ASIP

Afghan Support and Investment Program (ASIP)

Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB)

Important Information  |  General Assistance  |  Housing-Specific Assistance

 

The Afghan Support & Investment Program (ASIP) was originally scheduled to end in September 2023; however a recent expansion of the program has pushed the final sunsetting of ASIP to September 30, 2024. Please note important information for current participants and service organizations below as the expansion is not applicable to new applicants.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) has compiled and updated this webpage to provide details about the remaining timeline of this program and identify resources to support vulnerable Afghan households who have already transitioned out of ASIP.

Introduction and Program Background

The CDSS RPB developed ASIP to support the transition of recent Afghan newcomers to long-term housing in California following the implementation of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) in July 2021.  ASIP was designed to provide time-limited housing-focused services and rental subsidies to help Afghan newcomers in need stabilize and move towards self-sufficiency.  The program has been largely successful with nearly 1,500 ASIP applications approved and over 5,700 individuals receiving ASIP support.

RPB has been working closely with our statewide ASIP administrator, Catholic Charities Dioceses of San Diego (CCDSD), to provide services to ASIP recipients exiting the program.  With the announcement of the ASIP Expansion project, the RPB feels it is beneficial to provide greater clarity on the nature of the expansion, who is eligible to receive ASIP assistance, and when key milestones will occur in the program wind-down and sunsetting phases.

Important Information for Current Participants and Service Organizations

The application submission window for ASIP closed on September 30, 2022.  Currently, there are no plans to accept new ASIP applications, even during the ASIP Expansion.  Current ASIP recipients who enrolled in the program prior to September 30, 2022, are eligible to receive rental assistance for a maximum of 12 months from the date of first approval, contingent upon demonstrated need and available funding.  This timeline places the very final cases receiving ASIP assistance with a closeout date of September 30, 2023, except in certain limited, special cases (see below.)  CCDSD will continue to make recertification determinations for current ASIP recipients at three-month intervals and recipients must provide accurate and necessary information to CCDSD regarding the need for continued assistance.  Recertification notices will include information on each recipient’s remaining months of eligibility and reflect the increased portion of rent the recipient is responsible for as they move towards attaining self-sufficiency.

If your organization is working with any ASIP recipients, we ask for your support in ensuring they understand the recertification process and the maximum length of eligibility they currently have remaining.  We encourage service organizations to assist ASIP recipient clients with securing employment and developing increased self-sufficiency during the remaining months of ASIP so that these individuals can attain stability and continue to thrive upon the sunset of the program.

During the ASIP Expansion timeline (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024), ASIP assistance will be approved for a limited number of past ASIP applicants who meet criteria for receiving funds.  The RPB anticipates strong public interest in the expansion component of ASIP, and to reduce confusion, terms used in the language of the ASIP Expansion are defined below:

  • ASIP Expansion: ASIP is receiving limited funds that will make it possible to serve a select number of past ASIP applicants who were previously denied.
  • ASIP Applicant: An individual who completed a single ASIP application packet and process with an ASIP provider or the lead administrator, CCDSD.  Not all ASIP applicants were accepted for ASIP – some applicants were denied due to reasons of incomplete documentation or ineligibility.
  • ASIP Recipients: Program recipients of ASIP are individuals who were accepted for ASIP and received program subsidy payments for a period of at least 1 month, up to 12 or more months.  All ASIP recipients were at one time ASIP applicants, but not all applicants were selected to be recipients.

CCDSD will be contacting certain past ASIP applicants who previously received denials with news of a reassessment and acceptance of their past application.  There is no action to be taken on the part of past ASIP applicants and RPB kindly requests that past ASIP recipients do not contact CCDSD or RPB with inquiries about their eligibility for ASIP expansion funds.

General questions about ASIP can be directed to CDSS at ASIP@dss.ca.gov.

Resources for Program Recipients

General Assistance

  • County Welfare Departments (CWDs) administer general cash assistance through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) programs, as well as other statewide benefits, including CalFresh (also known as the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)) and the Medi-Cal insurance program.  A contact list for all 58 counties is posted on the CDSS website.  Please visit: County Social Service Agencies
    Certain California counties where large populations of refugees reside are designated as refugee-impacted.  These eight refugee-impacted counties offer additional employment and social services to refugees.  Refugee programs and services in these counties are administered by County Refugee Coordinators (CRCs).  Contact the CRC for your county to determine what services are available in your community.  A list of current California CRCs is available here: California County Refugee Coordinators
  • Local Resettlement Agencies (LRAs) assist refugees and other ORR-eligible populations with various financial, employment, and social supports.  Many case management programs are only available to newly arrived refugees in the first 90 days after arrival, but certain employment, career development, support group, and financial planning services are available with fewer eligibility restrictions.  You can find a list of Resettlement Agencies by county here:  Resettlement Agency Listings for California

Housing-Specific Assistance

  • The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Housing and Homelessness Division (HHD) is responsible for development and oversight of statewide housing programs funded by the CDSS.  You can find more information at Housing and Homelessness Programs. Some examples of housing programs under the purview of CDSS HHD include:
    • CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP), which assists families enrolled in the CalWORKs program who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness with obtaining permanent housing, and can provide temporary shelter, help with moving costs, short to medium-term rental subsidies, and wraparound case management. You can find more information at CalWORKS Housing Support Program.
    • CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA), a program assisting CalWORKs families, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with meeting the costs of securing housing.  This can include paying for up to 16 consecutive days of temporary shelter and assistance with other housing-related expenses, such as a security deposit and last month’s rent.  You can find more information at CalWORKs Homeless Assistance.
    • The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) assists individuals experiencing homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits to access and apply for disability benefit programs, while also providing housing support.  You can find more information at Housing and Disability Advocacy Program.

If you have any questions, you may contact the Statewide ASIP Administrator, Catholic Charities Dioceses of San Diego, at ASIP@ccdsd.org or the Refugee Programs Bureau at ASIP@dss.ca.gov.

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