Homeless Shared Housing

Pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code 17001.5: (2) (A) Establish a standard of general assistance for applicants and recipients who share housing with one or more unrelated persons or with one or more persons who are not legally responsible for the applicant or recipient.

When there is no specific subrental or any agreement between occupants, the living arrangement is assumed to be shared and the ceiling on shared housing is applicable. General Assistance will not be paid without applying the shared housing policy when there is more than one occupant including a guest. [Refer to GA Policy “GA 280 — Maximum Aid Payments"].

Example:

Karry Mocking is applying for GA as a single adult and is homeless. GA is approved effective December 5th. On December 8th Ms. Mocking provides a receipt for $60 from Hollywood Hotel for one night stay on December 7th. The EW questions the client because the receipt indicates two persons occupying the room and the receipt is only in Ms. Mocking’s name. Ms. Mocking declares Mr. Bob Thomas was a guest of hers and states she paid for the room. The EW explains the shared housing policy.

Ms. Mocking received her Personal Needs on December 5th. Ms. Mocking has $168 for housing allowance. The $168 is divided by 4 which is equal to $42 weekly housing allowance. Since this is the INITIAL payment from the housing allowance and Ms. Mocking presented a receipt, this is to be honored and paid in full since because it does not exceed the housing allowance in reserved. However, in this particular case the 15% shared housing policy must be applied and the payment must be reduced by 15%*. Ms. Mocking is given a completed “Motel Reimbursement Receipt” (GA 39 M) showing a remaining balance and is told that she can return anytime during the month for a housing allowance reimbursement if she incurs housing expenses.

Homeless Shared Housing

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