If you are experiencing houselessness, please fill out the basic needs support form here, or email basicneeds@cuesta.edu 

All Cuesta students have access to the Cougar Food Pantry and the monthly Food Bank Distributions; further resources are available to students in need through the Basic Needs office. 

You are not alone! There is support for you.

Download Resources PDF

Food Resources at Cuesta

Cougar Food Pantry 
Location (SLO Campus):
Building 5100 (Cafeteria) 
Room 5104B
Phone: (805) 546-3289

Location (NC Campus):
Building N1000 Room N1005 
Phone: (805) 591-4301

Step 1: Check hours of operation and visit either campus location

Eligibility: To be eligible for our services, students must be currently enrolled and sign in/out with their student id number. 

Service: We have a variety of food available including snacks (fruit cups, granola bars, snack nuts, and more) and meal components (soup cups, pasta, bread, canned vegetables). Students can take up to two separate items per day, so that we have plenty for everyone. 

Food Bank Distribution 
SLO Campus 3:00pm – 5:00pm 
Parking Lot #2 

North County Campus: 3:00pm – 5:00pm 
Parking Lot #2 

For questions please call the Student Life and Leadership Office at (805) 546-3289 

 

Step 1: Students and community members go to either SLO or North County campus locations on the scheduled dates for pick up. 

Eligibility: Participants must be at least 18 years old and must certify that they meet USDA income guidelines by signing in. NO ID or proof of income is required to participate. 

Service: One bag of pantry food and one bag of fresh produce is provided for free.

Basic Needs Office 

SLO Building 5100 (Cafeteria) 
Room 5104B

Hours (SLO): 
9AM-4PM Mon, Thurs, Fri

9AM-6PM Tues

Hours (NCC):

9AM-6PM Wednesday

Step 1: Apply for Basic Needs Support

Students can go to either location on the SLO or North County campus to access supplies 

Eligibility: Enrolled Cuesta students experiencing insufficient housing, food, hygiene products, or otherwise not having their basic needs met. 

Service: Free Hygiene products (soap, toothbrush/tooth paste, comb, brush, soap, towels, cotton balls, first aid kits, chap stick & Kleenex), scarf, hats, backpacks, laundry soap, menstruation products, gift cards to fast food restaurants (limited). 

2-1-1 SLO County, a free program that is a one-stop way to get timely access to health and human services information and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone line is free, confidential, and provides bilingual assistance. You can also find this information online.

Resources Description

Friends of 40Prado 
43 Prado Road 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
(805) 786-0617 

Monday – Sunday 
8:30am – 4:00pm 
Breakfast 8:30am – 9:30am 
Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:00pm 

Step 1: Fill out paperwork and do a short intake appointment (you do not have to schedule this appointment in advance) 

Eligibility: Completion of the paperwork and intake appointment 

Service: Restrooms and showers, laundry service, phones, bus tokens, mail and message service, employment listings and job application assistance, on-site health screenings, a children’s playroom and yard, a community garden, and access to community-based support services. 

Family Care Network. Inc. 
Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents 
1255 Kendall Road 
San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 
(805) 781-3535 

Monday – Friday 
8:00am – 5:00pm

Step 1: Must be referred through an agency 

Eligibility: Foster youth age 18-21 (Non-Minor Dependents) 

Service: Affordable housing and a wide range of supportive services, including one-on-one life skills development assistance and case management in order to successfully establish permanency and self-sufficiency. 

Family Care Network, Inc. 
Transitional Housing Placement Program for Minor Foster Children (THPP-M) 

1255 Kendall Road 
San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 
(805) 781-3535 

Monday – Friday 
8:00am – 5:00pm 

 Step 1: Must be referred through an agency 

Eligibility: Foster youth preparing to leave the system 

Services: provides youth with independent housing, substantial one-on-one counseling, support, instruction and guidance. 

Family Care Network, Inc. 
Housing Support Program (HSP) 
1255 Kendall Road 
San Luis Obispo, CA 94401 
(805) 781-3535 

Monday – Friday 
8:00am – 5:00pm

Step 1: Must be referred through an agency 

Eligibility: Determined at intake 

Service: Program participants are provided necessary case management services for life skills development, one-on-one guidance, work group classes and community linkage to ensure their successful transition to self-sufficiency post care.

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing 
3533 Empleo Street 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

(805) 781-3088 
info@pshhc.org 

Monday – Friday 
9:00am – 5:00pm

Step 1: Call to be added to the waitlist 

Eligibility: Low income, single parent head of household, farm workers, elderly on a fixed income, persons with disabilities, veterans, formerly homeless, mentally ill, and those with other special needs. 

Service: Supportive housing services, housing counseling, home ownership opportunities

Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO)
487 Leff Street 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-4347 

(805) 543-4478 
Monday – Thursday 
8:00am – 5:00pm (closed 12:30 – 1:00 daily) 

Step 1: Call to make an appointment for a screening process 

Eligibility: Must be approved through the screening process to get on the waitlist 

Services: Public affordable housing. 

Independent Living Resource Center 
1411 Marsh Street 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
(805) 462-1162 

Monday – Friday 
9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm 

Contact: Community Living Advocate, Nicole Janikowski extension 413 

Youth Advocate (for ages 14-24) Alexa Martin 

Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment 

Eligibility: Person must have a disability (of any kind) 

Services: Advocate on behalf of the person for housing, personal assistance, interpreting, assistive technology, advocacy (do not provide case management). 

Stand Strong (Women’s Shelter)
51 Zaca Lane, Suite 150 
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Business Line (805) 781-6401 
Monday – Friday 
9:00 – 5:00pm 
Crisis Line (805) 781- 6400 open 24/7

Step 1: Call for a consultation 

Eligibility: Must be referred through Stand Strong counseling, Safe House of community project partners 

Services: Advocacy services, employment assistance, counseling, legal services, children’s services, life skill groups, and assistance with obtaining permanent housing.

Transitions Mental Health Association 
Community Residential Program 
784 High Street 
San Luis Obispo 
(805) 540-6500 

Monday – Friday 
9:00am – 5:00pm

Step 1: Call for an intake appointment 

Eligibility: determined at the intake appointment 

Services: Each resident will be assigned a case manager who will assist the resident in developing individual service plans to address issues such as homelessness, mental/physical disabilities, substance abuse, credit repair, legal problems with the end goal of obtaining maximum level of independent living 

Resources Description

5Cities Homeless Coalition
P.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483 
(805) 574-1638 

Monday – Friday 
8:30am – 5:00pm 

Contact: Intake and Resource Coordinator, Devon Mcquade.

Referrals submitted to: info@5CHC.org  

Klaproad Rapid Re-housing Program/ Case Management Services 

Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment. Appointments can be done over the phone or in person. Appointments typically take 15 minutes. 

Eligibility: South County ONLY. Clients must have become homeless while living in South County and must have been a resident in the area for at least 6 months. 

Services: Provides case management to assist in obtaining long term stable housing. Support may be provided for deposit, rent and supportive need for those who are homeless. 

5Cities Homeless Coalition

Homeless Youth Outreach 
P.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483 

(805) 574-1638 
Monday – Friday 
8:30am – 5:00pm 

Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment. Appointments can be done over the phone or in person. Appointments typically take 15 minutes. 

Eligibility: Homeless youth between 16-24 years old 

Services: One-on-one case management helps youth with immediate needs, housing and development of an individualized 

Action Plan to help them achieve independent living, steady employment, and continued education. 

5Cities Homeless Coalition 
ESG Rapid Re-Housing Program 
P.O. Box 558 Grover Beach, CA 93483 
(805) 574-1638 

Monday – Friday 
8:30am – 5:00pm 

Step 1: Call to set up an intake appointment. Appointments can be done over the phone or in person. Appointments typically take 15 minutes. 

Eligibility: Those who are homeless or facing homelessness. For rental assistance to prevent homelessness, clients’ income must be 30% or less of AMI (annual median income) 

Service: Funding and case management support: deposit, rent and immediate needs. Move-in assistance with deposit and rent.

S.A.F.E Family Resources Center South County 
1511 19th Street Oceano (805) 474-3690 

1086 Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande 
(805) 474-2105

920 W. Teff Street, Nipomo (805) 474-2105 

Monday – Friday 
9:00am – 5:00pm 

Step 1: Call to do a needs assessment 

Eligibility: Under 18 years old, families with kids under 18 in the SLO Unified School District. Must be a SLO resident 

Service: A community-based, school-linked, family-centered way of delivering and coordinating appropriate prevention and intervention services to youth and families in Southern San Luis Obispo County 

Resources Description

El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) 
6370 Atascadero Avenue, Atascadero CA 
(805) 462-3663 

Monday-Sunday 
4:30pm – 7:30am

Step 1: Stop by the office for an intake appointment or fill out the form on the ECHO website: http://echoshelter.org/begin 

Eligibility: Determined at intake appointment 

Services: Critical case management for clients to develop an action plan to resolve their housing crisis, bus passes, clothing vouchers, laundry vouchers, motel rooms for clients who become ill, furniture and other donations for clients who have found housing, postal address so clients my receive mail, gas and other types of transportation for stranded clients.

ALF Food Pantry

​5411 El Camino Real
Atascadero, CA 93422
​805-461-1504

Mon-Fri 1PM-3PM

If you live in Atascadero, Templeton, Santa Margarita, Creston or California Valley, we hope you'll come by if your food budget is a bit tight.
Clients should NOT bring reusable bags; ALF Food Pantry will provide bags and/or boxes.


If you are a new client, you will be asked for information about your household and your current needs.  (For example:  address, phone number, birthdates, food allergies, etc.)   [All info will be kept confidential.]

LINK 
6500 Morro Road Unit A, Atascadero 
(805) 466-5404 – Atascadero 

Step 1: Call to do a needs assessment 

Eligibility: Under 18 years old, families with kids under 18 in the SLO Unified School District. Must be a SLO resident 

Service: Connects families with community resources, agency partners and mainstream benefits to help regain stability 

Resources Description

ECHO Paso Robles

1134 Black Oak Drive
Paso Robles, CA 93446

(805) 462-FOOD (3663)

https://www.echoshelter.org/pasorobles

Step 1: call or email for information, or fill out their Support Form

Eligibility: call or fill out the form to determine

Services: 90 day emergency shelter, housing placement, nightly emergency shelter, shower program, meal program, childrens' programs.

LINK 

1802 Chestnut Street, Paso Robles 
(805) 238-2775 – Paso Robles 

Step 1: Call to do a needs assessment 

Eligibility: Under 18 years old, families with kids under 18 in the SLO Unified School District. Must be a SLO resident 

Service: Connects families with community resources, agency partners and mainstream benefits to help regain stability 

Resources Description

Los Osos Cares Resource Center 
Sunnyside School 
880 Manzanita Drive, Room 18 
(805) 592-2701 

Tuesday-Friday 4:00pm 

wecareinlososos@gmail.com

Step 1: Visit in person, call or email for information about what services are provided on which days 

Eligibility: Call to determine 

Services: Connections with county services, food, clothing, employment help, family support