Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA)

[EAS 44-211.52]

Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA) is also often referred to as Temporary Shelter (TS) assistance, temp Homeless Assistance (HA), regular temporary HA, or homeless assistance for temporary shelter.

THA provides up to 16 non-consecutive days of temporary shelter payments within a 12-month period, unless the client meets the criteria to qualify for an exception (refer to Homeless Assistance Exceptions).

An Assistance Unit (AU) may receive a THA payment after a Permanent Housing Assistance (PHA) payment has been issued if the permanent housing will not be available until a future date, provided that the THA has not been exhausted.

Note: The family has the right to choose where they will stay. As long as the family intends to reside in Santa Clara County, THA may be paid when the client chooses to stay out of county. However, if the family intends to reside in another county, the other county is responsible for making the THA payment. Refer to Homeless Assistance Payment Information - Inter-County Transfer (ICT).

THA Payment Amount

The amount of the nonrecurring special need payment for THA is calculated on a daily basis as follows:

An AU with four or fewer members receives $85.
An AU receives $15 for each additional member of an AU.

The total amount available to an AU with eight or more members cannot exceed a maximum of $145.

Initial Payment

The initial payment for THA must be issued or denied within the same working day on which the AU submits a complete Statement of Facts - Homeless Assistance (CW 42).

If homelessness or the exception has been verified, the initial THA payment may be issued for up to seven (7) calendar days. The completed CW 42 must be accepted as verification, as it is a sworn statement of homelessness.

Example Example An AU of 2, parent and child, receiving CalWORKs request THA. The EW confirms the AU has not received HA within the prior 12 months, excluding exceptions, and there is no evidence to suspect that the family has permanent housing. The EW provides the parent the opportunity to complete the CW 42 form attesting that they meet the definition of homelessness. Upon receiving the completed CW 42, the AU is granted THA for one week on the same day.

Second and Subsequent Payments

After homelessness or the exception has been verified, benefits must be issued on a weekly basis (up to seven (7) calendar days at a time) for a maximum total of 16 non-consecutive days within a 12-month period. The extension of benefits beyond the initial payment must be based upon all of the following:

The AU's continuing need for THA.
Evidence of the search for permanent housing while receiving THA.

The AU must provide verification of shelter expenditures to receive reimbursement for THA for expenses incurred. When the client returns to request the second and subsequent THA payments, the EW must image a copy of the receipts for shelter.

If the former THA payment was sufficient to cover the period of payment, and the receipts verify that shelter was paid for each day of the payment period, and the client met the permanent housing search requirement, issue a subsequent payment per the client's request (direct, vendor).
If the former THA payment was less than sufficient to cover the period of payment, but the AU has receipts to verify that they spent all of the THA on shelter, issue a subsequent payment per the client's request (direct, vendor).
If the former THA payment was paid to a person or housing provider not in the business of renting, the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) Shared Housing Agreement/Housing Verification (SCD 2575), a statement from the housing provider, or a sworn statement from the client that the funds were spent on shelter is adequate verification, issue a subsequent payment per the client's request (direct, vendor).

There is a presumption of mismanagement of CalWORKs funds by the AU when the THA payment was sufficient to cover shelter costs and the client:

Fails or refuses to furnish verification of shelter costs, or
Can only produce receipts for part of the payment period.

Example Example Mrs. Ford was issued seven days of THA on 9/13. She returns to request a second THA payment on 9/19. She has a receipt from a motel for two days at $75 per day ($150). She states she could not find another place to stay with only $45. Mrs. Ford is eligible to have her second THA payment issued per her request.

Example Example Mr. Johnson was issued his first seven days of THA on 9/7. He returns on 9/13 with a receipt from a motel for two days at $50 per night. He states he doesn't know what he did with the rest of the $595. The second and subsequent THA payments MUST BE VENDORED to the shelter provider. The vendor payment must be for the cost of the shelter. Any remaining balance must be issued to the client.

Evidence of Search for Permanent Housing

The AU must provide evidence of a search for permanent housing while receiving THA. The EW must issue a Permanent Housing Search Document (CW 74) to the AU to document the search.

Prior to receiving the second or subsequent THA payment, the AU must make a minimum of one contact with prospective landlords for each day the AU received THA, unless the AU has good cause for not searching for permanent housing.
The AU does not have to make one contact each day, but must make one contact for each day. The contact may be made in person, by telephone, or in writing.

Example Example The AU received THA for seven days. The AU must make seven contacts with prospective landlords prior to receiving any subsequent THA payment. The AU may make three contacts on one day and four on another, or any combination to total seven contacts with prospective landlords.

The EW only needs to verify the information on the CW 74 if it appears to be questionable. An Authorization to Release Information (SCD 1029) must be completed prior to any contacts to verify the information.

If the AU is not issued THA because they failed to meet the housing search requirement, and subsequently they meet the requirement, the AU must continue to receive THA as otherwise eligible. No payment must be issued for those days during which noncooperation existed.

Good Cause for Not Searching

Good cause for not searching for permanent housing includes, but is not limited to, the following situations:

The AU does not have access to a telephone, either by not having one in their possession or through a friend, shelter, or accessible public place, and the AU also has no transportation and is living in a rural setting that makes public transportation not feasible.
The AU located permanent housing, but it is not yet available.

Example Example The AU received the initial seven days of THA. When they returned, they brought in the CW 74 indicating that they had made seven contacts. As a result of this, they had located permanent housing, which will not be available to them for 14 days. The EW would issue PHA if the recipient was otherwise eligible, and the family would also be eligible for the remainder of the THA period, and would not need to search for other permanent housing.

Failure to Provide

When the client returns for subsequent THA payments and does not have the required verification, the EW must use the following chart to determine the appropriate action:

If the client...	Then...
Pays the THA to a provider who does not meet the definition of a commercial establishment, a shelter, a publicly-funded transitional housing, or a person with whom there is a lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement,	The EW must make all subsequent payments as restricted payments. However, if it is not possible to issue a vendor payment, or no providers will accept them, issue the benefits directly to the client, as they will remain entitled to their remaining days of benefits, despite a finding of mismanagement.
Does not verify that the THA payment was spent on shelter,	Good cause may be granted for not providing paper verification when THA benefits are not received consecutively. In lieu of providing required paper verification, such as motel receipts, a sworn statement or verbal attestation from the client affirming that THA benefits were appropriately spent may be accepted.
Does not do the housing search or fails to provide verification of the search,	When there has been a time that passes between issuances, in lieu of providing required paper verification, such as the daily permanent housing search, a sworn statement or verbal attestation from the client affirming that housing searches were completed may be accepted. Good cause may be allowed to accept a sworn statement when verification is not available, even in cases where benefits are issued consecutively.