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 Assistance Unit (AU) meets the criteria to qualify for an HA exception (refer to Homeless Assistance Exceptions).

The AU is not required to use all 16 days of THA toward the same instance of homelessness (also referred to as a continuous period of homelessness) caused by the same specific circumstances within a 12-month period. Any unused THA benefits within a 12-month period may be used for different instances of homelessness.

The 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.

Location

There are no regulations stating that the AU must use the 16 days of THA at the same location. The AU has the right to choose where they want to stay.

As long as the AU intends to reside in Santa Clara County, THA may be paid when the AU chooses to stay out of county. However, if the AU intends to reside in another county, the other county is responsible for making the THA payment. Refer to the Inter-County Transfer (ICT) section of Homeless Assistance Payment Information.

ExampleExample A client is reported to be homeless and has stayed with a relative for the past 3 weeks. The client reports that they can no longer stay at the relative's house for free and requests THA to pay this relative. This client would be eligible for THA and could use these benefits to continue staying at the relative’s house.

THA Payment Amount

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

AU Size	THA Payment Per Day
4 or less	$85
5	$100
6	$115
7	$130
8 or more	$145 Maximum

Regulations set the daily amount of THA based on the number of members in the AU, not actual costs, so AUs must receive the maximum daily amount they are entitled to.

Initial Payment

The 16 days of THA cannot be issued all at once. If homelessness or the exception has been verified, the initial THA payment may be issued for up to seven (7) calendar days. The completed Statement of Facts - Homeless Assistance (CW 42) must be accepted as verification, as it is a sworn statement of homelessness.

The initial payment for THA must be issued or denied within the same working day on which the AU submits a complete CW 42.

Example Example An AU of 2, parent and child, receiving CalWORKs request THA. The SSBS 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 SSBS provides the parent the opportunity to complete the CW 42 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.

The county cannot require that a CW 42 be received by a specific time of day in order for the AU to receive the THA payment on that same working day. If a CW 42 is submitted after the close of business, it shall be considered received on the next working day.

ExampleExample If the county office closes at 5:00 p.m. and a CW 42 is submitted after 5:00 p.m., it shall be considered received on the following working 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.

CW 42

There is no requirement to reapply or re-verify homelessness within a 12-month period, after an approved CW 42 has been submitted, in order to use remaining THA payments, even if the AU does not receive or use their THA on consecutive days.

If the SSBS determines that, due to extenuating circumstances, the AU's homelessness needs to be re-verified, a sworn statement that the family is still homeless is sufficient proof. The extenuating circumstance must be clearly documented in the Journal Detail page.

Verification of Amount Expended

The AU must provide verification of the amount expended on temporary shelter, such as receipts. When the client returns to request the second and subsequent THA payments, the Social Services Benefits Specialist (SSBS) must image a copy of the verification.

Issue a subsequent payment per the client's request (direct or vendor payment):

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.
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.
If the former THA payment was paid to a person or housing provider not in the business of renting, and 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 on file.

Mismanagement of Funds

There is a presumption of mismanagement of 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.

When it has been established that there has been a mismanagement of funds, all further HA payments must be issued using the “restricted payment” process. Refer to Homeless Assistance Payment Information.

Example Example Mr. Johnson was issued his first seven days of THA on 9/7. He returns on 9/14 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 SSBS 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 SSBS 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 for occupancy.
The available rental units in the area are not affordable to the AU.
The SSBS determines that the AU, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving THA.

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 SSBS 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 SSBS 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 SSBS must make all subsequent payments as restricted payments. Refer to the Restricted Payments section of Homeless Assistance Payment Information.
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. ExampleExample An AU does not need their remaining THA until a later date. When the AU contacts the county again, they no longer have their receipts. The SSBS can accept a sworn statement as verification that THA benefits were appropriately spent.
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.