Resources

Ventura County Mental Health Resources

  • Emergency: Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to life, violent behavior, weapons present, overdose, serious injury, or another medical emergency.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, 24/7 support for suicide, mental health, or emotional crisis.
  • Ventura County Behavioral Health Access/Crisis Line: Call 1-866-998-2243 for confidential 24/7 access to mental health services, substance use services, crisis support, and referral guidance.
  • 2-1-1 Ventura County: Dial 2-1-1, call 1-800-339-9597, or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for local mental health, housing, food, health, and family resource referrals.

Crisis and Mobile Response

  • Ventura County Mobile Crisis Response Team: Provides phone support and, when appropriate, in-person response for psychiatric emergencies. The team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Access/Crisis Line at 1-866-998-2243.
  • When to call 911 instead: Call 911 when there is an immediate danger to life or safety, a medical emergency, violent behavior, weapons, overdose, or serious injury. You may ask for Crisis Intervention Trained officers if available.
  • What to share during a crisis call: Be ready to describe the immediate safety concern, current location, medical needs, medications or substances involved, and what helps the person feel calmer or safer.

County Behavioral Health Services

  • Ventura County Behavioral Health: Main county entry point for mental health and substance use services for adults, youth, and families. Services may include assessment, treatment referrals, outpatient care, case management, crisis services, and support for co-occurring mental health and substance use needs.
  • Access and referral: Call 1-866-998-2243 to ask about eligibility, services, appointments, crisis support, and referrals.
  • Justice-Involved Behavioral Health Links: Support and navigation for justice-involved behavioral health needs. Phone: 805-477-5775.

Youth and Family Mental Health

  • Ventura County Behavioral Health Youth & Family Services: Provides assessment, outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, intensive care coordination, case management, crisis intervention, and family support. Call 1-866-998-2243.
  • Family Urgent Response System (FURS): Free 24/7 hotline for current or former foster youth and caregivers who need immediate support. Call or text 1-833-939-FURS (3877).
  • Soluna: Free confidential mental health and wellbeing support for California youth and young adults ages 13-25.

Peer, Family, and Community Support

  • NAMI Ventura County: Offers mental health education, support groups, classes, resource referrals, and family support. Resource Line: 805-500-6264. Office: 805-641-2426.
  • NAMI National HelpLine: Information, resource referrals, and support. Call 1-800-950-6264, text “NAMI” to 62640, or use online resources. In a crisis, call or text 988.
  • CalHOPE: Peer counseling and emotional support for people feeling stressed, worried, or overwhelmed. Call 2-1-1 for referral information or access through California support resources.

Substance Use and Co-Occurring Support

  • Ventura County Behavioral Health Substance Use Services: Call the Access/Crisis Line at 1-866-998-2243 for substance use screening, treatment referrals, and support for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.
  • County Overdose Awareness Solutions Team: Local agencies coordinate overdose prevention, education, and opioid response resources. Ask Ventura County Behavioral Health or 2-1-1 for current referral information.
  • Immediate overdose emergency: Call 911 right away if someone may be overdosing or is unresponsive.

Immediate danger or medical emergency

Emergency services

911

Suicide, mental health, or emotional crisis

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988

County crisis, mental health, or substance use access

Ventura County Behavioral Health Access/Crisis Line

1-866-998-2243

Mobile crisis response

Ventura County Mobile Crisis Response Team

1-866-998-2243

General local referrals

2-1-1 Ventura County

Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-339-9597

Peer and family support

NAMI Ventura County

805-500-6264

Foster youth or caregiver urgent support

Family Urgent Response System

1-833-939-FURS (3877)

Justice-involved behavioral health navigation

Justice-Involved Behavioral Health Links

805-477-5775

Ventura County Housing Assistance

  • Emergency: Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger, needs urgent medical help, or is unsafe.
  • 2-1-1 Ventura County: Dial 2-1-1, call 1-800-339-9597, or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for shelter, rental assistance, food, utilities, health care, and social service referrals.
  • Ventura County Human Services Agency Homeless Services: For people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, call 805-385-1800. Leave a message in English or Spanish after hours and staff will call back.

Homelessness Prevention and Rental Assistance

  • Homeless Services Program: Provides case management and support for individuals and families who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. Eligible applicants may receive help such as rental payment assistance, rental deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving/storage costs, credit counseling, and follow-up case management. Call 805-385-1800.
  • Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program: Assists eligible Ventura County residents who are homeless or facing homelessness with short-term financial assistance and case management. Eligibility and documentation requirements apply.
  • CalWORKs Housing Support Program: Helps eligible families receiving CalWORKs benefits who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Support may include housing navigation, case management, and financial assistance.

Emergency Shelter and Street Outreach

  • Emergency shelter referrals: Call 2-1-1 Ventura County for the most current shelter availability, intake requirements, and eligibility information.
  • City of Oxnard Homeless Services: Provides referral services, case management, homeless prevention, rapid rehousing support, emergency shelter partnerships, street outreach, and encampment response coordination.
  • RAIN Bridge Housing Program: Provides limited temporary bridge housing opportunities for individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, with intensive case management and supportive services. Call Ventura County HSA Homeless Services at 805-385-1800 for information.

Affordable Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers

  • City housing authorities: Local housing authorities manage public housing, affordable housing programs, and Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 programs. Availability and waiting lists vary by city.
  • Oxnard Housing Department: Provides housing programs, public housing, Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 information, homeless services, affordable housing resources, and renter protections for eligible Oxnard residents.
  • Ventura County Continuum of Care: Coordinates regional homeless service planning, provider partnerships, housing resources, and community-wide efforts to end homelessness.

Tenant Rights, Fair Housing, and Utility Help

  • Housing Rights Center: Free fair housing help for people who believe they experienced housing discrimination. Hotline: 1-800-477-5977.
  • Rent and tenant protection information: Contact your city housing department or 2-1-1 Ventura County for local tenant protection, rent stabilization, eviction prevention, and legal aid referrals.
  • Community Action of Ventura County: Offers programs that may include utility assistance, weatherization, food assistance, homeless services, and community wellness support. Phone: 805-436-4000.

Specialized Housing Support

  • Domestic violence survivors: If someone is fleeing domestic violence, call 911 in immediate danger or 2-1-1 for confidential local shelter and safety planning referrals.
  • Veterans: Ask 2-1-1 Ventura County or local housing authorities about veterans housing programs, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, and community veteran service referrals.
  • Families with children: Families receiving CalWORKs may be eligible for CalWORKs Housing Support Program assistance through Ventura County Human Services Agency.
  • Youth and young adults: Youth ages 12-24 who are homeless, runaway, couch surfing, or at risk can call Interface Youth Outreach Hotline at 805-469-5882.

Immediate danger or emergency

Emergency services

911

Housing, shelter, and social service referrals

2-1-1 Ventura County

Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-339-9597

Homelessness prevention or rental assistance

Ventura County HSA Homeless Services

805-385-1800

Oxnard homeless services and housing programs

City of Oxnard Housing Department

805-385-8044

Fair housing/discrimination help

Housing Rights Center

1-800-477-5977

Utility assistance and community support

Community Action of Ventura County

805-436-4000

Runaway, homeless, or at-risk youth

Interface Youth Outreach Hotline

805-469-5882

Ventura County Food Resources

  • Emergency: Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help.
  • 2-1-1 Ventura County: Dial 2-1-1, call 1-800-339-9597, or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for food pantries, CalFresh, WIC, meal programs, diapers, housing, utilities, and other local referrals.
  • Food Share of Ventura County: Find free food distribution sites and pantry partners throughout Ventura County. Phone: 805-983-7100

CalFresh Food Benefits

  • CalFresh: Helps eligible individuals and families buy groceries using an Electronic Benefit Transfer card that works like a debit card at many grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online grocery retailers.
  • How to apply: Apply online through BenefitsCal or contact Ventura County Human Services Agency for help applying by phone, online, mail, drop-off, or in person. Main HSA phone: 805-477-5100.
  • Emergency CalFresh: Some households may qualify for expedited benefits within three days if they have very low cash/income or urgent shelter and utility costs. Ask HSA about emergency eligibility when applying.
  • Restaurant Meals Program: Ventura County participates in the Restaurant Meals Program for eligible CalFresh recipients who may use EBT to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.

WIC and Nutrition Support for Families

  • Ventura County WIC: Nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy food benefits, and referrals for pregnant people, new parents, infants, and young children. Call 805-981-5251 or 800-781-4449 option 3.
  • WIC breastfeeding warmline: WIC participants can call 805-833-1013 for breastfeeding questions, in-person breastfeeding appointments, and breast pump loan information.
  • Child Development Resources of Ventura County: Families can ask about child care referrals, early childhood support, Head Start/Early Head Start, and related family resources. Phone: 805-485-7878.

Senior and Homebound Meal Help

  • Ventura County Area Agency on Aging Senior Nutrition Program: Provides congregate meals at senior meal sites and home-delivered meals for eligible homebound older adults. Call VCAAA at 805-477-7300 or the Senior Nutrition Program office at 805-477-7311.
  • Senior food boxes and pantry referrals: Call Food Share or 2-1-1 to ask about senior food boxes, nearby pantries, and distribution schedules.
  • Meal site reminder: Call ahead before visiting because days, times, eligibility, transportation access, and holiday schedules may vary.

Community and Emergency Food Support

  • Community Action of Ventura County: Offers community support services that may include food assistance, utility assistance, weatherization, homeless services, and wellness resources. Phone: 805-436-4000.
  • Schools and summer meals: Families can ask their school district, 2-1-1, or local community programs about free school meals, summer meal sites, and youth nutrition resources.
  • Farmers markets and Market Match: CalFresh participants may be able to stretch benefits at participating farmers markets through Market Match or Double Your Dollars programs. Check current participating markets before shopping.

Immediate danger or emergency

Emergency services

911

Food pantry and local referrals

2-1-1 Ventura County

Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-339-9597

Free food distribution locations

Food Share of Ventura County

805-983-7100

CalFresh food benefits

Ventura County Human Services Agency

805-477-5100

WIC nutrition and breastfeeding support

Ventura County WIC

805-981-5251 or 800-781-4449 option 3

WIC breastfeeding warmline

Ventura County WIC

805-833-1013

Senior meals

VCAAA Senior Nutrition Program

805-477-7311 or 805-477-7300

Community food and utility support

Community Action of Ventura County

805-436-4000