Guides
Guides
Step-by-step, written for people who have never had to do this before. Each guide is general information for California and the United States; for your own situation, contact us and a real person will help.
After a death far from homeThe first 72 hours, who to call, repatriation or local burial, what funerals really cost, the Mutual Aid Compact.The first 24 hours after a scamStop the money, secure accounts, report, and what to expect next — hour by hour.Eviction notice: next stepsWhat each notice means, the California deadlines, and the help that exists before court.Utility shut-off protectionsPayment arrangements, discount programs, medical baseline, and the rules a utility must follow before disconnecting.Food assistanceCalFresh, WIC, school meals, food banks and pantries — who qualifies and how to apply.Finding low-cost careCommunity health centers, county clinics, Medi-Cal, urgent care versus the ER, and mental-health options.Reading a medical billItemised bills, common errors, charity care, payment plans, and what collections can and cannot do.Documents to keepThe records that win wage cases and protect households — and how to keep them safely.
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Made to be passed on.
Every guide is written to be printed, photographed and shared in a family group or an association meeting. Associations may reproduce them freely with the Foundation's name. If a guide is missing that your community needs, tell us and we will write it.
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