How long does CalWORKs Moving Assistance actually take? Urgent housing situation

I used CalWORKs moving assistance back in January when my previous apt got condemned! It's technically called "Permanent Housing Assistance" under the Homeless Assistance program. In my case, they covered security deposit AND first month's rent, but you have to find the place yourself first. The timeline... well that's the tricky part. Took me about 3 weeks from application to getting the payment, but my worker was really good. Just know they won't give you the money directly - they write the check to your new landlord. Make sure you get the HA-PERM form filled out ASAP and call every day to check on status. I had to submit a bunch of verification (lease agreement, proof my old place wasn't habitable, etc).

Yikes I had a HORRIBLE experience with this last year. Applied for CalWORKs Moving Assistance and they kept saying my paperwork was incomplete. First it was the eviction notice wasn't "official enough" (even though it was literally court stamped), then they said I needed more pay stubs, then they claimed I never turned in my WTW plan?? By the time they approved me, I had already borrowed money from family and moved. THEN they tried to tell me they couldn't help retroactively! I had to file for a hearing to get reimbursed. The whole system is designed to make you give up. Don't listen when they say "we can't help" - ask for a supervisor immediately and document EVERYTHING.

they can help wit security deposit AND first months rent but u gotta be already approved for calworks not just applied. my friend got it in like 5 days but that was cuz she knew someone who worked there lol. u might wanna look into calworks temporary homeless assistance too they can put u in a motel while u wait for permanent help

Had a similar situation last year. The key is getting through to an actual housing specialist at your county office, not just any eligibility worker. Regular workers often don't understand how the Permanent Housing Assistance program works. Have you tried calling your county CalWORKs office directly? I spent days trying to get through on the general line with no luck. Finally I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to a live person at the county in about 10 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I got through to the homeless assistance specialist, things moved pretty quickly. They can expedite in emergency situations, especially with a formal eviction notice. My permanent housing assistance was approved in about 8 business days.

Everyone's experience is different tbh. Mine took 12 days from submitting all the paperwork to getting approval, but I had already been on CalWORKs for 6 months. If you're just applying now, you might face delays. Here's what helped me speed things up: 1. Get your WTW plan filed right away (they won't approve housing help without it) 2. Make sure you have ALL verification documents ready (birth certificates, IDs, income proof, bank statements) 3. Get a written statement from your landlord about the 30-day notice 4. If you find a potential new place, get the landlord to fill out their portion of the form immediately The biggest delay is usually finding a landlord willing to wait for county payment. Many won't hold a place without money upfront.

@OP - one more thing I forgot to mention! If you're just now applying for CalWORKs and haven't been approved yet, ask for "immediate need" payment. They can give you emergency Cash Aid within 3 days if you qualify. It won't be the full amount but might help with some moving costs while the permanent housing assistance is processing. Immediate need is separate from homeless assistance.

Just be prepared for them to lose your paperwork at least twice. I submitted my HA-PERM form THREE TIMES and they kept saying they never got it. Finally I took pictures of myself handing it to the worker and magically it didn't get "lost" again. The system is a joke.

I work with families in similar situations and here's what you need to know: CalWORKs Permanent Housing Assistance can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to process depending on your county and how complete your application is. You mentioned you just applied for CalWORKs. Ideally, they should process both simultaneously, but sometimes they want to establish basic eligibility first. Ask specifically for your application to be marked "homeless" or "at risk of homelessness" which should prioritize it. The program can provide: - Security deposit (usually up to 2 months of rent) - First month's rent - Utility deposits in some cases As others mentioned, request Temporary Homeless Assistance while waiting. This is critical! It can provide motel vouchers for up to 16 days. For fastest response, I recommend bringing all these documents together: - ID for all family members - 30-day notice or eviction notice - Income verification for all household members - Bank statements - If you've found a potential new rental, bring the rental agreement Be extremely persistent. This is not a time to worry about being polite - call daily if needed.

Just wanted to add - if your county has a homeless services coordinator, try to connect with them directly. In my county (Sacramento), there's a specific person who handles expedited CalWORKs housing cases and they can sometimes get emergency approvals in 24-48 hours if you have all your paperwork ready. Also, while you're waiting, check if your area has any emergency rental assistance programs through local nonprofits or churches. Some can provide bridge funding while CalWORKs processes. The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities often have emergency housing funds that can help immediately. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but the help is there if you keep pushing. Your kids need stability and you're doing the right thing by fighting for it.

Hey @Andre Dupont, I'm in a similar situation right now actually! Just got my CalWORKs approval last month and had to use the moving assistance when my roommate bailed and left me scrambling. Few things that really helped me: 1. Don't wait for them to call you back - show up in person if you can. I wasted a whole week playing phone tag. 2. Ask specifically for the "HA-PERM" form (Permanent Housing Assistance form) and the "HA-TEMP" form (Temporary Homeless Assistance). My worker didn't even mention the temporary one until I asked directly. 3. When you find a potential place, some landlords will work with you if you explain the situation. I found one who was willing to hold the unit for 10 days while CalWORKs processed everything. 4. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. I learned that the hard way when they claimed they never got my rental agreement. The stress is real when you've got kids depending on you. Mine took about 2 weeks total but I had to stay on top of them constantly. You got this - just be your own advocate and don't let them brush you off. Your kids deserve stable housing and this program exists for exactly your situation. Good luck and keep us updated!

@Andre Dupont - I went through this exact situation 6 months ago with my 3 kids when we got evicted. Here's what saved us: First, ask your worker about "expedited processing" for your CalWORKs application since you have minor children and are facing homelessness. They can fast-track it in 3-5 days instead of the usual 30. Second, while everyone's mentioning the HA-PERM form, PLEASE also ask for HA-TEMP (temporary homeless assistance) RIGHT NOW. Don't wait. This can get you motel vouchers within 48 hours while the permanent housing processes. I stayed in a motel for 12 days with my kids while waiting. Third, for landlords - I printed out the official CalWORKs Permanent Housing Assistance flyer from the county website to show them it was a real program. Most had never heard of it. I also offered to have them call my worker directly to verify. The whole thing took me 16 days from application to moving into our new place, but the temporary assistance kept us from sleeping in the car. Don't let them tell you that you have to wait for full CalWORKs approval first - emergency housing assistance can be processed simultaneously. You've got this. Your kids are lucky to have a parent fighting this hard for them.

@Andre Dupont - I just want to say hang in there! Reading your situation really hits close to home because I went through something similar about 8 months ago. The stress of potentially being homeless with kids is absolutely overwhelming, but there IS help available. From what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you have multiple options to pursue immediately: 1. Go in person tomorrow (don't just call) and ask for BOTH HA-TEMP and HA-PERM applications 2. Request expedited processing since you have children and are facing homelessness 3. Ask specifically about immediate need payments while everything processes 4. Make sure they mark your case as "at risk of homelessness" for priority processing The fact that you're being proactive and seeking help shows you're doing everything right as a parent. Don't let the system discourage you - keep pushing and advocating for your family. One thing I learned is that different workers have different levels of knowledge about these programs, so if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful, politely ask to speak with a homeless services specialist or supervisor. Rooting for you and your kids! Please keep us updated on how it goes tomorrow.

Hey @Andre Dupont, I'm a single mom who just went through this process 2 months ago in LA County. I know how terrifying it is when you're facing homelessness with kids - the panic is real. Here's what I wish someone had told me: CalWORKs has what's called a "housing crisis" designation that can speed things up significantly. When you go in tomorrow, use those exact words - "housing crisis" - not just "need help with rent." This puts you in a different processing queue. Also, bring a written timeline with you showing your 30-day notice date and when you'll be forced to leave. Visual documentation helps workers understand the urgency. I made a simple one-page sheet with dates and it seemed to click for my worker in a way that just talking didn't. One more tip: if your county has a CalWORKs mobile unit or satellite office, try there instead of the main office. I found the workers at smaller locations were less overwhelmed and could spend more time explaining the programs. The system is frustrating but the help is there. Your kids are going to be okay because you're fighting for them. Keep pushing - you've got an entire community here rooting for your family.

@Andre Dupont - I'm a caseworker who specializes in homeless assistance programs, and I wanted to jump in with some clarification on the timeline and process since I'm seeing some mixed information here. The good news is that CalWORKs Permanent Housing Assistance (HA-PERM) CAN be processed simultaneously with your initial CalWORKs application when you're facing imminent homelessness. You don't need to wait for full approval first - that's a common misconception. Here's the realistic timeline for emergency situations: - HA-TEMP (motel vouchers): 24-72 hours if all docs are complete - HA-PERM (security deposit + first month): 7-14 business days on average - Expedited CalWORKs processing: 3-5 days for families with children facing homelessness When you go in tomorrow, specifically request to speak with a "Housing Services Specialist" or ask for the "Homeless Assistance Unit." Regular eligibility workers often aren't fully trained on these emergency programs. Bring: 30-day notice, IDs for everyone, any income documentation you have, and bank statements from the last 30 days. Even if everything isn't perfect, they can start processing with what you have. The program covers security deposit (up to 2x monthly rent) AND first month's rent. Payment goes directly to landlord, never to you. Don't give up - the system works when you know how to navigate it. Your situation is exactly what these programs were designed for.

@Andre Dupont - I went through this exact situation 3 months ago with my twin boys when we got a sudden eviction notice. The panic is absolutely real, but there IS light at the end of the tunnel. Here's what I learned that might help you right now: 1. **Today/Tonight**: Start calling local churches, Salvation Army, and United Way. Many have emergency rent assistance that can bridge you while CalWORKs processes. Some can approve help in 24-48 hours. 2. **Tomorrow**: Bring a folder with everything organized (30-day notice, IDs, bank statements, ANY income proof) and ask to speak with the "Homeless Prevention Specialist" - not just any worker. Tell them you need BOTH HA-TEMP and HA-PERM applications. 3. **Landlord hunting**: Look for smaller property management companies or individual landlords rather than big complexes. I found success posting in local Facebook housing groups explaining my situation - got 3 responses from landlords familiar with CalWORKs. 4. **Documentation**: Take photos of EVERYTHING you submit and get receipt stamps. I learned this the hard way when they "lost" my paperwork twice. The whole process took me 18 days from start to finish, but the temporary assistance kept us in a motel for 10 days while everything processed. Don't let anyone tell you it's "impossible" - I've seen it work for dozens of families in our situation. Your kids are lucky to have someone fighting this hard for them. Keep pushing - this community has your back!

@Andre Dupont - I'm a housing advocate who works with families in crisis situations like yours, and I want to add a few urgent action steps that can help you TODAY while you prepare for tomorrow's county visit: **TONIGHT:** 1. Call 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they have a database of emergency rental assistance programs in your area that can provide immediate help 2. Contact your local Community Action Agency - many have same-day emergency funds for families facing eviction 3. Reach out to local food banks - they often know about housing resources and some have emergency assistance programs **DOCUMENTATION TIP:** When you go tomorrow, bring a simple one-page "Housing Crisis Summary" with your name, case number (if you have one), eviction date, and number of children. This helps workers quickly understand your situation and prioritize your case. **IMPORTANT:** Ask specifically for the "CalWORKs Housing and Homelessness Prevention Services" - this is the official program name and using it shows you know what you're talking about. Some workers respond better when you use the exact terminology. Also, if your first worker seems unhelpful or unfamiliar with housing programs, politely say "I'd like to speak with someone who specializes in homeless prevention services." Don't feel bad about advocating for yourself - your kids need you to be persistent. The stress you're feeling is completely normal. You're not alone in this fight, and the fact that you're researching and preparing shows you're doing everything right as a parent. Keep us posted on how tomorrow goes!

@Andre Dupont - I'm a parent who went through CalWORKs housing assistance last year, and I want to add one more crucial tip that saved me: if you have ANY disability documentation for yourself or your kids (ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, anything), bring those too. Families with disabilities get priority processing and additional protections. Even if it seems minor, it can bump you up in the queue. Also, I see everyone mentioning calling 211 - definitely do that, but also try calling your county's Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services non-emergency line. I know it sounds scary, but they have emergency housing funds specifically for families at risk and can sometimes approve help within hours. They're not there to take your kids - they want to help keep families together and housed. One last thing: start documenting your housing search efforts now. Keep a list of places you've applied to and been rejected from. This shows the county you're actively trying to find housing and aren't just waiting for a handout. It can speed up approval. The system is overwhelming but you're doing great by asking for help and being proactive. Your kids will remember that their parent fought for them when things got tough. That's what matters most.

@Andre Dupont - I'm a former CalWORKs recipient who successfully used the housing assistance program when I was in a similar crisis with my daughter. Reading your story brings back all those feelings of panic and desperation, but I want you to know there's real hope here. From everything shared in this thread, you now have a solid action plan. What struck me most is how this community has given you more useful information in one day than the system provided in a week. That's unfortunately typical, but it shows you're not alone in this fight. A few final thoughts from my experience: **Tonight:** Make those 211 and emergency assistance calls everyone mentioned. Even if you only get one small bridge fund, it buys you breathing room. **Tomorrow:** Go in with confidence. You're not begging - you're accessing programs designed for exactly your situation. Bring that folder, use the official terminology everyone provided, and don't leave without speaking to a housing specialist. **Mindset shift:** You're not failing your kids by needing help. You're being a responsible parent by fighting through a broken system to get them stability. That takes incredible strength. The 7-18 day timeline from the experts here is realistic. Your 30-day notice gives you enough runway if you start everything tomorrow. And with temporary assistance available, you have backup plans. One thing that helped me was writing down a simple mantra: "This is temporary, help exists, and my kids deserve stability." Repeat that when the anxiety gets overwhelming. You've got this. Your kids are lucky to have someone who researches, plans, and advocates this hard for them. Keep us posted - we're all rooting for your family!

@Andre Dupont - I'm a single parent who went through CalWORKs housing assistance about 4 months ago when my landlord suddenly sold our building. I know exactly how terrifying and overwhelming this feels, especially with kids depending on you. Reading through all the amazing advice everyone's shared here, you really do have a comprehensive action plan now. I wanted to add one more thing that helped me specifically - when I went to the county office, I brought a simple letter I wrote explaining my situation in my own words along with all the official documents. Sometimes the personal story helps workers understand the urgency better than just forms and paperwork. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems unsure about the housing programs. I had to politely ask for a supervisor twice before I found someone who really knew the system. It's not personal - some workers just handle different types of cases and aren't familiar with housing assistance. The fact that you found this community and spent time researching and preparing shows you're already doing everything right as a parent. Your kids are going to remember that when things got scary, their parent fought hard to keep them safe and housed. I'm rooting for you and your family! The help is out there, and you now have the knowledge to access it. Please keep us all updated on how tomorrow goes - we're here for you.

@Andre Dupont - I'm a CalWORKs recipient who just went through the housing assistance process 6 weeks ago with my two kids after we lost our apartment due to a rent increase we couldn't afford. I can't believe how much incredibly helpful information this community has shared with you! I want to add one more resource that literally saved us - if your county has a "Family Resource Center" or "One Stop Family Service Center," try going there instead of or in addition to the main CalWORKs office. These centers are specifically designed for families in crisis and the staff there are usually cross-trained on ALL the emergency programs, not just basic CalWORKs eligibility. I found one through a Google search and they handled my entire housing assistance application in one visit. Also, when you're talking to landlords, emphasize that CalWORKs payments are guaranteed government funding - it's actually MORE reliable than a typical tenant's personal check. I had success saying "This is a state-guaranteed payment program for families transitioning to stable housing." It sounds more professional than just saying you need welfare help. One last thing - if you qualify for WIC or food stamps, mention that too when applying for housing assistance. It shows you're actively working with multiple support programs and can help establish your credibility as someone who follows through on requirements. You've got an amazing support network here and a solid plan. Your kids are going to be just fine because you're willing to fight this hard for them. Sending you strength for tomorrow - you've totally got this!