Locked out of apartment with kids - Will CalFresh county workers help with emergency housing?

what your landlord did is DEFINITELY illegal!! thats a self help eviction and its against the law in california. only a sheriff can actually remove you after a court order. call legal aid ASAP!!! they can help you get back in your apartment right away! as for calfresh workers helping with housing - kinda. they're usually different departments but same building. you need to specifically ask for the HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM (HSP) or HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. dont wait for callbacks, call the main number and tell them its an emergency with kids involved. be super specific that you've been illegally locked out. if you have calworks too (cash aid) you qualify for immediate homeless assistance. if just calfresh, it depends on your county but most have emergency programs for families.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your children. The previous commenter is correct - what your landlord did is called an "illegal lockout" and is against California law. A formal eviction requires court proceedings and only the sheriff can remove you. Regarding county assistance: CalFresh and housing programs are separate, but often administered by the same county agency. Here's what you should do: 1. Contact your local Legal Aid immediately (Google "Legal Aid" + your county). They can help with emergency restraining orders to get you back into your unit. 2. For housing assistance, ask specifically for: - Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) if you qualify for CalWORKs - Housing Support Program (HSP) - Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) - Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs 3. Tell them you have minor children and have been illegally locked out. Use those exact words. Calling is difficult right now because many counties are still understaffed. I'd recommend going in person to your county office if possible. Bring ID, your children's birth certificates, and any eviction paperwork you have. Please keep us updated on your situation.

been there!! the county workers NEVER call back when they say they will. i waited 3 weeks last year for a "24 hour callback" about emergency housing. its ridiculous! if u have a caseworker already with calfresh why not just go to the office and ask for them directly?? thats what i had to do. sit there until someone helps you because the phone system is useless

I dealt with something similar last winter, and I know how stressful it is. Try calling 211 - they can connect you with emergency shelter options while you sort out the illegal lockout situation. Some counties have motel voucher programs specifically for families with children. Also, have you tried reaching out to your local HUD office? They sometimes have emergency funds for precisely these situations, especially when children are involved. One thing I learned when dealing with CalFresh and housing assistance - you need to use specific terminology or they transfer you to the wrong department. Ask specifically for "Housing Support Program for families" or "Emergency Housing Assistance.

Trying to reach county workers by phone right now is nearly impossible, especially for urgent housing matters. I was in a similar situation and wasted days waiting for callbacks that never came. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at my county office within minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. It was the only way I could get someone to actually help me with my housing crisis instead of just taking messages. For your specific situation - you need to be speaking with someone from the Housing Support Program, not general CalFresh. When you do get through, make sure to emphasize that you have three minor children and have been illegally locked out. Your landlord absolutely cannot change locks without going through proper court proceedings first.

The county housing programs should be able to help you, but you need to specifically request Homeless Assistance rather than just letting them put you in a callback queue. Since you have children, you qualify for priority assistance in most counties. I recommend the following steps: 1) File a police report about the illegal lockout immediately - this documents your situation 2) Contact Legal Aid as others have mentioned 3) Go IN PERSON to the county office with all your documents (IDs, birth certificates, eviction notice) 4) Ask for a supervisor if you're not getting immediate help 5) Use terms like "homeless family with minor children" and "emergency housing assistance" Also, check if your county has a Rapid Re-Housing program. These programs can provide deposit assistance and first month's rent to get you into a new place quickly if returning to your current apartment isn't possible. Regarding your belongings, Legal Aid can help you get access to retrieve them, but document everything with photos if possible.

I don't know why everyone keeps saying to call call call when THE WHOLE PROBLEM is that OP can't get anyone on the phone!!! The county offices are IMPOSSIBLE to reach these days!! OP, your situation is exactly why I think the whole system is broken. You're LITERALLY HOMELESS WITH THREE KIDS and they put you in a "callback queue"??? It's disgusting! Honestly your best bet is to go physically stand in the office and refuse to leave until someone helps you. Bring the kids if you have to. Make it THEIR problem. That's the only way I've ever gotten real help. The phone system is designed to keep people from getting services they deserve!! And yes, your landlord broke the law. But good luck getting any help with that quickly enough to matter. The system is DESIGNED to fail people like us.

quick update - i just saw your reply about income for HUD programs. if you qualify for calfresh you 100% meet the income requirements for emergency housing assistance!! most counties use 200% federal poverty level for crisis housing and calfresh is 130% FPL. so dont worry about that part!!

I wanted to follow up on something important - make sure you're still submitting your SAR7 reports for CalFresh even during this housing crisis. I've seen people lose their food benefits in the middle of a housing emergency because they missed reporting deadlines, which then creates a second crisis. If your SAR7 is due soon, you can list the hotel as your temporary address or write "currently homeless" - but don't skip submitting it. Housing instability is actually a good reason to request expedited processing on any benefit recertifications or updates. Also, ask the county about the "Housing and Disability Advocacy Program" (HDAP) if anyone in your household has a disability, even a temporary one. They have additional resources beyond the standard housing programs that others have mentioned.