No way to explain your financial/family circumstances on the Cal State Apply application since essays are not part of the admission process. Any GPA under a 3.0 for impacted campus will be a very tough admit. What you can do is retake any classes you received and D or F and also look at academic renewal at your campus. I would also suggest you lower your sights and apply to some non-impacted campuses for your major such as Channel Islands, East Bay, Dominguez Hills, Bakersfield, San Bernardino, Chico, Northridge, Sac State and Stanislaus.
https://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf
Questions about EOP and it you need the help, it is definitely worth applying.
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/eop/about/faq.shtml
https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/eop/Documents/eop-admission-by-term-2018-19.pdf