Housing Support Program (HSP)

The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) is a program to help families that are eligible for CalWORKs to achieve stability and safety by ending homelessness. There are three levels of potential eligible participants:

Level 1: CalWORKs families where one Participant is enrolled in Welfare-to-Work activities and able to pursue employment.

Level 2: CalWORKs families where a child(ren) is receiving cash assistance but the parents are not.

Level 3: CalWORKs families where at least one adult participant is unable to work due to permanent disability and whose income is unlikely to increase.

HSP components include housing barrier assessments, housing identification and placement assistance, landlord recruitment and engagement, rent and moving assistance, housing-related focused case management and additional services based on individual participant needs. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for eligible participants.

What is the process?

Apply for CalWORKs

Applications for CalWORKs can be done at any social service office or online at BenefitsCal. Applicants will be asked to provide proof of all income and property as well as proof of citizenship and social security number.

Interview for CalWORKs

All applicants are required to have a face-to-face interview prior to approval of their CalWORKs application. At this appointment, all applicant adults will be fingerprinted. At this interview, an applicant’s case manager will assess what exact verifications they will need to approve the case and will inform the applicant of these necessary verifications in written documentation with a due date.

Notification of CalWORKs

If an applicant provides all needed verifications and meets the eligibility qualifications, they will be approved for a monthly cash aid amount. If the applicant does not submit required verifications or meet the eligibility qualifications, their case will be denied. Applicants who have been denied can re-apply at any time.

Applying for CalWORKs Housing Support Program

All CalWORKs applicants and/or recipients can apply for the Housing Support Program during their application for CalWORKs or once approved by requesting to complete an HSP application. Their worker will determine if their housing situation meets HSP’s definition of homelessness and if they meet residency requirements. If they meet these criteria, their HSP program will be referred to the appropriate HSP worker for further assessment and case management.

Who is eligible?

Only eligible CalWORKs families may use this service.

To be eligible to CalWORKs, families must be under the state's income and property guidelines and include a child who has a parent that is either deceased, absent from the home, disabled or unemployed.

Additionally, only families that qualify as homeless and are 12-month residents of San Luis Obispo County are eligible.

When and where is this service offered?

CalWORKs can be applied for online at BenefitsCal anytime or in person at the Social Services offices near you. HSP can be requested when the CalWORKs application is made. Offices are open Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Closed on county-observed holidays).