CalFresh homeless program motel vouchers - can I extend from 14 to 16 days?

They wont!!!! I been through this EXACT situation in 2023 and they told me once you use the vouchers its DONE. Doesnt matter if you didnt get all the days your entitled to. The stupid system is set up to screw you. When I asked about my missing days they said I would have to file a whole new homeless assistance application and "theres no guarantee you'll qualify again" LOL such BS

Actually, this is usually fixable. The Homeless Assistance Program through CalFresh/CalWORKs does provide up to 16 days of temporary shelter payments in a 12-month period. If your approval notice shows 16 days but you only received vouchers for 14, this could be an administrative error. Call your county office immediately and ask to speak with your eligibility worker. Explain that your approval shows 16 days but you only received 14 days worth of vouchers. They should be able to issue the remaining days if you're still within your benefit period and haven't used all 16 days yet. Bring your approval paperwork when you go in person if calling doesn't work.

I know getting through to the county office can be a nightmare with these urgent housing issues. Have you tried Claimyr? I was in a similar situation with my housing vouchers and couldn't get through on the phone for days. Claimyr got me connected to an actual CalFresh worker in about 10 minutes when I kept getting disconnected before. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - saved me from losing my temporary housing. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Definitely worth it in emergency situations like this when you need to talk to someone immediately.

Hi there, I work with homeless services and can clarify this issue. The Homeless Assistance Program through CalFresh/CalWORKs provides temporary shelter payments for up to 16 days in a 12-month period. These 16 days can be consecutive or non-consecutive. If your paperwork shows you're eligible for 16 days but you've only received 14, you are entitled to the remaining 2 days. If you haven't used all 16 days within the past 12 months, contact your eligibility worker immediately. You may need to provide: 1. Your approval notice showing the 16-day eligibility 2. Documentation of the 14 days already used 3. Current homeless status verification Try to speak with a supervisor if a regular worker says it's not possible. The extra 2 days are your entitlement if you've been approved for 16 days total. Don't accept a denial without escalating to a supervisor.

u need 2 go in person!! dont waste time on the phone they never answer when its about vouchers. bring ALL ur paperwork they gave u that shows the 16 days. i had to literally sit in the office 4 hours last month but got my missing voucher days. dont leave until they help u.

what date did u apply for the vouchers? cuz theres a new policy in 2025 that gives 16 days instead of 14 but it only started in february. maybe thats why theres confusion?? if u applied after feb 2025 then ur supposed to get 16 days but if it was before then maybe ur only eligible for 14?? just guessing tho

Update us on what happens! I'm facing a similar situation with my temporary housing assistance. From my experience, the county workers are often confused about their own policies. I recommend taking screenshots of any online approval notices and bringing physical copies of everything. I've had workers deny things that were clearly stated in my approval papers until I showed them their own documentation. Good luck!

Just wanted to add something important - if you're working with CalFresh homeless assistance, make sure you also ask about the Permanent Housing Assistance program that can help with move-in costs like security deposits and first month's rent once you find permanent housing. Many people don't realize this is available and can provide up to $5,000 for move-in expenses. You need to inquire about it specifically as workers don't always mention it.

Update???? Did u get ur two days??? The county makes everything so complicated on purpose istg

That's awesome that you got it sorted out! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my paperwork shows 16 days but I only got vouchers for 12. Reading through all these comments is really helpful. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning and definitely ask for a supervisor if they give me the runaround. It's ridiculous how much you have to fight for benefits you're already approved for. Thanks for updating us - gives me hope that I can get my missing days too!

I'm so glad you were able to get your missing days resolved! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how the homeless assistance program actually works. It's frustrating that the workers themselves don't always seem to know the current policies - like how the program increased from 14 to 16 days in February 2025. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, it sounds like the key points are: 1) Keep all your paperwork showing your full eligibility, 2) Don't accept the first "no" you get - ask for a supervisor, 3) Going in person seems more effective than calling, and 4) Services like Claimyr can help if you can't get through on the phone. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps those of us navigating this system!

This whole thread has been so educational! I'm currently experiencing homelessness and had no idea about the homeless assistance program through CalFresh. I've been struggling to find temporary housing options and didn't know these motel vouchers existed. Can someone explain how to apply for this program? Do I need to be already receiving CalFresh benefits, or can I apply for both at the same time? Also, does anyone know if there are income limits or other eligibility requirements? Reading about Sean's success getting his full 16 days gives me hope that there might be help available that I didn't know about. Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge - this community is amazing!

This entire thread is so valuable for anyone navigating the homeless assistance program! I'm a case worker with a local nonprofit and I see clients struggle with these exact issues all the time. A few additional tips based on what I've learned from helping folks: 1) Always ask for a case number when you apply and reference it in all communications, 2) If you're denied or told something contradicts what others have experienced here, ask the worker to show you the specific policy in writing, 3) Document everything - dates, times, worker names, what was said, 4) Many counties have a client advocate or ombudsman who can help if you're getting the runaround. The fact that Sean got his situation resolved shows the system can work, but you often have to advocate strongly for yourself. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it helps so much more than just reading the official policy documents!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently in transitional housing but may need the motel vouchers soon if my situation changes. One thing I'm wondering about - does anyone know if you can use these vouchers at any motel or are there specific ones that participate in the program? Also, do you pay anything out of pocket or does the voucher cover the full nightly rate? I want to be prepared in case I need to apply for this assistance. Sean's story shows it can work but you really have to know your rights and be persistent. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info you can't get from official websites!

Just wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations - if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, many counties now have online portals where you can submit requests or messages directly to your case worker. I discovered this when I was trying to resolve a similar voucher issue last year. You can usually find these portals on your county's social services website. While it might not be as immediate as calling, at least you get a paper trail of your request and they typically have to respond within a certain timeframe. It's especially helpful for documenting that you've been trying to resolve the issue if you need to escalate later. Also, some counties have walk-in hours specifically for urgent housing issues - might be worth checking if yours does since time is so critical with these voucher situations.

Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently dealing with housing instability and had no idea about the level of advocacy required to get the benefits you're actually entitled to. Reading through everyone's experiences - from Zara's initial discouraging response to Sean's ultimate success - really shows how much the outcome depends on knowing your rights and being persistent. The tips about documentation, asking for supervisors, going in person, and using services like Claimyr are all gold. What really strikes me is how many workers seem uninformed about their own policies (like the 14 vs 16 day confusion). It's both helpful and frustrating to learn that you often have to educate the people who are supposed to be helping you. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences, especially the case worker perspective from Eve and all the practical tips from folks who've been through this. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference when you're navigating these systems alone. Bookmarking this thread for future reference!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently in a precarious housing situation myself and had no idea about the homeless assistance program through CalFresh. What really stands out to me is how Sean's experience went from initial confusion to ultimate success - it's both inspiring and frustrating that it took so much effort to get what was already approved. The collective wisdom shared here is amazing: the importance of documentation, knowing about the February 2025 policy change from 14 to 16 days, asking for supervisors, and having multiple strategies (phone, in-person, online portals, services like Claimyr). As a newcomer to this system, I'm taking screenshots of all these tips because it's clear that self-advocacy is absolutely critical. The fact that so many county workers seem uninformed about their own current policies is deeply concerning but good to know going in. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is the kind of practical, community-driven knowledge that makes all the difference when you're facing housing instability. You've all created something more valuable than any official manual!

This entire conversation has been such a lifeline for me! I'm currently staying in my car and didn't even know this homeless assistance program existed through CalFresh. Reading Sean's journey from confusion to success gives me so much hope. The fact that he went from thinking he might lose his housing to getting his full 16 days is incredible. I'm definitely going to apply for this program tomorrow and I feel so much more prepared thanks to everyone's advice here. The tips about bringing all documentation, asking for supervisors when needed, and knowing about the February 2025 policy change to 16 days are invaluable. It's honestly shocking how much you have to advocate for yourself just to get approved benefits, but at least now I know what to expect. This community is amazing - where else can you get this kind of real-world guidance that actually helps people navigate these systems? Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource!