Top 15 Nonprofits in Los Angeles Helping with Rent, Food, and Bills
Updated: 4 days ago
Los Angeles help is spread out, so where you live matters. Catholic Charities, St. Joseph Center on the Westside, MEND in the San Fernando Valley, and Harbor Interfaith Services in San Pedro handle emergency needs. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles defends tenants, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies pantries countywide. The list also covers Long Beach and Orange County. This guide lists 15.
This guide covers the Los Angeles metro: L.A. County and Orange County, from the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena to Long Beach, Pomona, Santa Ana, and Irvine. We focused on nonprofits with structured help for rent, utility bills, groceries, and free legal aid for tenants.
Funding comes and goes, so call first and apply early. Details reflect what each organization publishes as of October 2026.
How We Chose These Nonprofits in Los Angeles
We included nonprofits that serve the Los Angeles area, run a regular rent, utility, food, or free legal aid program, and publish contact information. Faith-based charities are included when they serve people of any background. Details come from each organization's own website and were last checked in October 2026. The numbers are for easy reference, not a quality score. We don't use star ratings or reviews, and nobody pays to be listed. Funding and eligibility change, so call before you go. Our editorial standards explain how we research, date, and correct these guides.
1. Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
A network of community service centers across L.A. County.
Primary assistance: Rent and utility stipends, groceries, motel vouchers, transportation help, CalFresh and Medi-Cal applications
Best for: Families who need a one-time boost to stay housed
How to get help: Brownson House (East L.A.) (213) 251-3512; Glendale (213) 318-5707; Pomona (909) 629-1331; Lennox (310) 672-2208; catholiccharitiesla.org
Its 18 community service centers are the front door for emergency help. Rent and utility aid depends on funding and may be limited by area, so call the center nearest you first.
Trust signals: Publishes a program directory by city with each center's address, phone, and hours.
2. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
Free civil legal aid for low-income Angelenos.
Primary assistance: Eviction defense, rent control and slum housing cases, tenant harassment, public benefits
Best for: Tenants who got an eviction notice or court papers
How to get help: (800) 399-4529; apply online, at a clinic, or at an office; lafla.org
Call or apply online the moment you get court papers, because eviction timelines are short. Help is offered in more than a dozen languages, including Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Khmer, and Vietnamese.
Trust signals: Multilingual intake and self-help guides published online.
3. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
L.A. County's regional food bank, supplying partner pantries countywide.
Primary assistance: Pantry locator, partner pantries and distributions, CalFresh outreach
Best for: Anyone in L.A. County who needs groceries
How to get help: Use the pantry locator or call 211; office (323) 234-3030; 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA 90058
Food is not handed out at the warehouse. Use the locator or 211 to find a pantry near you.
Trust signals: Working since 1973; publishes financials online.
4. St. Joseph Center
A Westside nonprofit started by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Primary assistance: Food pantry, Bread & Roses Café meals, housing programs, case management
Best for: Westside individuals and families who need food and housing support
How to get help: (310) 396-6468 ext. 301; 204 Hampton Drive, Venice, CA 90291; stjosephctr.org
The pantry is open Monday and Wednesday, 10–11:50 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 12–2:50 p.m. A 24-hour non-urgent call center is at (310) 358-2835.
Trust signals: Founded in 1976; publishes financials and service areas.
5. Jewish Family Service LA (SOVA Food Pantry)
A long-running agency serving Angelenos of all backgrounds.
Primary assistance: SOVA food pantries, case management, senior and family services
Best for: Westside and Valley residents who need groceries plus support
How to get help: (818) 988-7682; SOVA Pico, 8846 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035; jfsla.org
JFS runs SOVA pantries on Pico and in the Valley. Not sure what you need? The site has a quick online form to reach a caseworker.
Trust signals: Roots in the Hebrew Benevolent Society, founded in 1854; tax ID published.
6. MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity)
A Pacoima-based poverty-relief nonprofit serving the San Fernando Valley.
Primary assistance: Food distributions, clothing, farmers market, wellness services
Best for: Northeast Valley families who need groceries
How to get help: (818) 897-2443; 10641 N. San Fernando Rd., Pacoima, CA 91331; mendpoverty.org
Food is distributed Wednesday, Friday, and the first Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.–noon. Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Trust signals: Started in 1971 by volunteers from four local churches; incorporated as a nonprofit in 1976.
7. Friends In Deed
A Pasadena nonprofit backed by member congregations.
Primary assistance: Eviction prevention and rental assistance (EPRA), food pantry, women's drop-in, outreach
Best for: Pasadena-area renters at immediate risk of homelessness
How to get help: 626-797-2402; 444 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104; friendsindeedpas.org
EPRA provides short-term rent help to households about to lose housing. Funding includes the City of Pasadena Housing Department.
Trust signals: Serving Pasadena since 1894; reports 100+ households helped by EPRA each year.
8. Harbor Interfaith Services
A South Bay and Harbor Area nonprofit for working families and people without homes.
Primary assistance: Food pantry, CalFresh help, family shelter, housing programs, childcare
Best for: San Pedro and South Bay working families
How to get help: 310-831-9123; Family Resource Center, 670 W. 9th St., San Pedro, CA (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.); harborinterfaith.org
Start at the Family Resource Center, the entry point for all services. The pantry gives a three-day supply of groceries plus hygiene items.
Trust signals: Serving the Harbor Area since 1975; publishes financials.
9. Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP)
Long Beach's community action agency.
Primary assistance: HEAP utility bill help, shut-off emergencies, weatherization, free tax prep
Best for: Long Beach-area households with a high energy bill or shut-off notice
How to get help: (562) 216-4600; 117 W. Victoria St., Long Beach, CA 90805; lbcap.org
You must live in an eligible city and meet HEAP income rules. Bring complete documents, or your application may be returned.
Trust signals: Founded in 1979; reports 9,577 households helped with energy bills in 2025.
10. Maravilla Foundation
A HEAP utility-assistance provider for large parts of L.A. County.
Primary assistance: Gas, electric, and propane bill credits; free weatherization
Best for: East L.A., Valley, and Antelope Valley households behind on utilities
How to get help: (323) 869-4600; 5729 Union Pacific Ave., Commerce, CA 90022; satellites in Panorama City and Lancaster; maravilla.org
Due to reduced funding, Maravilla is prioritizing seniors, people with disabilities, families with young children, and high energy costs. Apply anyway, but help isn't guaranteed.
Trust signals: Posts its HEAP application packet and funding notices online.
11. Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC)
Orange County's community action agency and home of the OC Food Bank.
Primary assistance: OC Food Bank, senior food boxes, energy services
Best for: Orange County families and seniors who need food
How to get help: 714-897-6670; 11870 Monarch St., Garden Grove, CA 92841; capoc.org
The OC Food Bank supplies local nonprofits, and staff hand out over 23,000 senior food boxes a month at 70 sites.
Trust signals: Working since 1965; tax ID published; reports more than 23 million pounds of food distributed in a typical year.
12. Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
An Irvine-based food bank serving all of Orange County.
Primary assistance: Partner pantries, pop-up distributions, CalFresh help, kids' meals
Best for: Orange County households who need groceries fast
How to get help: 949-653-2900; 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618; feedoc.org
Use the Need Food page to find pantries and get help with CalFresh and SUN Bucks.
Trust signals: Federal tax ID published; reports 62,000+ households served by its pop-up drive-thru distributions.
13. Catholic Charities of Orange County
The Diocese of Orange's social service arm.
Primary assistance: Cantlay Food Distribution Center, CalFresh enrollment, outreach, counseling, immigration services
Best for: OC residents who need food and benefits help
How to get help: 714-347-9602; Tower of Hope, 12141 S. Lewis St., 11th Floor, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (by appointment); ccoc.org
Offices are by appointment, so call first. Services are open to people of any religion.
Trust signals: Serving Orange County since 1976.
14. Families Forward
An Irvine nonprofit focused on keeping OC families housed.
Primary assistance: Housing program with rental subsidies, Community Market food pantry, career coaching
Best for: Orange County families with children who have lost housing
How to get help: (949) 552-2727; 8 Thomas, Irvine, CA 92618 (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.); families-forward.org
The Housing Program is for homeless families with a minor child, and spots are limited. For other housing needs, Families Forward points people to 2-1-1.
Trust signals: Publishes eligibility rules and program details online.
15. Community Legal Aid SoCal
Free civil legal help for Orange County and southeast L.A. County.
Primary assistance: Eviction and landlord-tenant help, illegal utility shut-offs, housing discrimination
Best for: Low-income OC and southeast L.A. tenants
How to get help: Hotline 714-571-5200; communitylegalsocal.org
Its Housing Unit helps tenants stay in safe, affordable homes. It also runs an Eviction Diversion Pilot Program for ZIP codes served by the Compton Courthouse.
Trust signals: Founded with support from the Orange County Bar Association; opened southeast L.A.'s first legal aid offices in 1984.
Other Important Helplines and Resources in Los Angeles
211 LA and 211OC: Dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, food, and shelter referrals in either county.
Stay Housed L.A.: Free tenant rights info and legal help at stayhousedla.org.
County social services: L.A. County DPSS and the OC Social Services Agency handle CalFresh and emergency aid.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 any time if money stress turns into a crisis.
Related Guides
Looking for more options in and around Los Angeles? These guides cover churches and nonprofits helping with rent, food, and utility bills:
Closing Thoughts
Start with the agency nearest you: St. Joseph Center on the Westside, MEND in the Valley, Harbor Interfaith in the South Bay, LBCAP in Long Beach, or CAP OC in Orange County. If you have an eviction notice, contact the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles or Community Legal Aid SoCal right away. The L.A. Regional Food Bank lists pantries countywide.
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