Got 3-day eviction notice - can CalWORKs Homeless Assistance help with emergency rent?

Yes! You need to apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance ASAP! They can help with emergency rent when you have an eviction notice. You qualify for both temporary and permanent homeless assistance since you already get Cash Aid. For the temporary assistance, they can pay up to 16 days of motel costs if you end up getting evicted. For permanent assistance, they can help with last month's rent, security deposits, and up to two months of rent arrears in some cases. Bring your 3-day notice, your lease agreement, and a statement from your landlord about how much you owe. Don't wait - go to your county office tomorrow morning when they open!

I went thru this last year when i got laid off. the calworks homeless assistance saved us but u gotta act FAST. one thing nobdy tells u is u can only get the permanent homeless assistance ONCE in a lifetime unless u have an exemption. so make sure this is when u really need it. also bring proof of eviction and all ur income stuff. they wanted bank statements from me too

The Homeless Assistance program is honestly a joke. I applied when I got evicted and they took so long to process everything that I ended up living in my car with my kids for a week. Then they only paid for 7 days at a disgusting motel full of drug addicts. And they make you look for permanent housing EVERY DAY and document it. You better have transportation because they don't care how you get around to look at apartments. The system is designed to make you fail.

hey my sister went thru this same thing!! calworks can def help but u need to call RIGHT NOW cuz theres a waiting period sometimes. they helped her with like $1800 for back rent but she had to agree to a repayment plan with calworks for part of it. better than being homeless tho

I tried calling my county office all day yesterday after getting an eviction warning and couldn't get through at all - just kept getting disconnected after 45+ minutes on hold. Finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got a callback from a worker in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. The worker put in my emergency homeless assistance application over the phone and I didn't have to wait in the office all day. With a 3-day notice you really can't afford to waste time trying to get through on the regular line.

The permanent homeless assistance can cover rent arrears to stop an eviction, but there are some important things to know: 1. You must have a 3-day notice or eviction notice (which you have) 2. You need to prove the rent amount is within the program's maximum 3. Your landlord has to agree to accept the payment and stop eviction 4. There's a once-in-a-lifetime limit except in certain situations 5. They can provide up to 2 months of back rent in most counties The good news is they usually process these quickly because it's an emergency situation. Make sure you tell them specifically you need the "Permanent Homeless Assistance for rent arrears" to prevent eviction. Some workers will automatically think you're requesting temporary HA (motel vouchers) if you just say you need homeless assistance.

I'm a benefit counselor and work with CalWORKs families. Here's what you need to know specifically for your situation: 1. Call or go in person to your county office IMMEDIATELY - same day is crucial with a 3-day notice 2. Ask specifically for the "Emergency Permanent Homeless Assistance for rent arrears" 3. They can pay up to 80% of your total monthly rent in arrears (some counties cover more) 4. Yes, they pay your landlord directly, not you 5. Bring: the 3-day notice, your lease, ID, any income verification, and landlord contact info 6. Get a written statement from your landlord confirming they'll stop eviction if they receive payment Emergency HA applications are typically processed within 1-3 business days. If approved, payment can be issued within 3-7 days. Given your tight timeline, ask them to expedite due to the imminent eviction. They have procedures for rushing these payments.

did u try calling 211?? they have other rental assistance programs besides just calworks. when i almost got evicted i got help from some covid rent relief program that was separate from calworks HA. that way u dont use up ur once in a lifetime HA if u can get other help

UPDATE: I just got back from the CalWORKs office and submitted my emergency homeless assistance application! The worker said they should process it within 3 business days and will pay my landlord directly if approved. I had to sign an agreement that this is my once-in-a-lifetime permanent assistance unless I qualify for an exception in the future. My landlord agreed to hold off on the eviction since I showed them the intake receipt from the county. So relieved but still nervous until it's actually paid. Thank you all for your help - I had no idea this program existed!

So glad you got the application submitted! That's such a relief. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and the whole process was terrifying. One thing I wish someone had told me - keep checking in with your caseworker every day until you get confirmation the payment was sent. In my case, there was some paperwork issue that delayed it by 2 days and I only found out because I kept calling. Also, if you haven't already, ask about the CalFresh Emergency Allotment since you might qualify for extra food assistance during this crisis. The stress of almost losing your home is so overwhelming, especially with kids. You did the right thing acting fast!