Homeless Assistance Exceptions

[EAS 44-211.513]

Rule

An eligible Assistance Unit (AU) may receive Homeless Assistance (HA) once every 12 months for one incident of continuous homelessness that is caused by the same specific circumstances. The 12-month period begins on the day the first payment of either TS or PH is issued and ends 12 months later. Once the instance of homelessness is resolved, the AU is not eligible for any further HA payments until the next 12-month period, unless an exception is met.

Exceptions

HA based on an exception is available once, at any point, during the established 12-month period. The issuance of an HA payment based on an exception does not restart the established 12-month period. The following are exceptions to the once every 12-months HA rule:

Domestic abuse by a spouse, partner, or roommate
A medically verified physical or mental illness, excluding alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychological stress
Uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden or unusual circumstances beyond the client's control, including but not limited to, fire, natural catastrophe, or condemnation
State or federally declared disaster (refer to Homelessness due to State or Federally Declared Disaster).

The recipient must provide verification of the reason for the exception, before the homeless payment is issued. Also, there is no required waiting period between the established 12-month period and when an AU may receive HA under an exception.

Note: An AU that applies for HA under an exception criteria can receive up to three days of TS benefits pending verification of the exception. However, after the AU receives payment for the initial three days, any payments for the remaining 16 days of TS is based on the AU submitting verification of the exception as well as the Permanent Housing Search Document (CW 74).

Verification for Exceptions

The HA exceptions require verification by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency.

Exception: Domestic abuse circumstances may be verified by a sworn statement.

Examples of verification for the HA exceptions include the following:

HA Exception	Verification
Domestic Abuse (DA)	Sworn statement by a victim of past or present DA. If the county documents in the case file an independent and reasonable basis to find the client not credible, the county shall obtain third-party verification of DA, such as: Copies of records or reports from police departments, medical facilities, Adult and Child Protective Services, Family Service Bureau, or Crisis Counseling Service Agencies. Statements from battered women shelters, signed by an administrator, counselor, or designated staff member. Refer to Chapter 55 Domestic Abuse for more information on DA, such as DA informing requirements and the DA referral process. Example Example A CalWORKs recipient received HA in January 2017. In November 2017, the client requests HA and declares, in a sworn affidavit, that they are currently a victim of DA. If otherwise eligible, HA is granted to the client. The client may request HA and be eligible again in January 2018 based on the once every 12 months rule.
Physical or Mental Illness Excluding Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, or Psychological Stress	Medical verification from the appropriate treating physician, state-certified nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, therapist, psychologist, licensed counselor, or medical or clinical personnel with access to the patient’s records who can verify the diagnosis. Example Example An AU applies for HA under the exception of mental illness. The AU had been homeless for some time and had no interim contact with any governmental or private health or human services agency that could verify that homelessness was caused by the mental condition. The AU was able to provide proof of the mental condition from a psychologist and a written statement from the former landlord stating that the AU was evicted because of disruptive behavior towards the other tenants. Based upon the verification provided by the AU, the EW determines that the AU is eligible for HA due to the mental illness exception.
Uninhabitability of Residence	Written statements or copies of reports from police departments, fire departments, the Red Cross, health department, or any other agencies authorized to verify the uninhabitability of the former residence. Example Example On March 1, 2017 an AU begins receiving temporary HA. The AU locates permanent housing in the same month and receives a benefit for PH in 3/2017. On September 1, 2017, the AU becomes homeless again because their residence is condemned and determined to be uninhabitable. Upon the receipt of verification, additional HA benefits are issued to AU based on the exception. The AU’s 12-month period continues to be 3/1/17 through 2/28/18. The AU would be potentially eligible for HA again starting on 3/1/18.
State or federally declared disaster	Written documentation of the state or federally declared disaster and the areas affected by the disaster.

Incident of Homelessness

An AU that receives TS based on an exception and requests PH within the 12-month exception period may be eligible if the AU has been continuously homeless due to the same specific circumstances. This is defined as the same incident of homelessness.

Homeless Assistance Exceptions

Rule

Exceptions

Verification for Exceptions

Incident of Homelessness

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