The Independent Living Association supports independent living operators, tenants, and the community. Below you will find resources for independent living tenants.

Join the ILA Peer Review and Accountability Team

You can help improve the quality of independent livings in Fresno County. ILA is seeking Independent Living operators and behavioral health consumers to help conduct Peer Review Home Visits.

Participating in the ILA Peer Review and Accountability Team provides you with an opportunity to help improve independent livings. Please contact ILA staff for more information on how to join the Peer Review and Accountability Team or register for a training here.

Housing & Legal Resources

• Central California Legal Services
  Central California Legal Services is a private, not-for-profit, public interest law firm established for the purpose of providing free civil legal assistance  to low-income individuals, families, organizations and communities.
• Root and Rebound
  Root & Rebound’s mission is to restore power and resources to the families and communities most harmed by mass incarceration through legal advocacy, public education, policy reform and litigation–a model rooted in the needs and expertise of people who are directly impacted.
• Welcome Home Central Valley
  Welcome Home Central Valley is a collaborative faith based ministry whose goal is to reduce recidivism to those re-entering our community, by restoring returning citizens to God, family and our community. Our mission is to facilitate in meeting physical needs, promote personal development and encourage spiritual growth in men and women impacted by crime, resulting in a transformed life.
• Centro La Familia Advocacy Services
  Since 1972, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services has helped thousands of Fresno County residents through life-changing programs that provide support, resources, outreach and education. Our nonprofit organization assists families and individuals through targeted, culturally sensitive and bilingual programs that promote health and wellness, strengthen families, help victims of crime and encourage civic engagement.
• Fresno Housing Authorities 
  Fresno Housing Authority is a public agency that supports tens of thousands of families and individuals – to access quality housing, to become engaged in their neighborhoods, and to build vibrant communities – throughout Fresno County.
• Free Self-Help Clinic 
  Initial Clinics for litigants without completed paperwork:
  Assistance filling out forms to defend the case.
  Information on the court process, available forms, and procedural issues.
  Follow-up Clinics and Post-Judgment Services for litigants with completed paperwork:
  Information on preparing for court, subpoenas, and introducing evidence. Assistance filing Stay of Execution
  of Judgment and Challenge to Default Judgment.

          Initial Tenant Clinics:
Tuesdays 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Thursdays 9:30 am – noon
Follow-up Tenant Clinics and Post-Judgment Services:
Thursdays 1:30 – 3:30 pm

 For more information: (559) 570-1200

Community Education & Employment Resources

• Fresno Catholic Charities Career and Education Center
  The Career and Education Center focuses on teaching clients the skills that they need for success in the job market and in life. Held in partnership with Fresno City College, these free courses are offered on varying topics that might include teaching clients how to answer phones, file, operate computers, navigate the internet, engage in customer service, create a résumé, learn the 10-key operation, how to conduct themselves in an interview with confidence and more.
• The Community Center for the Arts & Technology
  CCAT is a grassroots community based-center. It’s the only of its kind in the valley offering FREE classes for children, youth, and adults in Digital Media & the Performing Arts. Please come and visit our facility and you will be amazed of the efforts made by community individuals.
• Proteus, Inc
  Providing educational programs and career and technical education training to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in a challenging and evolving economy. Also, providing high-quality services that meet individual needs through job readiness assistance, job search assistance, retraining, skill upgrades, supportive services, or referral services.
• Workforce Connection
  Workforce Connection One-Stop Centers is the place that brings everything together! Our diverse menu of services are designed to connect you with job search, assistance with writing your résumé, retraining for a new position and/or referrals to partnering agencies and community resources throughout Fresno County.

Financial Assistance 

• Fresh Start Payee Services
  Address: 2010 N Fine Ave # 103A, Fresno, CA 93727
  Hours:
  Monday 9AM–5PM
  Tuesday 9AM–5PM
  Wednesday 9AM–5PM
  Thursday 9AM–5PM
  Friday Closed
  Saturday Closed
  Sunday Closed
  Phone: (559) 455-0991
• American Representative Payee Services, Inc.

  Address: 703 E Belmont Ave, Fresno, CA 93701
  Hours:
  Monday 9AM–1PM
  Tuesday 9AM–1PM
  Wednesday 9AM–1PM
  Thursday 9AM–1PM
  Friday Closed
  Saturday Closed
  Sunday Closed

  Phone: (559) 237-7293

• Catholic Charities Representative Payee Program 

  The Representative Payee Program is a very basic service structured to assist any person needing help with the management of their monthly resources. Those resources could be Social Security, Veteran Administration, or pension benefits.

  For more information on the Catholic Charities Payee Representative Program, please call (559) 485-3144.

  The Representative Payee Program is open Monday – Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.). They are CLOSED Fridays.

• Turning Point Representative Payee Program 

  This program in Fresno assists individuals in administering their Social Security, Veteran’s benefits or private funds.

  Turning Point Payee Services is dedicated to assisting people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration and other public agencies. The program provides budgeting and bill-paying services, while maintaining the necessary compliance with the Social Security Administration and other public agency regulations. By naming Turning Point as their Payee, the individual receiving benefits is assured of professional assistance with personal budgeting and accurate payment of monthly expenses. The program ensures that cash benefits disbursed by the Social Security Administration and other public agencies are spent in the recipient’s best interests and fully accounted for.

  Address: 1638 L St Fresno, CA 93726

  Phone: (559) 499-2683