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CalWORKs Housing Support Program and county rapid rehousing (housing help for CalWORKs families): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

The CalWORKs Housing Support Program pays rental assistance, deposits, utility payments, moving costs and motel stays, with housing navigation and case management, for CalWORKs families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Counties run it. Families ask their CalWORKs worker or the county HSP contact.

What CalWORKs Housing Support Program is, in one paragraph

The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) is a state-funded, county-run program for families in CalWORKs who are homeless or about to be (rule:what_it_is). It pays for rent, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs and motel stays, and gives housing navigation, case management, legal referrals and credit repair (rule:what_provided). It funds homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing and follows Housing First (rule:service_types, rule:housing_first). Counties run it through CalWORKs; 56 counties operated it in FY 2024-25 (rule:county_run).

UNKNOWN
dollar amount per family: each county sets its own; HSP pays rent, deposits, utilities, moving costs and motel stays (CDSS, rule:what_provided)

Who may qualify

Two facts decide it: the family receives CalWORKs and it is homeless or at risk of homelessness (rule:who_eligible).

  • Every kind of CalWORKs case can be served: welfare-to-work, exempt, child-only, safety net and family reunification (rule:all_calworks_families), and sanctioned cases, including long-term sanctions (rule:sanctioned_included).
  • A family does not need an eviction notice first (rule:who_eligible).
  • Counties should not add other criteria (rule:no_added_criteria), but CDSS recommends most money go to families already homeless (rule:priority_homeless).

There is no separate income test beyond CalWORKs; the CalWORKs income rules are on CalWORKs (California cash aid for families with children): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next.

How to apply, and what happens after

Ask the CalWORKs worker at the county welfare office, or the county HSP point of contact on CDSS's list (rule:apply_county).

StageWhat happensDeadlineWhat loses people the help
AskReferral to HSPAs soon as housing is at riskWaiting for a court case
AssessmentCounty or provider assessment; may link to Coordinated Entry (rule:coordinated_entry)Per countyMissed appointment
HelpPayments to landlord and utilities; navigator finds housingPer county planLosing contact with the navigator
HearingState hearing for a county CalWORKs action90 days from the notice (rule:hearing_90_days)Missing the 90 days
The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
11 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Family in CalWORKs learns HSP exists, including before an eviction notice"
"who_acts""Family / CalWORKs worker"
"timeline""As soon as housing is at risk"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Waiting for an eviction notice before asking"
"model_role""Name rule:who_eligible: no notice is needed"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Receiving CalWORKs (any case type, including sanctioned); homeless or at risk"
"who_acts""Model + family"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""CalWORKs status, housing status"
"failure_mode""Assuming a sanctioned or child-only case is excluded"
"model_role""State rule:all_calworks_families and rule:sanctioned_included"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Lease, notices, landlord contact, income, ID"
"who_acts""Family with model checklist"
"timeline""Before the referral"
"evidence""Lease, notices, ID"
"failure_mode""No proof of the housing crisis"
"model_role""Build the checklist"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"4
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Ask the CalWORKs worker or county HSP contact for a referral"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""Immediately"
"evidence""Referral record"
"failure_mode""Not asking"
"model_role""Draft the request"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"5
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""County or provider assessment; may go through Coordinated Entry"
"who_acts""County / provider + family"
"timeline""Per county"
"evidence""Assessment"
"failure_mode""Missed appointment"
"model_role""Prepare the family"
"automation_class""C - assessment is human"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"6
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""County decides the help and amount"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""Per county"
"evidence""County notice"
"failure_mode""Not knowing what was approved"
"model_role""Explain the decision"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"7
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Payments to landlords and utilities; housing navigation finds a unit"
"who_acts""Provider"
"timeline""Per county plan"
"evidence""Payment records, lease"
"failure_mode""Losing contact with the navigator"
"model_role""Track appointments"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"8
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Report changes to CalWORKs and the provider"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""As CalWORKs requires"
"evidence""Proof"
"failure_mode""Unreported changes"
"model_role""Remind the family"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"9
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""Ask for the reason; check Coordinated Entry and other programs"
"who_acts""Model + family"
"timeline""Immediately"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Stopping at a no"
"model_role""Route to rule:coordinated_entry and related programs"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"10
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""State hearing for a county CalWORKs action"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""90 days from the notice (rule:hearing_90_days)"
"evidence""Notice of action"
"failure_mode""Missing the 90 days"
"model_role""Draft the request; give the phone number"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"11
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Help ends when the family is stably housed or leaves CalWORKs"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""Per county"
"evidence""Notices"
"failure_mode""Losing CalWORKs ends HSP eligibility"
"model_role""Explain the link to CalWORKs"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

CalWORKs status, housing status and county are the facts HSP asks. The same facts open:

References (6)

Those connections are read from the California benefits graph, the object that holds all 80 programs, the life events that trigger them and the facts they share.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B040"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 6 items
"B021"
"B079"
"B042"
"B035"
"B001"
"B011"
"related_programs" 6 keys
"B021""CalWORKs (California TANF)"
"B079""Continuum of Care shelters + Coordinated Entry"
"B042""Legal aid: eviction defense & benefits advocacy"
"B035""Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"triggered_by_events" 1 item
"event:eviction_notice_received_3_day_30_day_unlawful_detainer"
"shares_facts_with" 2 keys
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"
"household.composition.members[]" 3 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B021"

Official addresses

  • Apply: your county welfare office (CalWORKs worker), or the county HSP point of contact listed on the CDSS page
  • The program, from the state: CDSS CalWORKs Housing Support Program
  • CDSS Housing and Homelessness Division: housing@dss.ca.gov, (916) 651-5155
  • State hearing: CDSS hearing requests, State Hearings Division (800) 743-8525
Related pages
Beside
CalWORKs (California cash aid for families with children): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextContinuum of Care shelters and Coordinated Entry (the front door to homeless housing in each county): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextLegal aid: eviction defense and benefits advocacy (free lawyers for tenants and people denied benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8) (rent help paid to a private landlord): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (16)
  1. CalWORKs Housing Support Program — California Department of Social Services“The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) was established in 2014 to foster housing stability for families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in the CalWORKs program.”
  2. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: what HSP offers — California Department of Social Services“HSP offers housing-related financial assistance – such as rental assistance, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, and hotel/motel vouchers – alongside wraparound supportive services, which may include housing navigation, case management, referrals for legal services, and credit repair.”
  3. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: participating counties — California Department of Social Services“As of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25, fifty-six (56) counties operate HSP and each program is tailored to meet the needs of the local community.”
  4. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: eligibility — California Department of Social Services“HSP assists families in the CalWORKs program that are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, including families receiving CalWORKs who have not yet received an eviction notice”
  5. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: priority — California Department of Social Services“CDSS recommends that counties use the majority of funds to support people experiencing homelessness.”
  6. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: how to apply — California Department of Social Services“The Housing Support Program is administered through CalWORKs at the county level. Contact your local county welfare office or the County Point of Contact to learn more.”
  7. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: contact — California Department of Social Services“(916) 651-5155”
  8. CalWORKs Housing Support Program: funding — California Department of Social Services“In addition to the $95 million HSP currently receives annually”
  9. Fact Sheet: CalWORKs Housing Support Program (April 2026) — California Department of Social Services“HSP follows the Housing First model”
  10. Fact Sheet: CalWORKs Housing Support Program (April 2026), coordination — California Department of Social Services“participate in the local homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) and Coordinated Entry System (CES) where it is locally available.”
  11. ACWDL 13 December 2021: HSP eligibility — California Department of Social Services“All CalWORKs recipient families are eligible to be served through HSP”
  12. ACWDL 13 December 2021: no added criteria — California Department of Social Services“programs should not create additional criteria for eligibility or exclude any population from being served.”
  13. ACWDL 13 December 2021: sanctioned cases — California Department of Social Services“This includes long-term sanctioned cases.”
  14. ACWDL 13 December 2021: service types — California Department of Social Services“HSP funding must be used to support projects that utilize evidence-based housing interventions, including homelessness prevention services and/or the core components of rapid rehousing.”
  15. State Hearings: request a hearing — California Department of Social Services“you have 90 days to request a state hearing. After 90 days, you must prove you had a good reason for asking late.”
  16. State Hearings: by phone — California Department of Social Services“Call the State Hearings Division toll free (800) 743-8525”