Free Food and Health Care in Sacramento
If you are hungry or need medical care in Sacramento and don't know where to start, dial 2-1-1 (or (916) 498-1000) for a free, 24/7 referral. This guide lists the major food and free health-care options for people experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet, with verified phone numbers.
Food
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
The county food bank distributes through a network of 112 partner pantries — it does not hand out food directly from its Bell Avenue center. To find the pantry nearest you, use the Find Food tool or call (916) 456-1980. Anyone in need qualifies; no ID required. Office: 1951 Bell Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95838.
Loaves & Fishes
Daily meals are served on the Loaves & Fishes campus at 1351 North C Street, alongside showers, hygiene, and other day services. Main line (916) 446-0874.
Wellspring Women's Center
A daytime drop-in for women and children at 3414 4th Avenue, serving breakfast and a light lunch on weekdays (drop-in roughly 8:30–11:00 a.m.). Call ahead to confirm hours: (916) 454-9688.
Free and low-cost health care
WellSpace Health
WellSpace Health is Sacramento's Health Care for the Homeless grantee — a federally qualified health center (FQHC) offering medical, dental, behavioral health, and medical-respite care regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Appointments and information: (916) 737-5555. Its Arden Arcade Community Health Center offers walk-in immediate care Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
WellSpace also provides on-site care at shelters and a behavioral-health crisis system. If you are in a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.
ID and vital documents
Many programs are easier to access with an ID, but you can usually start without one. To replace key documents:
- Birth certificate (Sacramento County): Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110 — (916) 874-6334.
- California ID card: apply at any DMV field office. California waives the ID-card fee for people who can verify they are experiencing homelessness — ask the DMV or a case manager about the fee-waiver form.
- Youth (18–24): WIND Youth Services offers free ID-replacement help at its drop-in center, 815 S Street — (916) 504-3313.
Quick numbers to keep
- 2-1-1 Sacramento — food, shelter, and coordinated entry, 24/7 (or (916) 498-1000)
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text); veterans press 1
- WellSpace Health — (916) 737-5555
Looking for shelter too? See our Emergency Shelter in Sacramento guide, or try the Sacramento Resource Navigator.
Verify before you go / call ahead. Phone numbers, hours, and program availability change. Call before traveling to any office. If a number is out of service or you are not sure where to start, dial 2-1-1 for a current Sacramento referral.
Have a correction or an update? Contact us — we verify and update this information regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free food in Sacramento?
The Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services distributes through a network of 112 partner pantries; find the nearest one with their Find Food tool or call (916) 456-1980, with no ID required and anyone in need qualifying. Loaves & Fishes serves daily meals at 1351 North C Street, (916) 446-0874.
Where can I get free health care in Sacramento without insurance?
WellSpace Health is Sacramento's Health Care for the Homeless grantee and a federally qualified health center offering medical, dental, behavioral health, and medical-respite care regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Call (916) 737-5555; its Arden Arcade Community Health Center offers walk-in immediate care Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Is there a free meal program for women and children in Sacramento?
Wellspring Women's Center is a daytime drop-in for women and children at 3414 4th Avenue, serving breakfast and a light lunch on weekdays (drop-in roughly 8:30-11:00 a.m.). Call ahead to confirm hours at (916) 454-9688.
How do I replace my ID in Sacramento if I'm homeless?
You can apply for a California ID card at any DMV field office, and California waives the ID-card fee for people who can verify they are experiencing homelessness, so ask about the fee-waiver form. For a Sacramento County birth certificate, contact the County Clerk-Recorder at (916) 874-6334.