CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP)

The Housing Support Program (HSP) is administered through CalWORKs Employment Services and provides permanent housing assistance to Marin County families experiencing homelessness who receive CalWORKs benefits.

HSP assists participating families experiencing homelessness by helping them secure permanent housing and connecting them to services that support their movement toward economic self-sufficiency. Assistance may include rental payments, security deposits, moving costs, and rental application fees. Families with greater needs may qualify for additional support beyond the standard benefit.

HSP is available to families who meet all of the following criteria:

• Active CalWORKs recipient- The CalWORKs case must be approved. Pending cases are not eligible.
• Marin County resident- The CalWORKs case must be active in Marin County. Cases active in another county are not eligible until an Inter-County Transfer (ICT) is complete.
• Meets HUD homeless status- The family must meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homelessness, which includes any of the following situations:
  • Lacking a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence, such as:
    • Living in a place not meant for human habitation (car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or campground)
    • Living in a publicly or privately operated emergency shelter, transitional housing, or hotel/motel paid for by a charitable or government program
    • Exiting an institution after a stay of 90 days or less, having come from an emergency shelter or uninhabitable place, with no other housing resources available
  • At imminent risk of losing housing- within 14 days of applying for HSP, with no other residence identified and no other resources available.
  • Facing eviction- in receipt of a court-ordered eviction judgment.
• Fleeing domestic violence or other dangerous conditions, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, where:
  • The violence occurred in or made the individual afraid to return to their home
  • No other residence is available
  • No other resources or support networks (family, friends, faith-based, or social networks) are available to obtain permanent housing
• Unaccompanied youth under 25, or families with children, who do not otherwise qualify under the above definitions but who:
  • Are defined as homeless under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, Violence Against Women Act, or McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
  • Have not held a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing at any point in the 60 days prior to applying for HSP
  • Have experienced two or more moves in the 60 days prior to applying for HSP

HSP Services Include

• Security deposit assistance
• Up to one month of rental costs
• Moving assistance
• Rental application assistance and payment
• Support services to help families work toward economic self-sufficiency
• Additional assistance based on individual family need

How to Access Services

To apply for HSP, you must be an active CalWORKs recipient with a case aided in Marin County. Contact your CalWORKs worker to request a referral to the Housing Support Program.

After You Are Approved

Once approved, the HSP will work with your family to identify and secure permanent housing. You will be connected to support services to help you maintain stable housing and move toward self-sufficiency. Continued eligibility is based on your CalWORKs case status.

Contact

For questions regarding the CalWORKs Housing Support Program, contact the Employment and Training Branch: 415-473-3350