Housing Assistance for Ukrainians
Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB)
Introduction
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) developed the Housing Assistance for Ukrainians (HAU) program to support the transition of recent Ukrainian arrivals and non-Ukrainian individuals displaced from Ukraine to long-term housing and self-sufficiency in California. HAU is a supportive service that provides direct housing and utility assistance and support services to eligible households through partnerships with eight refugee-impacted county leads, and one non-profit lead administrator who serves all non-refugee-impacted counties. For information on the policies authorizing this assistance, refer to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Policy Letters 22-13 and 24-03. If you are seeking to apply for HAU, please scroll down this page for more instructions.
CDSS Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) has compiled this webpage to provide details about the HAU program and identify additional resources to support vulnerable Ukrainian households who seek alternate avenues of assistance.
Additionally, please reference and utilize the RPB’s Support Guide created in partnership with Solvera Consulting. We encourage users to browse through this Support Guide, including the HAU page for a list of HAU service providers based in your location.
General Program Information
The CDSS RPB developed HAU to serve Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs) and other eligible individuals paroled into the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024 (extended from the original end date of September 30, 2023) due to urgent humanitarian reasons. UHPs who came to the United States independently, as well as parolees processed under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services program, Uniting for Ukraine, may be served through the HAU program.
The RPB supports safe, equitable, and affordable housing options for newcomer populations. At present, excessive rent burdens – with ultimate consequences such as financial hardship, eviction, and even homelessness – are a daily reality for millions of households across the state, including refugee arrivals. Rental subsidies through HAU may be dispensed for a maximum of six months, covering up to 50 percent of the monthly rental cost for the applicant, with a maximum benefit of $10,000 over the entire program duration. The program also offers assistance with deposits and utilities. Additionally, applicants may also receive light-touch case management to support their housing needs. To assist in working toward self-sufficiency, HAU now requires potential clients to participate in certain employment service activities to receive housing support services.
The program was originally scheduled to end on September 30, 2024; however, the program end date has been extended through September 30, 2025. No new applications are to be accepted after September 30, 2025.
Although no new applications can be accepted after this updated end date of September 30, 2025, payments and services may continue for eligible applicants who apply for the HAU program on or before September 30, 2025. For these applicants who are accepted prior to the September 30, 2025 end date, services may continue until March 2026, unless applicants reach the maximum six months of assistance as it is described in Refugee Coordinator Letter (RCL) 23-03, or until funds are fully expended, whichever comes sooner.
Applicants can find more detailed HAU information on the Applicant Fact Sheet
Program Administrators and service providers can find more detailed HAU information on the Administrators and Service Providers Fact Sheet
For complete program guidance on the HAU Program, please reference the following RCLs:
Additional Resources
RPB recognizes newly arrived Ukrainians may need additional resources. The Resources for HAU Applicants and Recipients document provides additional housing resources and other support services.
Contact Information
- If you are in an impacted county: County administrators in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus may be reached via their respective County Refugee Coordinator office.
- If you are in a non-impacted county: Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego may be contacted at HAU@ccdsd.org regarding HAU services in the remaining 50 California counties not listed above.
General questions: If you have any questions regarding HAU, you may contact the RPB at HAU@dss.ca.gov.