San Carlos
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Local offices in San Carlos
We found these on official websites. Call before you go, since hours and places can change.
Housing help · City office
Housing and Economic Development
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Help here
- Housing informationContact the city for information about local housing resources and programs.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on cityofsancarlos.org
Older adults · City office
Adult Community Center
601 Chestnut Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Help here
- Programs and services for older adultsVisit or call the center to learn about programs and services for older adults.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on cityofsancarlos.org
Local office · City office
City of San Carlos Customer Service
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Help here
- General city questions and service requestsCall the city’s general line for help finding the right city service or reporting a local problem.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on cityofsancarlos.org
Library · Regional office
San Carlos Library
610 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Help here
- Library services and programsUse the library for books, public resources, and community programs.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smcl.org
Parks and recreation · City office
Parks and Recreation
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Help here
- Recreation programs and fee assistanceRegister for city classes and activities, and ask about help paying program fees.Apply online
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on cityofsancarlos.org
Checked on October 8, 2026
Food near you
Food pantries and free meals, closest to the center of San Carlos first. Hours change, so call first when you can.
Free meals
Visitacion Valley Community Center
Project Open Hand
17 miles from the center of San Carlos66 Raymond Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134
Hours
- Mon11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Tue11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Wed11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Thu11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Fri11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Who can come: San Francisco residents ages 18 and older
Listed on openhand.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Free meals
Mother Brown's Dining Room
17 miles from the center of San Carlos2111 Jennings Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Hours
- Mon7 AM to 9 AM; 5 PM to 7 PM
- Tue7 AM to 9 AM; 5 PM to 7 PM
- Wed7 AM to 9 AM; 5 PM to 7 PM
- Thu7 AM to 9 AM; 5 PM to 7 PM
- Fri7 AM to 9 AM; 5 PM to 7 PM
- Sat7 AM to 9 AM; 4 PM to 6 PM
- Sun7 AM to 9 AM; 4 PM to 6 PM
Who can come: Anyone
Listed on sfhsa.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Free grocery market
D10 Community Market
18 miles from the center of San Carlos5030 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Hours
- Mon1 PM to 6 PM
- Fri1 PM to 6 PM
Who can come: Low-income community members who meet the market's eligibility criteria
Listed on sfhsa.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
Mission Action: Casa Colibrí
Mission Action
18 miles from the center of San Carlos5630 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94112
Hours
- Wed9 AM to 12 PM (1st and 3rd of the month)
Who can come: Mission Action program participants and community members connected to Casa Colibrí
Listed on sfhsa.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
Self-Help for the Elderly (Excelsior)
Self-Help for the Elderly
18 miles from the center of San Carlos5050 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94112
Hours
- Wed1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Every other week
Who can come: People who can provide proof of address in 94112
What to bring: Proof of address in 94112
Listed on sfhsa.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
The FREEdom Store
Homies Empowerment
18 miles from the center of San Carlos10451 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605
Hours
- Wed10 AM to 11:45 AM; 1 PM to 3 PM
Who can come: All community
What to bring: No ID required
Listed on homiesempowerment.com, checked on October 9, 2026
Nonprofits that serve San Carlos
Each one serves this area. Call before you go, since services and hours change.
Food bank
Food banks supply the food pantries and meal sites near you. Call or check the website to find one close by.
Nonprofit
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125
Listed on feedingamerica.org, checked on October 10, 2026
Free legal help
Free help with civil legal problems, like eviction, benefits and family law, for people with low incomes. Funded by the Legal Services Corporation.
Nonprofit
Bay Area Legal Aid
Listed on lsc.gov, checked on October 10, 2026
Community action
Local nonprofits that help people with low incomes. Many help with energy bills, rent, jobs and taxes. Call to ask what they offer now.
Nonprofit
San Mateo County Human Services Agency
Listed on csd.ca.gov, checked on October 9, 2026
Job help near San Carlos
American Job Centers are free. They help you look for work, write a resume, find training and apply for unemployment benefits. You can ask for an interpreter.
CareerOneStop lists no American Job Center in San Carlos. These are the closest.
American Job Center
Eden Area AJCC
Also helps people leaving jail or prison
15 miles away
24100 Amador Street, Gail Steele Multi-Service Center , 3rd Floor, Hayward, CA 94544
Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs 8:30am-5pm -Wed 8:30am-7pm-Fri 8:30am-12:30pm
Updated by CareerOneStop on March 30, 2026
American Job Center · Affiliate center
Ohlone Tri-Cities Career Center
Also helps young people and people leaving jail or prison
15 miles away
39399 Cherry Street, Ohlone College Newark: Center for Health Sciences and Technology Room 1211, Newark, CA 94560
Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. & Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Closed Fridays during Summer)
Updated by CareerOneStop on June 2, 2026
American Job Center
NOVAworks
Also helps young people and people leaving jail or prison
15 miles away
456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale City Hall, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated by CareerOneStop on August 22, 2026
Unemployment benefits in California
If you lost your job or your hours were cut, you may be able to get unemployment insurance. You apply with the state, and the state decides who qualifies.
Workforce board for this area
The workforce board plans the job and training programs here and funds the job centers. Go to a job center for help; call the board with questions about its programs.
Workforce board
NOVA Workforce Development Board
456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Workforce board
California Workforce Development Board
1416 9th Street, Floor 14, Sacramento, CA 95814
Job center and program listings from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Checked on October 10, 2026.
Offices for all of San Mateo County
San Carlos is in San Mateo County. These county and state offices serve people there too.
Human services · County office
Human Services Agency
1500 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404
Help here
- Public assistanceApply for CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Assistance.Apply onlineRead more
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smcgov.org
Public health · County office
San Mateo County WIC Program
306 Spruce Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Help here
- Women, Infants, and Children nutrition supportEligible families with young children can get healthy food, nutrition information, and breastfeeding support.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smchealth.org
Child support · County office
Department of Child Support Services
555 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
Help here
- Child support servicesGet help with child support orders, payments, and your child support case.Apply online
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smcgov.org
Community action · County office
San Mateo County Community Action Agency
Help here
- Community action and self-sufficiency supportThe county agency supports programs that help residents address poverty and prevent or end homelessness.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smcgov.org
Housing help · County office
Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo
264 Harbor Boulevard, Belmont, CA 94002
Help here
- Rental assistanceApply for open housing voucher waitlists and get help with rental assistance applications.Apply onlineRead more
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smcgov.org
Public health · County office
San Mateo County Health
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94403
Help here
- Health services and public health programsFind county health programs, medical services, and public health information.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on smchealth.org
California programs by kind of help
These are run by California and work the same everywhere in the state. Each page lists the programs and how to apply.
- FoodFood benefits, WIC, school meals and food banks.
- HousingRent help, shelter, and help with heat and power bills.
- HealthHealth coverage, Medicare, mental health care and help with drug costs.
- MoneyCash help, disability, retirement and veterans payments, and tax help.
- CareChild care, help for older adults and disability support.
- EducationHelp paying for college and training, and free preschool.
- WorkJobs, unemployment, and the IDs and papers you need for work.
- Legal helpFree legal help with eviction, family law, benefits and more.
- SafetyHelp with abuse at home, a safe place to stay, and crisis lines.
Checked on October 8, 2026
Federal help anyone can use
These come from the federal government, so they work the same in every state.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people with little income and few resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, including children.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes and now cannot work because of a disability that will last a long time.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Social Security retirement benefits
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes, starting as early as 62. Spouses and widows may also get benefits.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Medicare
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Health insurance for people 65 or older and for some younger people with a disability or kidney failure.
Call 1-800-633-4227 - Extra Help with Medicare drug costs
Social Security Administration. Help paying for Medicare prescription drug plans for people with limited income and resources.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - VA health care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Health care at VA clinics and hospitals for veterans who served in the active military and did not get a dishonorable discharge.
Call 1-877-222-8387 - VA disability compensation and benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Monthly payments for veterans with an illness or injury caused or made worse by military service, plus education, home loan and other benefits.
Call 1-800-827-1000 - FAFSA, the federal student aid form
U.S. Department of Education. One free form that opens federal grants, work-study and loans for college or trade school. Many states and schools use it for their own aid too.
Call 1-800-433-3243 - Federal Pell Grant
U.S. Department of Education. Money for college or trade school that usually does not have to be paid back, for students with financial need.
Call 1-800-433-3243 - Lifeline phone and internet discount
Federal Communications Commission. A monthly discount on phone or internet service for households with low income or who get benefits like SNAP, Medicaid or SSI.
Call 1-800-234-9473 - Head Start and Early Head Start
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Free preschool, child care and family support for young children from birth to age 5 in families with low income, run by local programs.
Call 1-866-763-6481 - IRS Free File
Internal Revenue Service. File your federal tax return online for free with tax software offered through the IRS, if your income is under the year's limit.
- VITA and TCE free tax help
Internal Revenue Service. IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file your taxes for free, in person, for people with low or moderate income, older adults and people with disabilities.
Call 1-800-906-9887 - Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Internal Revenue Service. A federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. It can mean a bigger refund, even if you owe no tax.
Call 1-800-829-1040 - Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Help paying rent in a home you choose, for families with very low income, older adults and people with disabilities. Local housing authorities run it, and many have waiting lists.
- Replace a Social Security card
Social Security Administration. Get a free replacement Social Security card if yours was lost, stolen or damaged. Many people can ask online.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - FEMA disaster assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Help with a place to stay, repairs and other needs after a disaster the President has declared in your area.
Call 1-800-621-3362
Checked on October 9, 2026
Talk to a person
- 211 Bay Area
Free help finding food, housing, bills and more near you.
Call 211 - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 if you are in crisis or worried about someone. Any time.
Call 988Text 988