DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed? 

This release was revised as follows to account for the changes that were previously shared with staff: 

1. Allow families to use their Temporary Homeless Assistance Program+14 (THAP+14) benefits to enter into a short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement.
2. Eliminate the $100 liquid resource limit requirement.  Eligibility staff must no longer request verification of a family's liquid resources.
3. Elimination of the word "natural" from the disaster exception. The disaster exception now applies to any type of State or federally declared disaster, which includes chemical, terrorist, or biological disaster, such as COVID.

All other policy for THAP+14 remains unchanged.

Note:  Changes are shown highlighted in grey throughout the document.

THAP+14 supplements the Temporary Homeless Assistance (HA) Program by providing an additional 14 days of temporary shelter payments.  This allows homeless participants to stay in a hotel, motel, or shelter agency in the business of providing daily rates, or to enter  into a short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement (e.g., to stay with friends/family) while seeking permanent housing. The $100 liquid resource requirement has been eliminated. Eligibility staff must not request verification of a family's liquid resources. Although THAP+14 can potentially supplement the Temporary HA Program, each of these programs has its own policy and eligibility requirements.

Daily Rate

THAP+14 provides $85 per day for a family of four or less and $15 for each additional family member up to a maximum of $145 per day. 

THAP+14 Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for THAP+14, the family must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be receiving CalWORKs (including the adult caretaker);
• Be homeless and in need of shelter;
• Include an adult in the AU who is Welfare-to-Work (WtW) eligible and actively participating in a Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) activity (this includes families with a scheduled initial/follow-up appointment to meet with a GAIN Services Worker [GSW] and/or a participant who is granted a Domestic Violence [DV] Good Cause Waiver); and

• Have exhausted or be ineligible for the Temporary HA Program.

Note:  If there is no GAIN eligible adult in the AU, the family should apply and be evaluated for the State Temporary HA Program.

THAP+14 does not have to be issued in 14 consecutive days; however, eligible families are only entitled to 14 days of benefits. The THAP+14 payments should be issued in increments of seven days. 

Receipts

The family must provide a shelter receipt for the first issuance prior to receiving the subsequent/remaining issuance (second increment of seven days). In addition, the family must provide a shelter receipt after receiving the second issuance.

Families that received the initial seven days, must continue to meet the eligibility requirements in order to receive the subsequent/remaining issuance (second increment of seven days). Families that had a scheduled initial/follow-up appointment and received the initial seven days, must have attended the scheduled appointment with the GSW in order to receive the subsequent issuance (second increment of seven days).  

Once-in-a-Lifetime Rule and Exceptions

THAP+14 is limited to once-in-a-lifetime with exceptions.  The exceptions are:

• DV;
• Mental or physical illness;
• Prior residence becoming uninhabitable; and 
• A State or federally declared disaster.  

Proof of the exceptional circumstance(s) must be provided. A CalWORKs participant can only receive THAP+14 as an exception under the following conditions:

1. One year has passed since the last time they exhausted THAP+14; and
2. It is a different period of homelessness since the last time the family received THAP+14.

In an effort to reduce homelessness, DPSS implemented THAP+14 in January 2005, to supplement the State's Temporary HA Program. THAP+14 has been discontinued and reinstated off and on throughout the years based on available Single Allocation funding.

The THAP+14 policy was revised to align with policy changes made for the State HA Programs as a result of:

1. Assembly Bill 960 (Chapter 444, Statutes of 2019) expanded the definition of allowable providers of housing for State HA benefits effective January 1, 2020, so that CalWORKs families may use their State Temporary HA benefits to enter into a short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement to meet their temporary housing needs. The lease or agreement does not need to be with someone who is in the business of renting properties, such as friends or family members.
2. Senate Bill 1065 (Chapter 152, Statutes of 2020) modified the State Temporary HA Program effective September 1, 2022, by eliminating both the $100 liquid resource limit for families applying for State Temporary HA benefits and the word "natural" from the disaster exception.

Aligning the THAP+14 policy to the State Temporary HA policy changes provides policy consistency when providing THAP+14 benefits after the family exhausts the State Temporary HA.

Homeless

An AU is considered homeless or at-risk of homelessness when:

1. It lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or
2. It has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or
3. It is residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or
4. It receives a pay rent or quit notice.

Allowable Provider of Housing for THAP+14

An allowable provider of temporary housing for THAP+14 includes:

1. A commercial establishment (e.g., hotel, motel); or
2. A paid shelter; or
3. Any person or establishment with whom the family enters into a short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement. The provider does not need to be in the business of renting properties or have a history of renting properties.

GAIN Program

The GAIN Program is Los Angeles County's CalWORKs WtW Program for families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The GAIN Program focuses on activities that assist participants remove personal barriers, provide skills, and training that move people into employment.

Homeless Case Manager (HCM)

A GSW assigned to a CalWORKs district office as an HCM to assess/case manage homeless and at-risk families applying for/or already receiving CalWORKs.

Homeless Case Management Services

Services provided are:

• Crisis intervention;
• Short-term stabilization;
• Assistance with locating a hotel/motel when the participant needs emergency housing;
• Assistance with resolutions of sanctions and penalties applied to the grant;
• Assistance with application and receipt of Specialized Supportive Services (SSS);
• Assistance with participation in GAIN when an at-risk or homeless family is requesting benefits from any of the CalWORKs homeless programs that require WtW participation, such as THAP+14, Moving Assistance, Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction, and/or 4-Month Rental Assistance. The HCM will assist the homeless applicants/participants with obtaining a next day appointment to meet with a designated Homeless Supportive Services (HSS) GSW; and
• An individualized housing plan.

Housing Resource Eligibility Worker (HREW)

An HREW is a specialized EW responsible for processing the various housing payments for approved CalWORKs participants.

SSS EW

A specialized EW is responsible for working with families that have disclosed a need  for specialized supportive services, such as DV, Mental Health (MH), and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The SSS EW is also responsible for processing the various housing payments for approved CalWORKs participants.

HSS GSW

A GSW assigned to a GAIN Region who works with homeless GAIN participants who request homeless supportive services and/or ancillaries.

Online CalWORKs Appraisal Tool (OCAT)

OCAT is a barrier screening tool that screens for participants' strengths and challenges in the areas of employment, education, housing, DV, MH, and SUD.

Family Stabilization

Family Stabilization provides intense case management and services to participants and their families to address identified barriers which are destabilizing the family and interfering with a participant's ability to participate in WtW.

Temporary HA

Must have exhausted or be ineligible for Temporary HA before qualifying for THAP+14.

Shelter

Must be homeless and have a shelter need and costs.

PA 6056, Temporary Homeless Assistance Program (THAP)+14 Application

CalWORKs participants must complete the PA 6056, when applying for THAP+14. The PA 6056 is available in all threshold languages and is designed to gather the information necessary to determine the family's eligibility to THAP+14. CalWORKs participants can apply for THAP+14 as follows:

• By phone (district office and Customer Service Center virtual services): Eligibility and Homeless Case Management staff can print and complete the PA 6056 on behalf of the participant based on information provided over the phone; and
• In person (district office in-person services): Participant can complete the PA 6056 in person at any CalWORKs Cash Assistance district office.

PA 4043, DPSS CalWORKs Housing Programs Brochure

All applicants/participants, who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, are to be provided with the PA 4043. The PA 4043 provides information about the various DPSS-administered housing programs available to applicants/participants who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

Specific eligibility requirements for each program are found within the following Administrative Releases (ARs):

44-211.51 DPSS Housing Program;
44-211.52 Temporary Homeless Assistance;
44-211.53 Permanent Homeless Assistance;
44-211.54 Permanent Homeless Assistance Arrearages;
44-211.551 Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction;
44-211.552 Moving Assistance Program; and
PA 6036, Referral to Homeless Case Manager.

PA 6036, Referral to Homeless Case Manager

Applicants/Participants who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness are to be referred to the CalWORKs Homeless Case Management Program via the PA 6036. The Homeless Case Management Program is voluntary, and facilitates applicants'/participants’ access to services, referrals to needed resources, and permanent housing. The services include crisis intervention, short-term stabilization, needs assessment, employment services, advocacy, and an individualized housing plan.

Intake/Approved EWs must refer the family to the HCM on the same day the family reports being homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.  The referral to the HCM is initiated whether:

• A homeless program payment is approved or denied (i.e., exhausted , or ineligible to State and DPSS administered homeless programs which includes ineligibility due to any of the exceptions).
• The homeless applicant/participant is in the office or requesting assistance via telephone.

For further information on the Homeless Case Management Program, see the following ARs:

44-211.56 Homeless Services – General; and
44-211.561 Homeless Case Management Program
PA 4012, Referral to Housing Resource Eligibility Worker

Except for cases assigned to an SSS EW file, applicants/participants who declare homelessness and request housing/homeless assistance must be referred to an HREW via the PA 4012 when the CalWORKs case is approved.

PA 4012, Referral to Housing Resource Eligibility Worker

Applicants/Participants who declare homelessness and request homeless benefits are to be referred via the PA 4012 to an HREW when the CalWORKs case is approved. The referral can also be completed by the Customer Service Representative and/or other CalWORKs Eligibility staff.

Based on a district office's need, a referral to the HREW is not required when CalWORKs Approved EWs issue homeless benefits. In addition, a referral to the HREW is not made for cases assigned to an SSS EW file.

THAP+14 Benefit

THAP+14 provides an eligible AU with $85 per day for up to four eligible AU members and $15 per day for each additional eligible AU members up to a maximum of $145 per day.

• Payments can be made for a maximum period of up to 14 cumulative days so the AU can stay at a commercial establishment (e.g., hotel, motel), a paid shelter, or with a person with whom the AU has entered into a short-term lease, sublease or shared housing agreement;
• Payments can only be issued if the AU has a shelter cost; and
• Benefits must be issued or denied on the same day as the request.

Issuance Schedule

THAP+14 shelter payments must be issued the same day the request is received and approved. Seven days of temporary shelter payments are to be issued at a time unless the applicant/participant requests less than seven days. THAP+14 does not have to be issued in 14 consecutive days; however, eligible families are only entitled to 14 days of benefits. In special circumstances, such as holidays that fall within the THAP+14 benefit issuance period, the THAP+14 benefit may be issued in three payments.

No Shelter Cost

Although an AU may be considered homeless, a THAP+14 payment cannot be issued if the AU has ongoing shelter at no cost at the time of the THAP+14 request.

Coordinated Entry System (CES) for Families and Preventing Duplication of Services

DPSS provides funding to the CES for Families which consists of a least one Family Solutions Center (FSC) in each of the eight Service Planning Areas in Los Angeles County. The FSCs provide a service delivery system specifically for families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

The DPSS HCM can refer CalWORKs families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness to the appropriate FSC when the family has exhausted or is ineligible to CalWORKs housing/homeless programs and the family meets the criteria for referral. See AR 44-211.57 Coordinated Entry System for Families for detailed information about the CES for Families and referral process.

Information about the benefits the FSCs provide to CalWORKs families is tracked by the FSCs on the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Because DPSS also administers various CalWORKs housing/homeless programs, information about the benefits tracked in HMIS is transferred to CalSAWS on an ongoing basis. CalWORKs Eligibility staff can view HMIS payment information in CalSAWS in order to prevent duplication of services. 

Processing THAP+14 Requests

Requests for THAP+14 cannot be screened out or withdrawn. In addition, THAP+14 applications cannot be verbally denied.  A PA 6056 must be completed to request THAP+14, and a Notice of Action (NOA) issued to the applicant/participant when the request for THAP+14 is approved or denied.

The request for THAP+14 must be processed within CalSAWS, approved or denied, on the same day of the request.

• If the applicant/participant is eligible for THAP+14, the M44-211(A) THAP+14(LA), Temporary Homeless Assistance Program (THAP)+14 Approval, must be completed manually out-of-drawer and issued to the applicant.
• If the applicant/participant is ineligible for THAP+14 the M-44-211(D) THAP+14(LA), Notice of Denial: THAP+14, must be completed manually out-of-drawer and issued to the applicant.

Aid Paid Pending (APP)

If a participant appeals a CalWORKs termination for a specific month and is granted APP, pending the outcome of the hearing decision, the participant can receive THAP+14 during the month the participant received APP, provided the participant is homeless and meets all other eligibility criteria.

However, if the CalWORKs termination is determined to be correct by the Hearing Process, the APP and THAP+14 payments are to be considered overpayments since the participant was not eligible to CalWORKs.

Identifying Homelessness

The EW, HREW, and SSS EW must be able to identify possible homelessness in order to refer applicants/participants and provide them with available benefits. Information regarding applicants'/participants' possible homelessness can be located in a variety of places, such as:

• SAWS 2 PLUS, Application for CalFresh, Cah Aid, and/or Medi-Cal/Health Care Programs: When the applicant initially applies for CalWORKs.
• Reported changes: When the participant reports a change of address and/or living arrangment.
• Participant contact: During a conversation with the applicant/participant.
• Renewal (RE): During the annual RE interview.
• Semi-Annual Reporting: On the SAR 7, Eligibility Status Report.

The EW, HREW, and SSS EW must explain the CalWORKs homeless definition to the applicant/participant and assess whether the AU meets the homeless definition criteria.

An AU is considered homeless or at-risk of homelessness when they:

1. Lack a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or
2. Have a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or
3. Are residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or
4. Receive a pay rent of quit notice.

Note: A CalWORKs applicant who is a DV victim fleeing their abuser is considered homeless even if the applicant has not yet spend a night homeless.

To determine whether an AU meets the homeless definitions, the EW must use sound interviewing skills.

Use the following guideline to help determine whether the AU is homeless.  The AU is homeless when they:

1. Live with another AU or household on a temporary/emergency basis and are not on the rental lease agreement.
2. Live in their car.
3. Live in a shelter.
4. Reside on the streets.
5. Have received a notice to vacate, a judgment from an unlawful detainer case, or a lock-out notice, and have vacated the residence and needs shelter. 
6. Are a victim of DV who are fleeing their abuser and have not yet spent a night homeless.
7. Have entered into a short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement to meet their temporary housing needs (i.e., staying with friends or family).
8. Reside in a hotel or motel to meet their temporary housing needs.

Homeless Mail Requirement

PA 1815, Important Notice About a Mailing Address:

Applicants/Participants who are homeless are to be informed that an address for mailing their NOAs or other correspondence is needed. This is done via the PA 1815. The applicant/participant has the option of using the district office address as a mailing address or other mailing address (i.e., a relative or a friend's address, P.O. Box, private mailing address).

The PA 1815 documents the applicant's/participant's understanding of:

• The importance of having a mailing address; and
• Their responsibilities when using the district office address as their mailing address.

The PA 1815 also informs the homeless applicant/participant using the district office address as a mailing address that:

• DPSS-related mail will not be sent by the United States Postal Service;
• NOAs will be kept in an electronic format to be printed and given to them at the district office; and
• NOAs are available to view and print on the BenefitsCal website.

Applicants/Participants who are using the district office address as a mailing address must be informed to come to the district office at least once a week to have their DPSS-related mail printed and provided to them along with any other correspondence they may be receiving at the district office. This is critical to ensure receipt of information impacting their benefits, such as:

• SAR 7;
• RE appointment information;
• Verification requests; and
• NOAs.

See the additional information below regarding mail-related requirements for SAR 7 and RE packet.

SAR 7:

Participants using the district office address should be provided with a printed copy of their SAR 7 (if a SAR 7 is due) when picking up their mail.

BenefitsCal:

In addition, participants should be encouraged to submit their future SAR 7 and verifications online via the BenefitsCal website in order to avoid travel costs and wait times associated with traveling to the district office.

RE:

Participants using the district office address should be provided with an RE packet (if an RE packet is due), a printed copy of the GEN 102, Appointment Letter, and a pre-paid return envelope, when picking up their mail.

The participant should be reminded of the date and time of the telephone RE interview appointment. An updated contact phone number should be obtained from the participant and entered in the system. In addition, the participant should be reminded that they can submit the RE forms online through BenefitsCal.

Acceptable Documents for Utilization of THAP+14 Benefits on Shelter

Commercial Establishment (e.g., a hotel, motel):

• Receipt issued by the hotel or motel verifying the applicant's/participant's stayat the hotel or motel.

Paid Shelter: 

• Receipt issued by a shelter agency verifying the applicant's/participant's stay at the shelter agency.

Person not in the business of Renting Properties:

• A short-term lease agreement;
• A short-term sublease agreement; or
• A short-term shared housing agreement.

Note:  The short-term lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement should include the name of the provider and applicant/participant, the address of the place, the amount paid to the provider, the dates of the applicant's/participant's stay, and provider's contact information.

Exceptions

State or Federally Declared Disaster

• Verification is not required. The disaster exception is limited to once per disaster. The disaster exception includes chemical terrorist, or biological disasters, such as COVID.

DV 

• Via a sworn statement (i.e., PA 853 Affidavit); and
• PA 1913, Confidential Domestic Violence Information.

Third-party verification must be requested:

• If the applicant/participant has self-declared more than twice in a 24-month time period; or
• There is an independent and reasonable basis to find the applicant/participant not credible.

Third-party verification includes, but is not limited to copies of records or reports from:

• Police departments;
• Medical facilities;
• Battered women's shelters signed by an administrator counselor, or designated staff member; and
• Adult and Child Protective Services, Family Services Bureau, Crisis Counseling Services agencies.

Former Residence Becoming Uninhabitable

• Written statements or copies of reports from police departments, fire departments, the Red Cross, Health Department or any other agency  authorized to verify uninhabitability of the former residence.

Physical or Mental Illness of an AU Member

• Medical verification from the appropriate treating physician, State-certified nurse, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, therapist, psychologist, licensed counselor, medical or clinical personnel with access to the patient's records who can verify the diagnosis.  Note: excludes drug addiction or psychological stress.

A CalWORKs participant can only receive THAP+14 as an exception under the following conditions:

1. One year has passed since the last time they exhausted THAP+14; and
2. It is a different period of homelessness since the last time the family received THAP+14 (e.g., One year must have passed since the last issuance of THAP+14 and the family must have secured permanent housing after receiving the last issuance of THAP+14, before they can access the benefit again).

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