The State CalWORKs HA Program provides Temporary HA and Permanent HA. Temporary HA provides temporary shelter payments to homeless families while they are looking for permanent housing. Permanent HA helps homeless families secure a permanent residence or provides up to two months back rent when the family has received any notice that could lead to an eviction, regardless of the circumstances cited in the notice. Temporary HA and Permanent HA benefits are available once every 12 months, with exceptions*.
Families can apply for Temporary and/or Permanent HA at any CalWORKs office by completing the CW 42 (09/23), Statement of Facts – Homeless Assistance or by calling the Customer Service Center (CSC) at (866) 613 - 3777 for assistance on completing the application over the phone.
To be considered homeless, the family:
Temporary HA
Temporary HA provides temporary shelter payments in increments for up to 16 cumulative days of benefits within a 12-month period. An eligible family may receive $85 per day (for a family of up to four) and $15 per day for each additional person up to a maximum of $145 per day. Temporary shelter can be at a commercial establishment (e.g., hotel, motel), a paid shelter, or with a person or establishment with whom the AU has entered into a short-term lease, sub-lease, or shared housing agreement. In addition, the family must be actively searching for permanent housing, provide verification for the housing search, and provide verification of shelter expenditures.
To be eligible for Temporary HA, the family must:
Families who are homeless as a result of a State or federal declared disaster may qualify for Good Cause for not looking for permanent housing and receive a 16-day Temporary HA lump-sum payment.
Expanded Temporary HA
As of September 1, 2022, CalWORKs applicants who are fleeing their abuser, are considered homeless, can receive a lump-sum payment equal to 16 days of Temporary HA on the day of their application, and be granted Good Cause for not looking for permanent housing. If the CalWORKs application has not been denied, these applicants can receive one additional lump-sum payment of 16 additional days, immediately following the initial 16-day period (equaling a total of 32 cumulative days of Temporary HA) or when the case is approved. In addition, if the applicant only used the first 16-day issuance, the second 16-day Temporary HA lump-sum issuance available under Expanded Temporary HA can be used in another instance of homelessness, months or even years later, provided the CalWORKs applicant meets eligibility; it does not need to be used immediately after the first 16-day issuance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime program and is exhausted once the two 16-day issuances have been received.
Permanent HA
Permanent HA provides a payment to cover the last month’s rent, security deposits, and utility (turn-on fees) for gas, electricity, and/or water, to secure a permanent residence from any person or establishment with whom the family has executed a long-term valid lease, sub-lease, or shared housing agreement. An amount, in addition to the amount allowable for the last month’s rent and security deposits, is also available to cover utility deposits (turn-on fees) required for gas, electricity and/or water. Permanent HA cannot pay for the first month’s rent or the costs of overdue utility bills.
To be eligible for the Permanent HA payment, the family must:
Permanent HA Arrearages
Permanent HA Arrearages provides a payment that can pay up to two months of back rent when the family receives any notice that could lead to an eviction, regardless of the circumstances cited in the notice, from a person or establishment with whom the family has executed a valid long-term lease, sub-lease, or shared housing agreement. Each month of the rent arrearage payment cannot exceed 80 percent of the family’s TMHI.
To be eligible for the Permanent HA Arrearages payment, the family must:
Within the 12-month period, a family is only eligible to receive Temporary HA following the issuance of Permanent HA if they are still in need of temporary shelter before occupying permanent housing.
* Temporary HA and Permanent HA (including Permanent HA Arrearages) are available once every 12 months. The Temporary and Permanent HA programs can be received again during a 12-month period if the family meets an exception when the cause of homelessness is due to: domestic violence, a physical/mental illness, prior residence becoming uninhabitable, or a State or federally declared disaster.
