Housing and Homelessness

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Housing Support Program (HSP)

This visualization shows the trends in HSP requests/referrals. The HSP launched in state fiscal year (FY) 2014-15. Requests/Referrals grew in FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 after an increase in funding and the number of grantees for the program more than doubled. Usage of the HSP declined during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (FY 2020-21), but had rebounded to surpass pre-COVID 19 levels.

The table shows the HSP allocation and number of families that obtained permanent housing for all HSP counties in the selected fiscal year.

Homelessness is a pervasive, multifaceted problem that is a barrier to self-sufficiency. It affects the health and economic opportunities of families throughout the nation.  Research shows housing instability and homelessness contribute to children experiencing higher rates of mental, emotional, and behavioral impairments and interferes with learning and the ability to develop social relationships. The CalWORKs HA program serves eligible CalWORKs participants, or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with immediate homeless assistance.  

Usage of temporary HA and permanent HA declined sharply during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (FY 2020-21), detailed in the 2023 CalWORKs Annual Summary Report. As the impact of the pandemic lessened, many COVID-19-related resources and policies, including the eviction moratorium, ended and as such, the data shows that the need for services has rebounded to surpass pre-COVID-19 proportions.

The two visualizations display CalWORKs Homeless Assistance average cost of temporary nightly shelter for families of four or fewer and families of more than four. The data can be sorted by county through a drop-down menu.

To better understand the actual cost of nightly shelter for families eligible for the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program (HA), per WIC section 11450(i), in late 2023, CDSS surveyed counties on the average cost of nightly shelter for an eligible family with at most four members and the average cost of nightly shelter for an eligible family with more than four members for the past fiscal year. Thirty-three of the fifty-eight counties responded. 

The results are presented in the charts above. 

Average Nightly Cost

According to the results, the most frequently cited average actual cost for an eligible family of at most four members is between $101 and $125, while the most frequently cited average actual cost of temporary nightly shelter for an eligible family of more than four members was between $125 to $150 or greater. According to the respondents, the true costs may be much higher since larger families may require more than two rooms.

Shelter Type 

Eleven of the 33 counties (33%) that responded to the survey reported motel/hotel was the only temporary shelter type used by eligible families in receipt of HA. All other counties reported eligible families they serve use more than one type of shelter in addition to hotels/motels for temporary shelter. These included shared housing, emergency shelter, and “other” types, which included temporary transitional shelters, and campgrounds. The distribution of types of shelter eligible families use is shown in the bar graph “Shelter Type.”

Counties that reported costs at or lower than the maximum amount ($85 for families of four or under and $145 for families of five or greater), indicated eligible families utilized short term shared housing agreements, emergency shelters and other types of shelter, including campgrounds. Ten counties reported that the current allowable amounts were not sufficient to house families in their communities.

When comparing shelter costs for families up to four people to fair market rent (FMR) for a one-bedroom apartment in the same county, there was wide variation between housing costs and nightly shelter costs. The most expensive housing markets were not always in the counties that reported the highest nightly shelter costs, suggesting that other factors like the type of temporary shelter used and hotel/motel supply might be affecting nightly shelter costs. 

This bar chart displays the best practices for transitioning families from temporary to permanent housing. The charts are categorized by HSP Coordination, Case Management, Continuum of Care, Other, Landlord Engagement and Community Partners.

To better understand best practices for transitioning families from temporary shelter to permanent housing per WIC 11450(i), counties were asked to complete a survey in late 2023.

The distribution of promising practices reported by counties can be seen in the chart Promising Practices.

• Just over half (52%, n=17) of the 33 respondents reported that the most promising practice to transition families from temporary to permanent housing was by linking temporary housing assistance participants with the CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP). This helps families with housing navigation, rent and move-in assistance, in line with rapid rehousing (RRH) best practices. 
• Five counties identified using intensive case management to help families in receipt of temporary HA achieve permanent housing goals. Intensive case management focuses on helping families stabilize in  housing by resolving common barriers to housing retention and helping create community support systems. This is based on active, trauma-informed engagement of participants so that supports are effective and align with RRH best practices.  
• Three counties cited linking families in receipt of temporary HA with the local Coordinated Entry System to access more expansive permanent housing resources through community partners as a best practice. These linkages assist with housing identification, identifying family needs and preferences, facilitating applications, and providing tenant rights/landlord responsibilities resources and align with RRH best practices.    
• Two counties reported developing linkages to local community partners as a best practice. These linkages assist with many RRH best practices, depending on the partner and what services they offer.
• Two counties reported the use of landlord incentives as a best practice, which also align with the housing identification best practices recommended by RRH best practices.