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!

I'm so happy to hear you got your application submitted! That must have been such a huge relief after the panic of getting that 3-day notice. I wanted to add one more tip that really helped me when I was in a similar situation - ask your caseworker if they can put a "rush" or "emergency" flag on your case. Some counties have special procedures for imminent evictions that can get payments processed even faster than the standard 3 business days. Also, if for any reason there's a delay with the payment, don't panic - you can ask CalWORKs for a letter stating that payment has been approved and is being processed. Many landlords will accept this as proof and hold off on the eviction filing. You're doing everything right by staying on top of it. Sending positive thoughts that everything works out smoothly for you and your kids!

I'm a single mom who went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance literally saved my family from living in our car. A few things that really helped me that I don't see mentioned yet: 1. If you have any documentation of your job loss (termination letter, unemployment claim, etc.), bring that too - it helps show why you got behind on rent 2. Ask specifically if your county has weekend or after-hours emergency processing for eviction cases - some do! 3. Get your landlord's W-9 tax form if possible - sometimes the county needs it to cut the check 4. Take photos of your 3-day notice and keep copies of everything you submit The waiting is the hardest part, but you did everything right by acting immediately. Most counties really do prioritize these emergency cases because they know how quickly families can become homeless. Praying it all works out for you and your babies! ❤️

I work at a county CalWORKs office and wanted to add some insider tips that might help speed up your case: 1. Call Monday morning at exactly 8 AM when the phones open - you'll have the best chance of getting through quickly 2. When you call, say "EMERGENCY HOMELESS ASSISTANCE FOR EVICTION" right away - this gets you to the right department faster 3. Ask if they can email the approval letter to your landlord directly - some counties can do this to save time 4. If your regular worker isn't available, ask to speak with the Emergency Housing Unit supervisor Also, since you mentioned losing your part-time job, make sure to ask about the Cal-Learn program if you're interested in going back to school. It provides additional support for education and childcare while you're on CalWORKs. Having that job loss actually might qualify you for some additional supportive services. You're being so proactive and that's exactly what you need to do in this situation. Most emergency HA cases get approved when families have proper documentation like you do. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I'm so glad to see this thread - it's such a perfect example of how this community comes together to help each other navigate these scary situations! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a few years now, I've learned that the Homeless Assistance program is one of the best-kept secrets in the system. Most caseworkers don't proactively tell you about it unless you're already homeless, which is backwards since it's designed to PREVENT homelessness. A few additional tips for anyone else facing eviction: - If you're denied for any reason, ask about the appeal process immediately - you have 90 days to appeal - Some counties have partnerships with legal aid organizations that can help negotiate with landlords - Keep a log of every phone call, visit, and interaction with your caseworker - documentation is key @Ava Rodriguez you handled this crisis exactly right by reaching out here and acting fast. This thread should be bookmarked by everyone because housing instability affects way too many CalWORKs families. Hoping everything works out perfectly for you and your kids! 💪

Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I'm a new CalWORKs recipient and had no idea about the Homeless Assistance program until seeing this thread. It's concerning that this crucial information isn't being shared proactively during the application process. For anyone else who might be in a similar situation in the future, I found this thread incredibly helpful in understanding: - The difference between temporary and permanent homeless assistance - The once-in-a-lifetime limitation (which is really important to know!) - The specific documents needed and timeline for emergency processing - Alternative resources like 211 and legal aid partnerships @Ava Rodriguez - I hope your payment processes smoothly! You've been such a great advocate for yourself and your kids by acting quickly and getting all the right documentation together. Please keep us updated on how everything turns out. This community is amazing - the level of detailed, practical advice from people with real experience is invaluable. I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference and sharing it with other families I know who might benefit from this information. Thank you to everyone who took time to share their knowledge and experiences! 🙏