Does CalWORKs provide rental assistance? What documents do I need to bring?

Yes, CalWORKs has something called Homeless Assistance that can help in your situation! There are two types: Temporary HA (hotel vouchers for up to 16 days) and Permanent HA (money for security deposit and last month's rent). Since you haven't been evicted yet, you'd likely qualify for Permanent HA to help prevent you from becoming homeless. Documents you should bring: - ID for everyone in your household - Birth certificates for your kids - Proof of income (unemployment award letter) - Eviction notice or letter from landlord - Current lease agreement - Proof of rent amount (receipts) - Any utility bills showing where you live You need to meet the income requirements for CalWORKs first, but with 2 kids and unemployment, you likely qualify. Apply ASAP through BenefitsCal.com or in person at your county office.

they don't actually pay ur back rent, that's not how it works. the permanent homeless assistance is for move-in costs if ur already homeless or about to be. theres a diffrent program called housing support program (HSP) thru calworks that might help with ongoing rent but not everyone qualifies

I was in this exact situation last year and what saved me was applying for both CalWORKs AND CalFresh at the same time. The CalWORKs worker referred me to their Housing Support Program (HSP) which helped with my back rent AND paying partial rent for 6 months while I got back on my feet. BUT - this only worked because I had kids and qualified for the cash aid portion of CalWORKs first. The process was slow though - took almost 3 weeks to see a worker after applying! I finally used Claimyr.com to skip the phone wait times and got through to an actual person at my county office. Just Google "Claimyr" and you can watch their video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE to see how it works. It connected me directly to a worker who could check my application status and fast-track me to the housing specialist. Literally saved my housing situation because I was days away from eviction by that point.

The money is NOT a loan. CalWORKs cash aid and homeless assistance are benefits you don't repay as long as you qualified when you received them. The only exception is if you committed fraud or got overpaid by mistake. One thing nobody mentioned - if you get approved for CalWORKs, make SURE to ask about the $10,000 asset limit. You're allowed to have up to that much in resources (bank accounts, etc) and still qualify. This changed in 2024 - used to be much lower.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to apply for CalWORKs this week and bring all the documents mentioned. I'll also ask specifically about the Housing Support Program since it sounds like that might be my best option for the back rent. One more question - will they verify employment history? I've only been unemployed for a month and I'm wondering if that will be an issue for qualifying.

Don't get your hopes up too much. The system is BROKEN. I applied for homeless assistance back in november and im STILL waiting!!! They keep asking for more and more paperwork and then saying they never received what I already sent. My worker never answers the phone and doesn't return voicemails. Meanwhile im staying on my sisters couch with my 3 kids and calworks gives me $726 a month which is NOTHING in california. The whole system is designed to KEEP US POOR.

Just to add one more thing that might help you - CalWORKs also has childcare assistance so when you do find a new job, they'll help pay for childcare for your kids! It's called Child Care Payment Program and it covers most or all childcare costs while you're working or in approved activities like job training. Definitely ask about this when you apply.

Something else to consider - if you're facing eviction, contact your local legal aid society or tenant rights organization IMMEDIATELY. They often have emergency rental assistance programs that work faster than CalWORKs and can help negotiate with your landlord to prevent eviction while your CalWORKs application is being processed. In California, landlords are required to accept partial payments in many cases, and legal aid can help you understand your rights. Some counties also have rapid rehousing programs through their Continuum of Care that might be quicker than the CalWORKs process. Also, when you apply for CalWORKs, ask specifically about "expedited processing" - if you have less than $100 in resources and your monthly income is less than your rent, they're supposed to process your application within 3 days for emergency food assistance, which can free up money for rent. Don't wait - apply today if possible. Time is critical with eviction proceedings!

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago with my 4-year-old daughter. Here's what I learned that might help you move faster: 1. Apply online at BenefitsCal.com BUT also go to your county office in person the same day if possible. This creates dual pathways and sometimes the in-person application moves faster. 2. When you apply, specifically mention you're facing "imminent homelessness" - this is the exact language they use for priority processing. Don't just say "eviction" - say "imminent homelessness due to eviction." 3. Bring COPIES of everything, not originals. I wasted two trips because they needed to copy documents and their machine was broken. 4. Ask for the "HSP referral" immediately when you meet with your worker. Don't wait for them to bring it up - some workers don't automatically think of it. 5. Document EVERYTHING - take photos of all paperwork you submit, get receipt numbers, write down worker names and dates. This saved me when documents went "missing." The back rent situation is tricky - HSP can help with ongoing rent but you'll likely need to combine it with emergency assistance from local nonprofits for the $3700 you're behind. Search "[your county] emergency rental assistance" and apply to multiple programs simultaneously. You've got this! Having kids puts you in a higher priority category than most applicants.

I just want to add that timing is everything with eviction situations. While you're waiting for CalWORKs to process, call 2-1-1 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone) - they maintain a database of ALL local rental assistance programs in your county and can connect you immediately to emergency funds that might help with that $3700 back rent. Also, check if your county has a "Homeless Prevention Program" separate from CalWORKs. Los Angeles, San Diego, and several other counties have these programs specifically designed to prevent evictions and they often move much faster than CalWORKs processing times. One more thing - when you go to the CalWORKs office, ask to speak with their "Housing Liaison" or "Homeless Services Coordinator" if they have one. Not all counties have this position, but if yours does, they specialize in exactly your situation and can fast-track you through the system. Stay strong - with two kids and recent unemployment, you check all the boxes for priority assistance. The key is applying to multiple programs simultaneously rather than waiting for each one individually.

I'm in a similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I wanted to add something that helped me specifically with the document gathering - when you get your unemployment award letter, make sure it's the most recent one that shows your current benefit amount. I brought an old one from when I first applied and they needed the updated version showing my current weekly benefit. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, try calling right when they open (usually 8 AM). I've found the wait times are much shorter first thing in the morning compared to later in the day. One thing I learned the hard way - take a photo of every single document you submit, including any forms they have you fill out at the office. When my case worker changed, some of my paperwork got misplaced and having photos on my phone saved me from having to start over. Good luck with your application! The fact that you're being proactive about this while you still have time before the eviction is really smart. That alone puts you ahead of many people who wait until they're already on the street.

I work at a local legal aid office and wanted to jump in with some urgent advice since you mentioned having less than 30 days. First, in California, landlords must give you a 3-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment, then file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which gives you additional time to respond. Don't panic if you get court papers - you have 5 days to file a response. Here's what you should do TODAY: 1. Call your landlord immediately and ask if they'll accept a payment plan while you're waiting for assistance. Many will work with you if you're proactive. 2. Apply for CalWORKs online AND visit the office same day as others suggested. 3. Contact your county's emergency rental assistance program - many still have funding. 4. File for the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program if your county participates. For the CalWORKs application, when you mention "imminent homelessness," also mention you have minor children. This triggers additional protections and faster processing under federal McKinney-Vento Act requirements. Document everything with your landlord in writing (texts/emails count). California has strong tenant protections that can buy you time if you know how to use them. You're not powerless here - there are multiple safety nets designed exactly for your situation!