Ukraine Resources HAU Applicant

Housing Assistance for Ukrainians (HAU) Program

Fact Sheet for Applicants

Background

In February 2022, an estimated 4.6 million Ukrainians fled their country after Russia invaded Ukraine. On March 24, 2022, President Biden committed to resettling up to 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by the war in the United States within a short time. On April 21, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) Program, which provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) to enter the United States as Humanitarian Parolees. Accordingly, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) issued two policy letters, PL 22-13 and 22-15, which provide guidance on the resettlement assistance available to Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP).

On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (USSAA) which updated the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA) to authorize benefits assistance to additional UHPs other eligible individuals paroled into the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024 (an extension from the original end date of September 30, 2023).

Program Overview

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. The program is administered directly in eight refugee-impacted counties which include: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus. The non-profit Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego (CCDSD) administers HAU across the remaining 50 non-impacted counties.

The HAU program is not an entitlement program, it is a supportive service that provides direct housing and utility assistance and other support services to eligible households. More specifically, the program provides the following assistance:

  • Rental assistance up to six months, covering up to 50% of the monthly rental cost for an eligible applicant and eligible household members, with a maximum benefit of $10,000 over the entire program duration.
    • If you are living in a shared dwelling, only the portion of the rent for the eligible applicant/household members will be provided through HAU services.
  • Initial security deposit assistance up to the full amount, deducted from the $10,000 maximum benefit.
  • Utility assistance, covering up to 50% of costs.
  • Light-touch case management.

Program assistance runs continuously for a maximum of six months and is available until funds are fully expended or by September 30, 2025, whichever is sooner. The goal of the HAU Program is to support Ukrainian newcomers achieve long-term housing and financial self-sufficiency. Assistance is focused on applicants who no longer receive support from their financial sponsor and who demonstrate need and housing insecurity.

To promote and support the applicant’s path towards self-sufficiency, participation in employment services is required. One eligible adult per household is required to participate in employment service activities that support job readiness and employment.

Eligibility

Clients determined to be eligible for the HAU program will be considered for housing assistance based on the immediacy of their housing needs and level of instability. This is determined based on the client's household attributes at the time of the application. HAU administrators will use a matrix of attributes to determine a client’s level of vulnerability and need, with a focus of distributing assistance to clients with the greatest need.

Below are eligible populations who came to the United States independently as well as those processed under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) Program.

  1. Citizens or nationals of Ukraine who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paroled into the U.S. between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024 (extended from the original end date of September 30, 2023) due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, known as Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs).
  1. Non-Ukrainian individuals who last habitually resided in Ukraine and who DHS has paroled into the U.S. between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024 (extended from the original end date of September 30, 2023), due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit.
  1. A spouse or child, as defined in section 101(b) of the INA (8 U.S.C. § 1101(b)), of an individual described in section A. or B. who is paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023.
  1. A parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of an unaccompanied refugee minor or an unaccompanied child described in section A. or B. who is paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023. An unaccompanied child is defined within 6 U.S.C. § 279(g)(2).

Additionally, Ukrainian nationals who have another ORR-eligible immigration status or category, such as refugee or asylee, are eligible for assistance through the HAU program.

HAU assistance cannot be used in combination with other housing subsidy supports. Other housing subsidy supports (commonly referred to as low-income housing, affordable housing, Section 8, senior housing, etc.) is considered government and/or any other-sponsored economic assistance aimed towards lessening housing costs for qualified individuals. If you are currently receiving government and/or any other-sponsored housing subsidy support, you are ineligible for HAU assistance.

The CDSS strongly recommends HAU payments be made directly to landlords. If HAU payments are made directly to a client, the amount of other public assistance you may receive may be impacted as direct assistance may be considered a source of income.

Program Requirements

Prospective clients must adhere to the follow program requirements in order to receive HAU assistance:

  • Participation in employment services: Prospective clients must participate in employment service activities that promote job readiness and employment opportunities.
    • If multiple families are living at the same residence and sharing the cost of rent, only one eligible adult per household is required to participate in employment services.
  • One application per household: Only one person per household can apply and receive HAU assistance on behalf of the household. Do not submit multiple applications.
  • Required documentation:
    • Lease agreement: All members of the household should have their names written into the lease. If an applicant does not have a formal lease in their name, a signed affidavit or sworn statement may be provided, confirming the applicant is living full-time at the specified address. This affidavit form can be obtained from the HAU service provider.
    • Identification and immigration status.
    • Verification of financial need: Applicants must be prepared to provide copies of their lease agreement indicating rent and security deposit and utility bills.
  • Disconnected from financial supporter: Applicants cannot be living with their financial supporters. HAU is intended for households who no longer have the support of their financial supporter and are having trouble keeping up with the rent in their own rental unit.

How to apply

Applications for HAU are currently open. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2025.

To apply, interested applicants should connect with the following:

  • If you reside in any of the following counties, reach out to your local county representative: California County Refugee Coordinators Directory
    • Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus
  • If you reside in any other California county not listed above, reach out to Catholic Charities Dioceses of San Diego (CCDSD)

Special Note for applicants in San Diego County

  • Individuals or couples with children potentially eligible for CalWORKs will apply for HAU with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s contractor, International Rescue Committee San Diego at (619) 440-6208.
  • Individuals or couples without children will apply for HAU with Catholic Charities Dioceses of San Diego at HAU@ccdsd.org.