Low cost housing is still one of California's most urgent needs. Thankfully, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has several Housing Programs available that are specifically designed to help eligible individuals and families get out of homelessness and maintain current housing. These are programs offering financial assistance, but also case management, to ensure our most vulnerable have the means to obtain safe and affordable housing.
1. HSP of CalWORKs
The HSP of CalWORKs is one of the most robust and dynamic housing programs available to needy families in California. Tailored for CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) aid recipients, HSP helps fund move-in fees, moving costs and rental subsidies for families in order to help them obtain permanent housing. In addition to emergency financial assistance, the program includes case management services to help participants with housing applications and finding landlords, as well as to help them organize long-term stability plans. What makes HSP different is that it is a comprehensive solution, instead of providing a temporary fix, the program is designed to make sure that a family does not cycle back into homelessness. HSP's success stabilizing CalWORKs families and reducing homelessness is owed to its combined approach to immediate housing and long-term self-sufficiency.
2. CalWORKs Homeless Assistance
A related important program is the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) program that offers immediate aid to eligible homeless families. The program consists of two major parts, temporary shelter assistance and permanent housing assistance. Unlike some housing programs that have cumbersome application processes, HA is meant to provide immediate help, so families don't languish for months or years before receiving help. This timeliness makes it an important tool to prevent families from experiencing long-term homelessness.
3. Housing and Disability Advocacy Program
For those who have disabilities and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, HDAP (Housing and Disability Advocacy Program) provides such specialized assistance. There is no question that disability complicates finding a place to live even more; many contend with other barriers such as poverty, physical limitations to access, and struggle with policies and procedures. HDAP responds to these needs by blending housing support with disability advocacy. Participants get assistance finding housing and with rental subsidies and move-in costs, and can also access disability benefits advocacy. Caseworkers help consumers apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), resources that can offer long-term financial security. Through combining housing assistance with a generation of disability activism, HDAP enables people to both find housing and achieve independence by creating sources of income that are viable.
Though the programs serve different populations, they have a shared mission, to break the cycle of homelessness by offering more than temporary shelter. One of the things California's problem solving affordable housing programs do well is wraparound services. Money is often not enough to keep someone stably housed long-term, which is why programs such as HSP and HDAP include case management, benefits advocacy and other community resources. This holistic approach improves the chances of participants maintaining housing and becoming more independent in the long term.
Despite their success, the major difficulty for these programs is access to funding. The demand for housing with support is much greater than the supply, so there are waiting lists and the harsh reality of needing to prioritize. Advocates are calling for more state and federal funding to expand these programs and keep more families and individuals from falling into poverty. On top of that, there is a need to do outreach to continue to let people know about these benefits, because a lot of them don't even know they're eligible.
For low-income Californians who are at the precipice of housing instability, these programs are a lifeline. The state's subsidized housing programs provide paths to stability that extend far beyond simply offering a roof over the head, including emergency shelter and eviction prevention, or a permanent source of rental assistance tailored to people with disabilities. By continuing to invest in and improve these programs, California can get closer to guaranteeing every resident has a safe, affordable, and permanent place to live.
