Free help hub
Tell us what you need. We will point you at something free.
Futurenomic Resources is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Everything on this page costs nothing — classes, devices, guides, and help finding training that someone else pays for. Start with whichever line below sounds like you.
Start with what you need
I need to learn how to use a computer
Free 8-week, self-paced course: computer basics, internet, email, online safety, everyday tools, and practical AI. Certificate at the end.
Open →I need a computer
Refurbished Chromebooks and laptops placed with program participants at no cost while supplies last, plus the real list of other device programs.
Open →I am a senior and want to start from zero
Plain-language lessons written for people who have never used a computer, at your own pace, repeat anything as often as you like.
Open →I want a job that does not require a degree
Healthcare support, community health work, trades, logistics, and IT support — what each path requires and how to get funded.
Open →I want free job training that someone else pays for
The four California systems that fund training — workforce boards, community colleges, apprenticeships, nonprofits — and the exact door to knock on.
Open →I want a paid healthcare career path
Community health worker is a state-recognized role Medi-Cal now reimburses. Shorter training than CNA, no degree required.
Open →I need help with Medi-Cal or benefits
Plain-language guides to CalAIM Community Supports, Enhanced Care Management, and keeping coverage from lapsing.
Open →I need internet at home I can afford
What still exists in 2026 after the federal subsidy ended: provider low-income plans, California LifeLine, and free library hotspot lending.
Open →Plain-language guides
Written for people who are actually trying to get something done this week, not for search engines.
- Careers
Free CNA training in California: how it actually works
Nursing homes, workforce boards, and Medi-Cal-funded programs all pay for CNA training. Here is who actually covers the cost and how to get a seat.
- Access
How to get low-cost home internet in California
The federal subsidy ended, but provider low-income plans, California LifeLine, and library hotspot lending are all still here. Here is the current list.
- Careers
Jobs that pay well without a degree in California
Healthcare, skilled trades, logistics, and IT support all hire on credentials and skills rather than degrees. Here are the paths with the shortest runway.
- Careers
Free online certificates that actually help you get hired
Most free certificates are worthless. A small number genuinely move a résumé. Here is how to tell the difference before you spend eight weeks on one.
- AI skills
How to use AI to write a résumé that gets read
AI will write you a generic résumé in ten seconds. Here is how to use it to write a specific one that survives the screening software and sounds like you.
- Devices
How to get a free or low-cost Chromebook
Real device programs exist, but almost every 'free laptop' ad you have seen is a lead-generation scam. Here is how to tell them apart.
- Careers
Free job training programs in California and how to get in
California spends heavily on free workforce training. Most of it goes unclaimed because people do not know which door to knock on. Here are the four doors.
- Access
How to find computer classes for adults near you
Five kinds of places run free adult computer classes in almost every California community. Here is how to find them and what separates a good one from a waste of a Tuesday.
Common questions
- Does any of this cost money?
- No. Every program and guide listed here is free. Futurenomic Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by grants and donors, not by participants. We never charge a fee, and we never ask for a payment to apply.
- Do I have to live in San Francisco?
- No. The coursework is online and self-paced and open to adults anywhere in California. San Francisco and Oakland cohorts also include local live support sessions.
- Do I need to already own a computer?
- No. Lessons work on a phone or a library computer, and participants who need a device can be considered for a refurbished Chromebook while supplies last.
- Do you check immigration status?
- No. We do not ask for or record immigration status for any of our free community programs.
- How fast can I start?
- Today. The course is self-paced with no waitlist and no application fee — you can begin the first lesson the same day you enroll.
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