Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/431369
13 The People's Guide 2015 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, you should ask for money for as many nights as you need, but it has to be 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 receive all 16 days of temporary homeless assistance, request 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 to Get and Keep Permanent Housing You can also get money to cover the actual cost of security and utility deposits includ- ing the "last month's rent" deposit, and gas, electricity, and water deposits. The DPSS will not pay for the first month's rent, though, or old overdue utility bills because you must pay that from your CalWORKs cash aid. The DPSS will not pay unless you find a place where your share of the monthly rent is not more than 80% of your total monthly household income. If you plan to share your housing, the landlord must agree to the rent-share plan. DPSS will question the housing unless your name is on the lease. If you are a CalWORKs participant now you must be given this permanent hous- ing assistance within one working day of showing that you have found a place and provided all the necessary documents to get the assistance. 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 As- sistance 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 total monthly household income. Call Legal Aid for details (pg. 68) 3. Emergency Assistance to Pre- vent Eviction (EAPE) Program If you are at risk of losing your home because you didn't pay the rent due to a financial hardship (not for any other lease or contract violation), EAPE can give you money to pay back rent and/or utilities up to two months behind so that you can continue living there. To be eligible for EAPE you must be approved for CalWORKs and working full-time or enrolled and actively participating in GAIN, or "timed off" CalWORKs and participating in GAIN Post-Time Limit Services, AND show that you are going through a financial hardship that could result in homelessness if help is not given. Once the worker verifies you are eligible you can get up to $2,000 to pay past due rent and/or utilities for up to two months. You must agree to pay a portion of the past due rent and/or utilities. EAPE money does not pay for the present month rent and utilities---unless you have received a pay or quit notice for the current month's rent. 4. Moving Assistance (MA) Program MA can give you money to help you secure a permanent place to live. To qualify you must be approved for CalWORKs, work- ing full-time, or enrolled and actively participating in GAIN, or timed out from CalWORKs and participating in GAIN Post-Time Limit Services, AND: be homeless or be at risk of being home- less (you already got an eviction notice or 3-day notice), or you can show that you have a financial hardship that will result in your being homeless if you don't get help. If you are already homeless, you must have used up all other assistance such as Homeless Assistance to get MA. Once the worker verifies you are eligible you can get up to $2,000 as a once in a lifetime payment for move-in costs like deposits, last month's rent, truck rental, and a stove and/or refrigerator if the new place doesn't have one. Like Homeless Assistance, you must find a place where your family's share of the rent is not more than 80% of the total monthly household income. Timed- out families can also get two months of the adult portion of the reduced grant (included within the $2,000). 5. 4-Month Rental Assistance (RA) Program If you just found a permanent place to live with the help of Homeless Assistance or Moving Assistance, RA can help you get up to $300 per month (based on family size) for four consecutive months to help pay your rent. RA is for families who cannot get subsidized housing (e.g., a Section 8 voucher). The payments are made out to the landlord. To qualify you must be eligible for Per- manent Move-In Money from Homeless Assistance and/or Moving Assistance and have a signed rental agreement securing non-subsidized permanent housing within the past 30 days of the time you request RA: or you found non-subsidized permanent housing and have requested Permanent Housing/Moving Assistance. To be eligible, you must be one of the following: • Be CalWORKs approved and working full-time or enrolled and actively participating in GAIN; or • Be timed out from CalWORKs and enrolled and actively participating in GAIN Post-Time Limit Services CalWORKs