Programs:
Temporary Homeless Assistance (HA) - State - A homeless CalWORKs family can receive from $85 up to $145 per day (depending on the Assistance Unit’s [AU’s] size) for temporary shelter in 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 for up to 16 cumulative days in a 12-month period (receipts are required to verify the expense). Payments are issued in increments of no more than seven days at a time. However, families who are homeless as a result of a State or federally declared disaster may receive a 16-day Temporary HA lump-sum payment.
Expanded Temporary HA - State - A CalWORKs applicant fleeing domestic violence is considered homeless and can receive a lump-sum payment equal to 16 days of Expanded Temporary HA benefits on the day of their application. If the CalWORKs application is approved, the CalWORKs recipient can receive one additional lump-sum payment for 16 additional days, immediately following the initial 16-day period (equaling a total of 32 cumulative days of Expanded Temporary HA). 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 the CalWORKs eligibility requirements. This is a once-in-a-lifetime program and is exhausted once the two 16-day issuances have been received.
Permanent HA - State - A homeless CalWORKs family can receive help with the last month’s rent provided it does not exceed 80% of the family’s Total Monthly Household Income, security deposit costs, and utility turn-on fees, provided the family’s monthly rent amount does not exceed 80 percent of the TMHI. The Permanent HA payment may be used to rent from any person or establishment with whom the family has executed a valid long-term lease, sub-lease, or shared housing agreement.
HA Permanent Arrearage Payment – State - CalWORKs families who receive any notice that could lead to an eviction, regardless of circumstances cited in the notice may qualify for up to two months in rent arrearages to prevent eviction. The family’s monthly rent costs cannot exceed 80 percent of the total monthly household income. The Permanent HA Arrearage payment may be used when renting from any person or establishment with whom the family has executed a valid long-term lease, sub-lease, or shared housing agreement.
Moving Assistance (MA) for CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work (WtW) Families – County – CalWORKs WtW families who are experiencing a financial crisis, including homelessness or at-risk of homelessness may receive funds to secure permanent housing. If the family is homeless, they must have exhausted all other means of assistance including the State temporary and permanent HA programs. If the family is not homeless, they must demonstrate they are experiencing a financial hardship that could result in homelessness. Proof of financial hardship is required. MA provides funds for the last month’s rent, security deposit cost, utility turn-on fees, and moving expenses (e.g., truck rental). The program also provides up to $405 for a stove and/or refrigerator. A family may receive up to $2,500 in MA and MA can be used in conjunction with Permanent HA to purchase a stove/refrigerator or for truck rental only.
Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction (EAPE) – County – Helps CalWORKs WtW families who are at- risk of losing their housing because of non-payment of rent due to a financial hardship (not for any other lease/contract violations) to prevent eviction and remain in permanent housing. For families who applied for EAPE between May 9, 2019 - September 30, 2020, and have not exhausted the benefits, EAPE provides up to $3,000 to help pay rent and/or utilities for up to two months in arrears to assist the family in maintaining permanent housing. This program can be used “as needed” until the $3,000 limit has been exhausted. Effective October 1, 2020, the EAPE Program limit was increased from $3,000 to $5,000 for CalWORKs WtW families who are first-time EAPE program applicants. EAPE can cover utility reconnection fees as well as multiple months of back due rent and/or multiple months of back due utilities for all CalWORKs WtW families.
4-Month Rental Assistance (RA) Program for CalWORKs WtW Families – County – Helps a formerly homeless CalWORKs WtW family to remain in non-subsidized permanent housing by providing the family with a short-term rental subsidy after the family secures permanent housing after receiving or being eligible to receive Permanent HA and/or MA. The program can also help a CalWORKs WtW family who lives in nonsubsidized permanent housing, when the family demonstrates they are experiencing a valid financial hardship and receive eviction prevention funds (i.e., the HA Permanent Arrearage payment and/or the EAPE payment for back due rent). Eligible families can qualify for a once- in-a-lifetime rental subsidy of up to $500 per family (based on AU size) for a maximum of four consecutive months to help the family while their housing situation stabilizes. If the CalWORKs WtW family is participating in the GAIN Family Stabilization Program, the family may receive up to eight consecutive months of rental subsidy payments.
Temporary Homeless Assistance Program (THAP)+14 – County – A homeless CalWORKs WtW family can receive up to 14 days of temporary shelter payments to access a hotel/motel or commercial establishment. THAP+14 supplements the State's Temporary HA Program, providing an additional 14 days of temporary homeless assistance for CalWORKs WtW families enrolled in GAIN or employed full-time. This 14-day supplementation is available to homeless CalWORKs WtW families who have exhausted the Temporary HA Program.
Note: 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 federal declared disaster. The County homeless programs and the State Expanded Temporary HA program are once-in-a-lifetime; however, there are exceptions to the once-in-a-lifetime policy for the THAP +14 and MA programs).
Services:
Homeless Case Management - Homeless Case Managers work with CalWORKs homeless families to facilitate their access to services, initiate referrals, and move the family into permanent housing. The services include crisis intervention, short-term stabilization, needs assessment, employment services, advocacy, and an individualized housing plan.
Skid Row Access Team (SRAT) - A team comprised of staff from the Departments of Public Social Services, Mental Health, Public Health, and Children and Family Services identifies homeless families in the Skid Row area and connects them with available benefits and services
