Can CalWORKs help with rent after breakup? Already used Homeless Assistance this year

they dont do much for rent unlesss ur literally on the street already. cal works is a JOKE for housing help. i was in the same boat and they told me to just "find a roomate" like its that easy?? HA! and the homeless $$ is def once a year. they might offer u a motel voucher but only AFTER u get evicted. the system is broken af.

You might qualify for Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction (EAPE) through CalWORKs even if you've used Homeless Assistance this year. It's a separate program specifically for families at risk of eviction. You need an actual eviction notice though, not just being behind on rent. They can provide up to 2 months of rent arrears in some cases. Also ask about the Housing Support Program (HSP) - they can sometimes help with short-term rental assistance while you get back on your feet. Lastly, check with local community action agencies in your county. Many have emergency rental assistance programs separate from CalWORKs that might be able to help. Good luck!

Same thing happened to me last year! My ex left and I was stuck with full rent. Have you reported the household change to CalWORKs yet? When I reported my ex leaving, my cash aid amount actually went UP since I was only reporting my income not his too. Might help a little with the rent situation.

Did you try 211? They have a database of rent assistance programs. My sister got help from a church program when she was in your situation. Also check if your county has an HDAP program (Housing Disability Advocacy Program) if anyone in the household has a disability. There's also something called Family Stabilization if you're participating in WTW and your housing situation is affecting your ability to meet your hours.

hey just wonderin did u tell them about the breakup yet? cuz if not ur technically still getting benefits as a 2 person household right? might wanna time that report carefully cuz once u tell them ur ex moved out they'll recalculate everything and there might be a gap before the new amount kicks in just sayin

I've been through this nightmare of trying to reach CalWORKs when you desperately need help. After spending DAYS trying to get through on the county line (kept disconnecting me after 2+ hour waits), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in under 20 minutes. They called the county line for me and connected us once they reached a worker. Literally saved my housing situation because I was able to explain my emergency and get help before eviction. Here's their site: claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Honestly with something time-sensitive like rent assistance, waiting days to actually reach someone could be the difference between getting help or not.

One more thing to know - if you do end up getting an eviction notice, bring it to your CalWORKs office IMMEDIATELY. Some counties have special emergency funds they can access only when there's an actual eviction proceeding. Also, ask if they have a Housing Case Manager or Housing Navigator who specializes in these situations. They know about resources regular eligibility workers might not be familiar with.

do u have any family that could help out for a month or 2? sometimes thats easier than dealing with the county tbh. my mom let me crash at her place when i got behind on rent, was way better than waiting for calworks to maybe help

Make sure when you talk to your worker tomorrow that you emphasize this is an EMERGENCY situation. Sometimes they won't mention all available programs unless you specifically ask or make it clear how urgent it is. Also ask about community partners they work with - many counties have relationships with non-profits that can help with rent when CalWORKs can't directly. If your regular worker isn't helpful, ask to speak with a supervisor.

Just wanted to add - if you're working part-time, also ask about the Cal-Learn program if you're under 19 or the Young Parent Program if you're under 24. They sometimes have additional housing supports. Also, some counties have "Flexible Family Strengthening" funds that can be used for emergency rent when other programs are exhausted. One thing that helped me was creating a budget breakdown showing exactly how much I need vs what I have coming in - workers sometimes respond better when they can see the specific dollar amounts. And if you have any documentation of your ex contributing to rent before (like old text messages about splitting costs), bring that too to show this is a sudden change in your housing situation. Fingers crossed your worker can connect you with something tomorrow! 🤞