Will CalFresh cover first month's rent and security deposit if I'm not on CalWORKs?

the county wont help with that thru calfresh, calfresh is only for food. u need to apply for calworks if u want cash assistance. but even then it takes time to get approved so probably wont help by ur deadline

Oh no that's what I was afraid of... do you know how long CalWORKs typically takes to get approved? I'm already in the system for CalFresh, would that make it faster?

CalFresh definitely won't cover rent or deposits since it's strictly a nutrition assistance program. However, you might qualify for emergency assistance through the Housing Support Program (HSP) or the Homeless Assistance Program, even if you're not on CalWORKs yet. \n\nCalifornia counties offer different forms of housing assistance that you might be eligible for:\n\n1. Housing Support Program (HSP)\n2. Permanent Housing Assistance (PHA) \n3. Temporary Homeless Assistance\n4. Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction (EAPE)\n\nCall your county office first thing tomorrow and specifically ask about emergency housing assistance programs for low-income individuals. Request to speak with a housing specialist if possible.

Thank you so much for this detailed info! I didn't know about these programs at all. I'll definitely call tomorrow and ask specifically about the Housing Support Program.

I tried calling the county for emergency housing help last month and was on hold for 2 HOURS before giving up!!! So frustrating. Then I found out about Claimyr.com which gets you through to a real person at the county office without the wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Saved me from losing my apartment when I needed emergency assistance verification. Definitely worth it when you're in a time crunch like you are.

does this actually work? i always get disconnected when i call my county office its soo annoying

Yes! That's exactly what happened to me - kept getting disconnected after 30+ mins on hold. I was skeptical but it got me through to a worker in like 15 minutes. Just make sure you have your case number ready.

You should also check with local non-profits like Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, or community action agencies. Many have emergency rental assistance programs. Some can help with the full deposit, others might do partial assistance. Look up

Thank you! I just called 211 and they gave me 3 different organizations to contact tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed one of them can help!

the county DOES have a program for this!!!! i got help with my deposit through the county last year and I wasnt on calworks just calfresh. its called homless prevention something. u need to talk to a homeless prevention specialist not a regular eligibility worker. they wont know what ur talking about. ask specifically for that department when u call.

I think ur talking about the Homeless Assistance Program but pretty sure u have to be on CalWORKs or applying for it to qualify. Did u also apply for CalWORKs at the same time?

maybe? honestly i dont remember if i had to apply for calworks too but i know i wasnt actually getting calworks payments when i got the help. the housing specialist handled everything for me. all i know is i got my deposit paid and i was only getting calfresh at the time.

To clarify some of the information above: In California, there are a few programs that might help you, but eligibility varies by county:\n\n1. The Homeless Assistance Program DOES typically require CalWORKs eligibility, but some counties have expanded their criteria.\n\n2. Many counties now have Housing Support Programs that can assist with deposits and first month's rent for people who are at risk of homelessness, even without CalWORKs.\n\n3. Through AB 832, California created emergency rental assistance that some counties still have funding for.\n\nI recommend:\n- Call your county office and ask specifically for the Housing Support Unit or Homeless Prevention Services\n- Apply for CalWORKs anyway, as the application itself might make you eligible for certain services\n- Bring documentation of your income, the rental agreement, and proof that you're at risk of losing the housing opportunity\n- Contact local non-profits as suggested above as a backup plan\n\nTime is critical here, so make these calls first thing in the morning.

Thank you for laying this out so clearly! I didn't realize the application itself might make me eligible even before approval. I just submitted a CalWORKs application online and will call about the Housing Support Program first thing tomorrow.

have u asked ur landlord if u can pay half now half later?? sometimes they will work with u if u just ask. my landlord let me split my deposit into 3 payments when i moved in.

I did try that actually... she said she needs at least the full security deposit up front because she has other people interested who can pay everything immediately. I'm going to try one more time though and see if there's any flexibility.

Just curious - did you end up getting through to anyone at the county? Did they offer any help?

UPDATE: I finally got through to the county Housing Support Program! Called right when they opened using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (which actually worked!). The case worker said I qualify for their deposit assistance program even though I'm not on CalWORKs! They can cover my full security deposit but I need to come up with first month's rent. My sister is going to loan me $1000 and I'm putting the rest on my credit card. It's not ideal but at least I won't lose the apartment! THANK YOU everyone for all the advice!!!