CalWORKs Homeless Assistance
The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) Program was established to help CalWORKs families meet
the reasonable costs of securing housing. The CalWORKs HA program serves eligible CalWORKs recipients or apparently
eligible CalWORKs applicants, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. CalWORKs HA can provide payments for
temporary shelter for up to 16 consecutive calendar days, as well as payments to secure or maintain housing,
including a security deposit and last month’s rent, or up to two months of rent arrearages.
As of January 1, 2017, this benefit is available to an eligible client once every 12 months (formerly a
once-in-a-lifetime benefit), with exceptions.
Types of Homeless Assistance
- Temporary HA, which helps families pay the costs of temporary shelter.
- 16 calendar days of motel vouchers ($85 per day for a family of four or fewer + $15 for each additional family
member, up to $145 daily)
- Permanent HA, which helps families secure housing or prevent eviction.
- Security deposit and last month's rent or 2 months arrearages to prevent eviction.
Eligibility/For Whom
CalWORKs recipients, or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. For HA,
homelessness is defined in the Welfare
and Institutions Code 11450. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Lacking a fixed or regular nighttime residence; and either
- residing in a shelter; or
- residing in a place not designed as a regular sleeping accommodation; or
- In receipt of a notice to pay rent or quit
How to Apply
The Homeless Assistance program is administered through CalWORKs at the county level.
Contact
your local county welfare office to apply/learn more.