Rental assistance with CalFresh? Just lost my apartment and benefits decreased

CalFresh itself doesn't provide rental assistance, but there are related programs that might help. First, you should definitely report your change in housing situation to get your CalFresh benefits recalculated - losing your housing and having higher shelter costs should actually INCREASE your benefits, not decrease them. For housing help, look into these options: 1. Emergency Housing Vouchers through your county housing authority 2. California's Housing Is Key rental assistance program 3. Apply for CalWORKs if you have a child - they provide cash aid which can help with rent Make sure to submit verification of your new living situation through BenefitsCal or directly to your county office ASAP.

THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME!!! Your benefits went down because the system probably thinks you still have the same housing costs. When my sister got evicted last year they cut her benefits too and it took MONTHS to fix! The county workers DO NOT CARE about our situations. You need to submit a "change report" IMMEDIATELY and mark it URGENT. Make copies of EVERYTHING and get a receipt!! Don't trust them to handle it right the first time!!!

I went through something very similar in February. I couldn't reach anyone at the county for weeks! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live person at CalFresh within 20 minutes. They have this system that basically waits on hold for you then calls when someone picks up. Saved me from so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I reached someone, I explained my housing emergency and they helped recalculate my benefits with the higher shelter deduction. My monthly amount went up by $230! Definitely worth trying to actually speak with someone rather than dealing with the automated system.

The reason your CalFresh benefits decreased might be because of the Cost of Living Adjustment that happened in October. But with your housing situation change, you should qualify for a higher amount now. When you report your change: 1. Specifically mention you now have "zero income for housing costs" or "temporarily doubled up housing" which triggers special processing 2. Request expedited service for the recalculation (they should process within 3 days) 3. Bring proof of your eviction (notice, court papers) if you have them For rental help, also check 211.org for local emergency rental programs. Many nonprofits have funds specifically for families with children facing homelessness. Hope things get better for you and your little one!

this happened 2 me last year. calfresh doesnt help with rent directly but my county had emergency housing funds thru some covid program. also go to ur local DPSS office in person!! the phone system is trash but if u go in person with ur kid theyll help u faster trust me. bring all ur documents and ask for emergency benefits review

I don't mean to get off-topic but does anyone know if child support counts as income for CalFresh? My ex finally started paying through the court system and I'm worried they'll cut my food stamps. I get about $450/month for 2 kids now.

Thank you everyone for the advice! I was able to go in person to the county office yesterday (waited 3.5 hours but finally got seen). The worker helped me submit an emergency change report for my housing situation and told me my benefits should be recalculated within 10 days. She also helped me apply for CalWORKs and gave me a list of emergency housing resources. My friend says I can stay with her for another month which helps. Fingers crossed the increased benefits come through quickly!

So glad to hear you got some help at the county office! That 3.5 hour wait sounds brutal but totally worth it. Just wanted to add - when your CalFresh benefits get recalculated, make sure to ask about the Homeless Shelter Deduction if they haven't already applied it. Since you're temporarily staying with your friend without paying rent, you might qualify for this special deduction which can increase your monthly benefits even more. Also, once you get stabilized with housing, don't forget to report that change too so your benefits stay accurate. Wishing you and your little one all the best - you're doing great advocating for yourself!