CalFresh recipient needing DV financial assistance while maintaining housing - CPS worker no help

There are definitely resources beyond shelters for DV survivors. Have you applied for CalWORKs? As a DV survivor, you may qualify for their special needs programs including housing assistance. They have a domestic violence supplement that many people don't know about. Also, many counties have Homeless Assistance programs through CalWORKs that can provide temporary rent help. You should also immediately contact your local Family Resource Center - they often have emergency funds specifically for DV situations like yours. Make sure to mention you have an active CPS case as that can prioritize your application with some agencies. Wish your CPS worker was more helpful! Document everything you're doing to stay financially stable as that will look good for your case.

ive been thru this!!!! cps is usless sometimes. call 211 right now they can connect u with emergcy rental assistance. also the salvation army helped me with 2 months rent when i was in ur EXACT situation. bring all ur paperwork from cps and the dv stuff to prove ur case. dont wait till ur actually homeless cuz then its harder to get help believe me

In addition to what others have mentioned, if you qualify for CalFresh, you should also check out these specific DV financial resources: 1. California's Victim Compensation Program can provide financial assistance to DV victims for relocation, security measures, and some living expenses. 2. Many counties have Emergency Solutions Grants that prioritize DV survivors at risk of homelessness. 3. Local domestic violence organizations often have private funding sources that CPS workers might not know about. 4. The Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program specifically for DV survivors (different from regular homeless prevention programs). I'd recommend contacting your county's Victim Witness Services office as well - they can sometimes access funds that other agencies can't. Your CalFresh eligibility means you'll likely qualify for additional support programs. Most importantly, getting consistent responses from county workers can be nearly impossible sometimes. I had to wait 4+ hours on hold with my county when dealing with a similar situation. I eventually used Claimyr.com to get through - they hold your place in line and call you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of waiting. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works.

Have you contacted your landlord? Sometimes they'll work with you if you explain the situation. I was behind 2 months when escaping DV and my landlord gave me extra time when I showed him the police report. Worth a try while you're waiting for assistance programs to come through. The eviction process takes time anyway.

YOUR CPS WORKER SHOULD BE HELPING MORE!!! This makes me so angry. They're supposed to HELP families stay together, not just check boxes. Call their supervisor and DEMAND better resources. My worker tried the same lazy referral garbage with me until I went above her head. Suddenly she found emergency housing funds. Also, if you're in therapy already, ask your therapist for a letter stating that housing instability would negatively impact your progress. I used this for emergency section 8 priority. The system is BROKEN but you have to fight!

dont 4get to ask about ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) my friend got like 3 months covered after her dv situation. also food banks can help with food so u can use more money for rent. sux that calfrresh isnt enough, never is

I work for a community resource center that partners with CPS. Ask your worker specifically about the "Family Stabilization Fund" - it's a special account many counties have that can provide immediate financial assistance to prevent homelessness in active CPS cases. It's different from the regular assistance programs and doesn't have the same application process. Also, if your worker isn't helping, you have the right to request a Team Decision Making meeting (TDM) where multiple professionals review your case. In that meeting, specifically ask for the domestic violence advocate to be present - they often know about resources others don't. Keep documenting all your attempts to maintain housing stability. CPS should be providing "reasonable efforts" to keep you housed, and if they're not, that documentation could be important.

also churches!!! i forgot to mention. my local catholic church paid my electric bill when i was in your situation. u dont have to be religious they help everyone

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the combination of DV recovery and CPS involvement while struggling financially is incredibly overwhelming. You're doing everything right by maintaining safe housing and attending your required programs. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your local Community Action Agency. They often have emergency assistance funds specifically for families at risk of homelessness, and many have special protocols for DV survivors. They can sometimes move faster than county programs. Also, if you're working part-time, check if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - many offer emergency financial assistance that people don't know about. For immediate help, try contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. They maintain updated local resource lists and can often provide referrals that even local workers don't know about. You're being so strong advocating for yourself and your kids. Keep pushing for the help you deserve - stable housing is crucial for both your recovery and your CPS case success.