About SparkPoint at Cañada College

Click here if you are experiencing homelessness or food insecurity

 

What do we do?

SparkPoint at Cañada College is a one-stop financial coaching and education center where students and community members access a full range of free services that lead towards financial stability. 

 

How does it work?

Individuals meet one-on-one with a financial coach, identify financial goals and establish a timeline for completing their goals.

 

Is there a cost for receiving SparkPoint services?

 Financial coaching is FREE to students and community members.  Most services are also free to everyone but some are low-cost. 

 

What services are offered?

• Cañada Cash – Reward yourself for smart money management! Turn $100 into $200 or receive $25 incentives (maximum of four) for completing positive financial behaviors that will organize your finances, decrease your debt, and / or improve your credit. Additional incentives are also available for completing career search and transfer activities.

• CalFresh – Obtain healthy and nutritious food for you and your family! Eligible individuals use a convenient card that works like a debit card at most grocery chain stores and neighborhood stores. 

• The Food Pantry – Obtain healthy and nutritious food! The full-service on-site food pantry is free for students and community members who need food. The pantry is located in Bldg. 5, Room 5202 and open on Tuesdays, Wednesday’s and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins accepted but appointments preferred.

• Housing Resources – Are you homeless or about to face homelessness?  Learn about college resources and services including priority registration and fee waivers and other resources.  Connect with community resources that address housing insecurities, such as, home sharing and subsidized housing programs.  Receive information on local food pantries and hot meal programs.   

• Free Legal Clinic – Do you have questions regarding immigration?  Do you want to know your legal rights on certain issues?  Our legal attorney provides FREE legal consultation on immigration, domestic violence, tenant rights and other legal issues.  To schedule your appointment, visit www.tinyurl.com/CanLegalClinic

 

How to schedule an appointment?

You may schedule a Financial Coaching, Pantry or Legal Clinic appointment in three easy ways:

• Call 650-381-3550
• Email: CanSparkPoint@smccd.edu
• Visit: Bldg. 9, Room 133 (SparkPoint/EOPS Reception Desk)

Confidential Legal Clinic appointments can also be scheduled by visiting www.tinyurl.com/CanLegalClinic.

 

When did SparkPoint at Cañada College open?

SparkPoint at Cañada College opened on February 5, 2015.

 

The History of SparkPoint at Cañada College

 In San Mateo County, home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods in California, one-fifth of the county’s population struggles to make ends meet. A better life through higher education is too often out of reach. 

 To better serve these individuals and their families, in February 2015, Cañada College became the second college in California to host a SparkPoint Center.  Today, there are 21 SparkPoint centers located within the San Francisco Bay Area.

 Modeled on the Annie E. Casey Foundation's "Centers for Working Families  ," SparkPoint is part of a regional United Way of the Bay Area network of financial education centers designed to serve individuals and families who are working to achieve financial self-sufficiency. Students and other members of the community utilize SparkPoint services and resources to achieve financial self-sufficiency.

• SparkPoint is a physical location on the campus as well as a network of services accessed throughout the campus.
• SparkPoint serves students and other San Mateo County residents with an enhanced network of partnerships.

 

 

Are you experiencing homelessness or are you looking for food? 

SparkPoint supports homeless and food insecure students and community members by:

• Providing a safe space to discuss personal finances and working on goals that lead towards financial wellness.
• Connecting them to community resources that address housing insecurities, through home sharing and subsidized housing programs.
• Informing them about the on-campus food pantry where homeless individuals are welcome to choose the food they would like to take.  SparkPoint intentionally orders food that students without a cooking space can utilize.
• Providing individualized support for homeless individuals to access food resources, including hot meal programs and CalFresh.
• Making referrals to meet with a lawyer to discuss their rights as tenants.
• For students under the age of 26 who have experienced homelessness within the last two years, SparkPoint serves as a Homeless Youth Liaison.

 

Cañada College is located in Redwood City, California, within Silicon Valley. Located in San Mateo County, the campus sits on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Redwood City hills.