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CalWORKs Housing Support Program
The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP) is designed to assist eligible CalWORKs families who are experiencing homelessness. This program is separate from the Homeless Assistance that is issued by the Eligibility Worker, and is in addition to the Family Stabilization Housing Assistance program.
Rapid Re-Housing
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible CalWORKs families must meet the criteria below to be eligible to apply for the CHSP:
- Lacking a fixed and regular nighttime residence and either is:
- Having a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or
- Residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, or
- Lacking stable housing:
- Lives in a public/private homeless shelter/transitional shelter providing temporary aid, or
- Lives in a vehicle,
- Lives in a motel paid by government or nonprofit organization, or
- Lives on the streets/tent, or
- Any other place inadequate for human habitation, or
- Had a place to stay last night, but not available tonight (i.e., will be in their car or on the streets, etc.)
- Fleeing domestic violence
- In receipt of a judgment for eviction, as ordered by the court.
At-Risk of Homelessness
Eligibility Criteria
- CalWORKs family must be at At-Risk of homelessness.
- Families who are currently housed and are at-risk of losing their housing due to unpaid monthly rent, who require more than one-time financial assistance to retain their housing should be referred to the CalWORKs Housing Support Program.
Services Provided
Homeless Prevention Services included with CHSP include the following:
- These families will be subject to a monthly assessment of the family’s at-risk of homelessness condition to receive a month-to-month extension of their rent payment assistance.
- Also, they must demonstrate the ability to assume the cost of their housing expenses to continue to receive assistance. Sustainability or the ability to assume the cost of their housing expenses requirement must be met. Demonstration of sustainability is required to receive an extension of a client’s month-to-month rent payment assistance.
At-Risk (Office of Supportive Housing) Services will provide housed families with homeless prevention assistance to help navigate a temporary crisis and preserve existing housing.
Note: Families may self-attest that they meet the definition of at-risk for homelessness.
Eligible CalWORKs Families
- Welfare To Work (WTW) families with parents that are active, exempt, or curing a sanction, or
- Non-WTW CalWORKs Safety Net (Timed-out) families, or
- Non-WTW CalWORKs Child Only families with a parent(s) excluded by law (ineligible non-citizen, SSI, Fleeing Felon, etc.).
Referral Guidance
Use the "CalWORKs Housing Assistance Referral Process - CalWORKs Housing Support Program & Family Stabilization Housing Assistance" (SCD 2488) to make the appropriate referral.
Services Offered
The CHSP includes, but is not limited to the following services:
- Intensive case management
- Assistance locating and securing housing
- Payment of security deposit (first month rent, deposit/last month rent) required to secure housing
- Emergency lodging/hotel assistance
- Utility payments needed to retain/obtain housing
- Moving arrangements and moving costs
- Assistance understanding leases
- Renter’s insurance if required to secure housing
- Short-term housing subsidy where household transitions gradually to full payment of rent
- Mediation and outreach to landlords
- Financial education referrals
- Incentives
- Other service referrals to support housing stability
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