CalWORKs Housing Support Program

Sacramento County

Assisting Families Toward Self Sufficiency

2

OverviewEffective December 2014, the Housing Support Program (HSP) was implemented as a component of the CalWORKs program in Sacramento County.

Sacramento County received $1.3 million.

HSP is not in lieu of Homeless Assistance (HA)and can be used in conjunction with temporary HA.

HA does not have to be used prior to receiving HSP.

3

HSP Housing AssistanceHSP may be used to cover the following “verified” expenses from an eligible provider:

O Move in ExpensesO Rent including first and last and depositsO Utilities, including deposits and

arrearages if required to turn utilities on

O Rent SubsidiesO For up to eight months – decreases 20%

each month beginning with month five

4

Rent SubsidiesThe following chart indicates the percentage of the rent that may be paid by HSP for each month the family receives a rent subsidy.Month Rent Subsidy

1st /Move in month through 4th Month

100% of rent paid with HSP 

5th Month 80% 

6th Month 60% 

7th Month 40% 

8th Month 20% 

Subsequent months 0%  

5

How we receive referrals

O Walk insO Worker referralsO Referrals from SheltersO Weekly visit to Mary House/Loaves

and FishesO School districts

6

PartnersO Family Emergency Shelters

O Volunteers of America (VOA)O Next MoveO St. John’s Program for Real Change

O Monthly MeetingsO Sacramento Steps Forward (SSF)O Sacramento Housing and

Redevelopment Agency (SHRA)O City of Sacramento

7

Shared Housing

Shared housing may be considered for HSP housing if all rent contributors are identified on the lease or rental agreement.

8

Circumstances for HSP Denial

CW participants will not be eligible to receive HSP housing assistance when the CW family:

O No longer has a CW recipient.O Is not in an eligible residence situation.O Does not meet additional county

eligibility criteria.

9

Circumstances for HSP Denial Cont.

O Chooses not to participate with FS when eligible.

O Is denied/discontinued from FS services for noncooperation with the FS program.

O Does not want to participate with HSP SW.

O HSP funds are not available.

10

Circumstances for HSP Discontinuance

HSP participants will no longer receive HSP housing assistance when the CW family:

O Moves out of Sacramento County.O Whereabouts are unknown.O Completed the HSP program.O No longer has a CW recipient.O Is non-compliant with HSP requirements.O Is no longer eligible per county

requirements.

11

Overview of HSP SW DutiesO Interview the participant the same day referral is

received or within 24 hours.O Complete Housing Plan at every contact and review

progress at every contact.O Document all interviews, contacts, and progress in

the Case Plan and Case Comments.O Assist with Housing Search.O Verify all required expenses with vendorO Explain program to landlordO Be advocate for landlord and participant.O Adhere to participant contact requirements.O Authorize HSP payments to be issued by workerO Meet with participant throughout HSP assistanceO Participate in monthly staffing meeting.

12

Overview of Specialist Duties

O Review housing options with participant and complete Enrollment Form accordingly

O Issue payments within two days when HSP Payment Form received from SW

O Keep SW informed of changes in case status

O Update Case Comments

13

Overview of Supervisor Duties

O Authorize NSDI paymentsO Enter information from forms into

HSP Spreadsheet on flow basisO Assure all participants have been

updated in the spreadsheet every month until discontinued

O Submit spreadsheet on monthly basisO Participate in monthly staffing

meeting and weekly conference calls

14

Monthly Staffing Meeting

O Mandatory attendance for all HSP SW and their supervisors

O Held mid-month to allow for timely notification if adverse decision is made

O Staff all cases that are proposed to be discontinued (non-cooperative participants or those not moving forward with their Housing Plan)

O Identify resources that may be needed

15

ChallengesO Finding landlords who are willing to

participateO Finding affordable housingO Coordination of efforts with local

sheltersO Making initial and follow up contact

16

FormsO HSP Data Collection WorksheetO HSP Referral From ShelterO HSP Enrollment FormO HSP Data Collection Worksheet - HSP

SWO HSP Payments-Case Status

WorksheetO HSP Data Collection Worksheet –

WorkerO Housing Plan