Resource Corner

Covered California Open Enrollment, Real ID, California Climate Action Corps

December 01, 2023

The Resource Corner

The Resource Corner Reminds You of Important Deadlines & Information: Covered California Open Enrollment Period, Real ID Requirement for Domestic Flights, California Climate Action Corps Opportunity 

2024 Covered California Open Enrollment

It’s time to shop for a health plan for 2024 and Covered California is the perfect place to start. Covered California is a free service from the State of California and offers quality and affordable health coverage. At CoveredCA.com, you can look for health plans in your area, find preferred doctors or hospitals and see the cost of coverage so you can make the best decision for your family’s health care needs and budget.

  • Covered California offers financial help to lower the monthly cost of health insurance and plans can be as low as $0 a month! For 2024, there is even more financial help available and those who qualify could get a plan with a lower annual deductible and lower copays!
  • To see how much financial help you may receive, visit CoveredCA.com and use the Shop and Compare tool. You only need to provide your household income, household size, ages of all enrolling household members and ZIP Code.

REAL ID

Beginning May 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved document, like a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities.

  • To apply for a REAL ID, Californians should visit REALID.dmv.ca.gov, fill out the online application and upload their documents. Customers must visit a DMV office and bring their uploaded documents to complete the application. Customers need to provide:
  • Proof of identity* – One original or certified document (example: valid passport, birth certificate) *Legal name change document(s) is required if name on proof of identity is different from the name on the other documents (example: marriage certificate, adoption papers)
  • Proofs of California residency – Two documents, paper copies (example: utility bill, bank statement)
  • Social Security number (exceptions may apply)
  • Visit REALID.dmv.ca.gov for a complete list of acceptable documents and a link to the online application.

2024 California Climate Action Corps Fellowship

  • In February 2024, California Volunteers, in partnership with Bay Area Community Resources, will launch the 2024 California Climate Action Corps Fellowship, placing Fellows with Host Partners throughout the state, principally in underserved communities. Fellows will serve 1,200 hours over a 7.5-month term to mobilize their communities through climate volunteer engagement, climate action and education projects focused on urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency.
  • Benefits: California Climate Action Corps Fellows will receive the following benefits during their service term:
    • Up to $23,294 Living Allowance (before taxes) spread evenly over 7.5 months.
    • $4,826 Segal Education Award (upon completion of service term).
    • Forbearance on existing qualifying student loans and payment of interest accrued during service.
    • Child care assistance for qualifying Fellows, paid to an eligible provider of their choice.
    • SNAP (Food Stamps) – for those eligible.
  • Access the Fellowship application portal for California Climate Action Corps (CCAC), here. 

Resource Corner Continued: Keeping COVID-19 and Flu Shots Up to Date, Resources for Those Affected by Events in Israel and Gaza & Sidewalk Vending Ordinance Feedback Form

Protect Your Loved Ones This Cold and Flu Season

  • Respiratory viruses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV spread more easily in the fall and winter. Avoid getting sick this cold and flu season. Do your part to keep yourself and your community healthy. Visit MyTurn.ca.gov to schedule your vaccines. Learn more about respiratory virus protection: go.cdph.ca.gov/respiratory-viruses. 

Resources for Those Impacted by Events in Israel and Gaza

  • Report a Hate Incident or Hate Crime
  • CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network: 833-8-NO-HATE
  • California Civil Rights Department: stophate.calcivilrights.ca.gov
  • California Department of Justice tools and resources:  https://oag.ca.gov/hatecrimes
  • Taking Care of Your Mental Health
    • Free and confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7 in the United States: call or text 988
    • AltaMed short-term therapy and help getting long-term care: (855) 425-1777
    • California Youth Crisis Line for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis 24/7: call or text 1-800-843-5200 or visit https://calyouth.org/
    • Long Beach Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center
  • Families and Young Children: Talking to kids about the news can be difficult and challenging for all parents. Find links on how to talk to kids about these events below.

Supporting LA County’s Sidewalk Vendors

LA County is considering a new law that will allow residents to legally operate a sidewalk vending operation in the public right of way in the unincorporated areas of the County. This initiative is prompted by the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946), passed in 2019 to decriminalize street vending throughout the State of California and to allow local authorities to develop guidelines and infrastructure to formalize the street vending industry.

  • The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in Los Angeles County is calling all community members in the unincorporated areas of LA County to join the DEO team to share feedback about the upcoming sidewalk vending ordinance. Specifically, DEO would like suggestions and feedback on the implementation of the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance, how it impacts your business/community and what they can do to support you by completing the online feedback from. Your input will help shape the development of a proposed LA County Sidewalk Vending Ordinance. Before completing the feedback form, make sure to review the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance presentation to ensure your responses correspond to specific sections of the Ordinance.
    • Sidewalk Vending Ordinance Feedback Form. For immediate or urgent assistance, new or operating street vendors can contact DEO or our partners Community Power Collective (CPC) at (844)-432-4900 or (323)-208-9018.
    • Para vendedores ambulantes nuevos o existentes llame a DEO al (844) 432-4900 o a nuestros socios Colectivo Poder Comunitario al (323) 208-9018.