Homeless Assistance for Families
Families experiencing homelessness can self-register for emergency shelter services: call 211 – press 8
You can access the site through a personal device, or at one of the DHA resource centers, located around the county.
Families will be prioritized for shelter based on vulnerabilities, including the experience of homelessness, and shelter vacancy. No family will be denied shelter services due to household configuration, eligibility for aid, employment or criminal history (exept registered sex offenders). Each family will be contacted within three (3) business days of completing the self-registration process and will be offered interim case management until shelter is available. Families who are housed and registered for emergency shelter will be contacted and referred for diversion assistance with the goal of keeping them safely housed in their current living arrangement so homelessness is avoided. Shelters will offer onsite kennels for families that include pets.
On-site computer services and resources to register for shelter services are available at the following DHA locations:
Central:2700 Fulton Avenue Sacramento, CA 95821
North:5747 Watt Avenue North Highlands, CA 95660
or 3960 Research Drive Sacramento, CA 95838
South: 2450 Florin Road Sacramento, CA 95822
or 210 North Lincoln Way Galt, CA 95632
If your family is homeless, or has received a notice to pay or quit, the Department of Human Assistance (DHA) can give you money for temporary shelter and to help with move-in costs to a permanent home. See the section DHA for office locations.
The money is in addition to your CalWORKs cash aid and does not have to be paid back.To apply you must be homeless or have received a notice to pay or quit: be eligible for CalWORKs and have less than $100. You may be asked to prove that you are homeless, but money cannot be denied or delayed if you do not have proof.
It is against the law for any government agency to take children away from parents for being homeless unless there is evidence of abuse or neglect. Homelessness by itself is not child abuse or neglect.
1. Temporary Shelter Money
You can get money for up to 16 days to stay in a hotel or shelter if they charge rent. You cannot use this money to pay to stay with a friend. You will get $85 to $145 per day to pay for shelter, depending on your family size. If you find some place for less money than they give you, you can keep the extra money.
Show receipts to prove that you have paid something for shelter. (If you cannot show receipts, you can still get homeless aid money but it will be paid directly to the hotel or shelter). You will also have to fill out a form showing that you have looked for a permanent place to live for each day that you received the shelter.
If eligible, DHA should help you the same day you apply, either by giving you a referral to a specific shelter with room for you or by giving you cash that day. If they refer you to a shelter, they must give you temporary shelter money by the next day.
Even if you decide not to go to the shelter ask for money for as many nights as needed during a single 16-day period. (For example, you cannot get a week now and another week two months from now.) If you needed but did not get all 16 days of temporary homeless assistance, ask for a hearing to collect it retroactively. After the 16 days are over, make sure to provide your worker with a mailing address (even if only temporary) within 10 days.
2. Money for Permanent Housing
You can also get money to cover the actual cost of security deposits, “last month’s rent” deposit, and gas, electricity, and water deposits. The DHA will not pay for the first month’s rent, or old overdue utility bills because you must pay that from your CalWORKs cash aid.
You must rent from a commercial landlord to get this money. DHA will not pay unless you find a place where your share of the monthly rent is less than 80% of the monthly family income.
If you plan to share your housing, the landlord must agree to the rent-share plan. DHA will question the housing unless your name is on the lease.
If you are a CalWORKs participant now you must get this permanent housing assistance within one working day of showing that you have found a place. If you are not yet receiving CalWORKs benefits, you must first bring in the documents you need to prove you are eligible for CalWORKs, and proof that you have found a place (like a note from the landlord or a proposed rental agreement).
When you pay your landlord, get a receipt to give to your worker within 30 days. If you later move, the landlord and/ or the utility companies should return the security deposits to you, not to the County, to use at your next residence.
You can also get Permanent Housing Assistance to receive up to 2 months of back rent to prevent eviction. Each month of this back rent cannot be more than 80% of the family income. Call Legal Services for details (see pg 76) or call 211.
Sacramento County also has the Housing Support Program that can help homeless families. The rules for this program are different than the homeless assistance program. Ask the DHA about this program if you are homeless.