has multiple locations that provide emergency meals, weekly free groceries, monthly food delivery for certain demographics, and help enrolling in CalFresh food stamps. This link allows you to search for the location providing free food nearest to you.
  • Bay Area Rescue Mission: Along with shelter services, BARM has a food pantry at 123 Macdonald Avenue in Richmond and a free dinner service operating at 200 Macdonald Avenue at 2nd Street in Richmond. The food pantry also provides clean clothing.

Transportation Resources​
Clothing Access
  • ​St. Anthony's Free Clothing: St. Anthony's is currently operating a clothing distribution service for individuals with immediate needs. This service is available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00am — Noon. Guests are serviced on the sidewalk in front of 150 Golden Gate Avenue.
  • Wardrobe for Opportunity: Wardrobe for Opportunity works in partnership with the community to assist low-income individuals in their efforts to Find a Job, Keep a Job, and Build a Career.​ Services include providing personalized professional attire to those in need.
  • Bay Area Women's & Children's Center: BAWCC has had one of the largest Free Clothing Closets for women and children in San Francisco.  In addition to giving out women and children’s clothing, they give out smaller household items such as bedding, kitchen items, books, and even small pieces of furniture.
  • Dress for Success: Dress for success helps women to obtain free clothing and confidence for job interviews and further attire to enter the workforce.
  • Laundry Love: Laundry Love is an organization partnering with local laundromats to provide free laundry services. There are several locations across the Bay Area, use this tool to find the location nearest to you.
  • List of Free Showers and Laundry: This is a list of free locations compiled by the Suitcase Clinic. 

Substance Use and Addition Recovery Resources 
  • Southeast Addiction Center: This guide offers a list of the top 50 resources to support Black Men who are struggling with addiction or mental illness.
  • Live Another Day - Live Another Day believes in equal access to life-saving mental health and substance use resources. This website provides extensive information on the best resources available.
  • Detox Local - An excellent resource that features abundant information including mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community.
  • National Harm Reduction Coalition: Use this website to find nearby harm reduction and safe use centers, naloxone, sterile syringes, and other harm reduction resources.
  • OnlineColleges: A resource for college-aged students to identify and battle substance use. 

General Resources by Location

San Francisco
  • The Glide Foundation: The Glide Foundation is a center with general and specialized services available in the walk-in center open from 8:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 5:00pm, located at 330 Ellis Street. This includes: free meals, hygiene kits, clothing, and blankets; connections to social benefits; a family resource center with childcare; a women’s center; harm reduction resources; medical and mental healthcare; and more.
  • St. Anthony’s Foundation: St. Anthony’s provides free meals and groceries, free clothing by appointment, medical and mental health treatment, computer access, employment services, addiction recovery services, and more. The drop-in resource center and dining room are located at 121 Golden Gate Avenue, with drop-in resources available from 8:30am to 10:00am Monday through Friday and meals served at set times throughout the day every day.
  • Saint Vincent de Paul: Saint Vincent de Paul is a longer term shelter that also provides drop in care. Along with food and shelter, clients have access to shower and laundry facilities, haircuts, medical and mental health care, education and employment services, legal services, assistance in finding permanent housing, and a library with computers. They also have a specialized center for survivors of domestic violence.​
  • Larkin Street Youth Services: Larkin Street has several programs that serve youth under age 25. They provide free showers, hygiene supplies, meals, computer access, medical and mental health care, case management, employment and educational support, and more.

East Bay (Oakland and Surroundings)
  • St Vincent de Paul of Alameda County: The Alameda County branch of St Vincent has a dining room with an emergency shelter located at 675 23rd Street in Oakland and a separate community center. They provide free meals, medical services, clothing, laundry services, showers and hygiene kits, infant care supplies, and more.
  • Alameda County Community Food Bank: Alameda County Community Food Bank is located at 7900 Edgewater Drive in Oakland. It provides free meals and groceries, help applying for CalFresh food stamps, and multiple tools to help you locate nearby free food. This link is for summer meals for children (under age 18), and this link is for access to free food within the day, including possible delivery service.
  • East Oakland Community Project (EOCP): EOCP provides many services related to housing, including placement in emergency and long term shelters, aid in completing housing applications, financial assistance, and veteran specific housing services.
  • Insight Housing: Insight housing in Berkeley provides medical services and referrals, emergency and temporary housing placement, and free food and water. Their free food service is located at 2012 Berkeley Way.

Shelters/Transitional Housing

San Francisco
  • San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team: This outreach team is the main resource for government-funded shelters and programs in San Francisco. You can fill out the shelter reservation form here.
  • Larkin Street Youth Services (Lark-Inn for Youth, Diamond Youth Shelter): Larkin Street Services provides immediate placement in a one-night emergency shelter for ages 24 and under and referrals to several transitional and supportive housing programs. They are one of the main shelters that accepts unaccompanied minors. Their drop-in emergency housing center is located at 134 Golden Gate Avenue and is open from 10am to 3pm Monday through Friday.
  • Huckleberry House: Huckleberry House is a shelter for youth ages 12 to 17 that provides 24-hour crisis services, counseling, healthcare, case management, basic needs support, and occasional activities.
  • Dolores Shelter Program: The Dolores Shelter Program provides walk-up first come first serve overnight only shelter. The shelter includes meals, case management, and referrals to housing and health resources. It is located at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue, line up starts at 5:30pm, and the shelter is open from 6:00pm to 8:00am.
  • Saint Vincent de Paul (MSC-South): MSC-South provides longer term shelter and drop in care. Along with food and shelter, residents have access to shower and laundry facilities, haircuts, medical and mental health care, education, employment services, legal services, assistance in finding permanent housing, and a library with computers.
  • Saint Vincent de Paul (Division Circle Navigation Center): The Navigation Center is a longer-term shelter with the capacity for couples to live together, pets, and storage of client possessions. Services include case management, medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment referrals, public benefit and employment resources, and aid in finding housing.

East Bay (Oakland and Surroundings)
  • St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County: St. Vincent is an emergency shelter, filled first come first serve on a nightly basis, open from 6:00pm to 8:00am for those with reservations and 9:00pm to 8:00am for those without. It is located at 675 23rd Street in Oakland. The shelter provides all basic necessities including food, hygiene kits, clothing, laundry, showers, and more.
  • Insight Housing: Insight Housing provides emergency and transitional housing. Emergency housing for adults has included showers, laundry, computer and telephone access, meals, and access to case managers. Transitional housing includes employment and housing case management, free meals, family reunification support, and move-in assistance. 
  • East Oakland Community Project (EOCP): EOCP provides both emergency and long term shelters specialized for individual or family needs. Their locations include Crossroads, open to all adults, Matilda Cleveland for single caregivers, Families in Transition and Family Matters for families, and Our House for young adults ages 18 to 25.
  • Bay Area Rescue Mission: BARM has multiple shelters for different demographics including a men’s shelter and a women and children’s shelter. Both shelters provide counseling and life skills education. Their emergency shelter is located at 200 Macdonald Avenue at 2nd Street in Richmond, and opens at 6:30pm.
  • List of Shelters: Here is a list of shelters, compiled by Suitcase Clinic. 

Employment Resources

Employment Resources: This is a list of resources compiled by the Suitcase Clinic.

Community Crisis Lines
Homelessness and other support and resources: 211 
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Mobile Crisis Units: free referrals to housing support and mental health services available to all ages.
  • Berkeley and Albany Mobile Crisis Unit: 510-981-5900
  • Alameda County Mobile Crisis Unit: 800-491-9099
  • San Francisco Mobile Crisis Unit: 415-970-4000
Non-police response to mental health and other crises: in the moment support and referral to applicable services and resources without any connection to police.
  • Berkeley Specialized Care Unit Crisis Line: 510-948-0075
  • MH First: 510-999-9641
  • Riley Center Domestic Violence Support Line: 415-255-0165
    • Spanish Line: 415-757-6490
Youth Services
  • Larkin Street Youth Crisis Line: 1-800-669-6196
  • Huckleberry Youth Crisis Line: 415-621-2929

Mental Health Resources
  • Relaxation Tools
    • Panic attacks:
      • A panic attack occurs when the body experiences a sudden surge of adrenaline out of proportion to any perceived danger or threat. During a panic attack, the fear center of the brain reacts with a high-stress response when exposed to an unfamiliar situation or after facing a stressful life event.
      • ​Symptoms of a panic attack include a racing heart, sweating, difficulty catching breath, and a feeling of impending death or doom.
    • Breathing Techniques:
      • 4-7-8 Breathing: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds.
    • TIPPs Skills for Bringing Down Intense Emotions:
    • Muscle relaxation:
      • ​This technique involves tensing and untensing various muscle groups. This lowers overall tension and stress levels that can contribute to panic attacks. Start with the feet and work up to your forehead.
      • Tighten the muscle while taking a deep breath in, hold for a few seconds and then release the tension while breathing out. Move up the body, one muscle group at a time.
    • Grounding Techniques:
      • In order to help focus on what's around you: name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
  • Referral Services and Crisis Support
  • Free or Low Cost Mental Health Care Providers

Scholarships and College Resources
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