Family Services (FS) Program CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP)

The 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 EW and is a component of the Family Stabilization Housing Assistance program.

The CHSP is supported by the FS Unit. The FS Employment Counselor (EC) coordinates these services for eligible CWES participants and initiates the referral to the CHSP service provider. The CHSP is run by Abode Housing Services, which is co-located at CWES 1879 Senter Road, San Jose and provides services in the North and South County CWES Offices.

Eligible CalWORKs Families

All CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) clients (Active, Exempt, Curing Sanction, Cal-Learn, and Family Reunification) are eligible to receive CalWORKs Housing Support services.

In addition, CalWORKs Safety Net families (Active, Exempt, Child Only, Safety Net, Sanctioned, CalWORKs Family Reunification, and Cal-Learn) are eligible.

In addition to the above, the participant must be identified by the Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) as an eligible client in the Community Housing Queue.

Note: If an active client is not currently in the Community Housing Queue, refer to the FS Unit to triage.

Homeless/Housing Condition for Program Eligibility

Eligible CalWORKs families must meet the criteria below to be eligible to apply for the CHSP:

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
Fleeing or attempting to flee dangerous or life-threatening conditions with no other residence and lacking resources and support (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, etc.), OR
Lacking stable housing (e.g., living in over-crowded situations), OR
In receipt of an eviction or will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days of application, has no other residence identified and lacks resources and support, OR
Exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less AND who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution, OR
Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition but who meet the definition in Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations.

Eligibility Documentation

Families may be required to provide supporting documents including, but not limited to:

Personal identification
Birth certificates
Verification of homelessness.

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 with 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.

Referrals to the Employment Connection Center (ECC)

The FS EC may refer the CHSP client to the ECC for employment support and opportunities once they have agreed to and signed their FS plan.

Application

The client must complete the Family Services Program Request & Application (SCD 2417), including completion of housing-related questions and budget information. The SCD 2417 is used for both the Family Stabilization Housing Assistance and the CHSP.

When the CHSP criteria is met, the FS EC completes the CalWORKs Housing Support Program Service Referral (SCD 2419) and forwards it to Abode with supporting documents.

Introductory and Enrollment Meeting

The Introductory meeting is an opportunity for the client to meet the staff members from Abode, FS EC, and ECC-EC who will be working with them. At the introductory meeting, each member will provide the client with an overview of services provided, contact information, and review and discuss the My Road to Housing (SCD 2569). The Introductory Meeting should be between 15 to 20 minutes long. After the Introductory Meeting, the client continues with the enrollment process with Abode.

Introductory and Enrollment Meeting Process

The Introductory and Enrollment Process includes:

Initial triage by the FS team
Completion of the SCD 2417
Submission of the SCD 2419 and other required documents to the CHSP provider (Abode)
The FS EC schedules the Introductory and Enrollment meeting with the client, Abode team, ECC FS EC and the FS EC.
If the client completes enrollment, then the FS EC has the client sign a Family Service Plan (SCD 2392) and requests the case to be transferred to them by the Case Management (CM) AEC/EC, and updates the Employment Connections Application (ECA) and the DEBS Referral Application.
If the client does not complete enrollment, then the FS EC will notify the CM AEC/EC, and complete the FS Referral in ECA and the DEBS Referral Application.

Focus Team Meeting

The Focus Team Meeting (FTM) is created to assist the client with housing sustainability and plan coordination. The focus team facilitators are comprised of staff from Abode, FS EC and ECC EC.

The FS EC Schedules the initial meeting with the client and team members via the Shared Calendar. The client must be willing and committed to work toward achieving plan goals and objectives; and attending meetings weekly with the team members.

Incentives

Monthly Employment Plan Incentives

When a client is in need of job search services, they will be scheduled for Supervised Job Search and assigned to an ECC FS EC. A My Action Plan (SCD 2508) is developed during the initial team meeting and integrated into the SCD 2392. The plan includes job search strengths, challenges, support needed, goals, and action items. Outcomes are evaluated during the weekly team meetings. The client is also required to attend case conferences that may include other service providers, as needed.

When the client meets their job search goals/action items for four consecutive weeks, a monthly incentive in the amount of $100 is issued through CalSAWS by selecting HSP in the Category field and HSP Other in the Type field.

Employment Incentives

Employment incentive payments are available to eligible participants to assist with retaining employment. Refer to Employment & Retention Services - Incentives for eligibility criteria.

Housing Retention Fund

The Housing Retention Fund provides families with financial housing assistance after their rent subsidy period has ended when they experience unanticipated emergency expenses or a sudden reduction in income. The fund is designed to prevent the loss of their permanent housing and a return to homelessness due to a short-term financial emergency. The following applies to the fund:

Authorization of benefits from this fund requires approval of the management team.
Eligibility for incentive to be determined and issued by Abode Services.

Short-Term Education and Vocational Training

FS participants who have been identified as lacking the minimal employment skills, as required by the employer, are referred to Assessment for:

Enrollment in a short-term, not to exceed 6 months, employment-focused training program.
Referrals to eligible education/training programs to obtain a GED or certification.
Vocational ESL class to eligible education/training opportunities.

Assistance/Payment Amounts Guidelines

The CHSP payments are based on the family needs and the CHSP service provider’s guidelines. In general, the service provider, Abode, makes subsidy payments directly to the landlord or other entity on behalf of the client.