Qualified for CalFresh Homeless Assistance but confused about rent/deposit coverage - anyone had success?

homeless assistance isnt actually part of calfresh. its thru calworks. u need to have kids to qualify or be pregnant

The previous comment isn't entirely accurate. There are TWO different programs with similar names. CalWORKs does have a Homeless Assistance program for families with children, but there's also a separate CalFresh Homeless Assistance program for individuals without children who are currently homeless and receiving CalFresh benefits. For CalFresh Homeless Assistance, you might qualify for help with rent/deposit IF you're already receiving CalFresh AND meet the definition of homeless (which includes couch surfing). The exact benefits vary by county though, and some counties have very limited funds. Bring documentation to prove: 1) Your current homeless status 2) The rental agreement details 3) Verification that you qualify for the apartment (approval letter) 4) Any income documentation Be very clear that you're asking specifically about the CalFresh Homeless Housing Assistance program, not CalWORKs.

I actually received this help in LA County last year! It's NOT through CalFresh directly (as others mentioned), but many CalFresh workers can connect you to the right department. In LA County, it's called the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) or sometimes the Problem Solving Funds program. Bring EVERYTHING to your appointment: - ID - The rental agreement - Landlord's contact info & W9 (ask them for this in advance) - Bank statements - Proof of your housing search efforts - Documentation of your current living situation Be prepared that the process often takes 2-3 weeks. You might want to be honest with your landlord about potentially getting assistance but needing a bit more time. Many will work with you if they know help is coming. One tip - I found it nearly impossible to get updates by phone when my application was processing. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual person instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a service that gets you connected with a live worker (you can see a video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8). Totally worth it when you're dealing with something time-sensitive like housing.

Hey just wanna give you a heads up that I tried to get this help last month and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! The caseworker kept sending me back and forth between departments and nobody knew what I was talking about. Ended up getting told I needed to apply for General Relief first (which takes forever) and by then I'd lost the apartment. The whole system is designed to make us fail I swear.

Update for LA County specifically: The program that might help you is the Homeless Prevention Program through DPSS. It CAN cover first month's rent and security deposit in some cases. Call the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777 and specifically request information about "homeless prevention funds" for housing assistance. You need to: 1) Already be CalFresh eligible 2) Meet the homeless definition 3) Have secured housing that you can maintain long-term with your current income 4) Have documentation of all of the above Response time varies but can be expedited in urgent situations with pending move-in dates. Make sure to emphasize your timeline with the landlord waiting.

u should ask about emergency housing vouchers 2. my cousin got one and it pays most of his rent every month not just 1st month

Just following up - how did your appointment go? Were you able to get any assistance?

That's such great news that your worker was knowledgeable and helpful! It makes such a difference when they actually know the programs. Really hoping you get approved - sounds like you did everything right by going in prepared with all the documentation. Please keep us updated on what happens! Your experience will definitely help other people in similar situations who find this thread.