DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only 

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)/Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) participants identified as homeless or at-risk of homelessness are expedited into the GAIN Program. They receive intensive GAIN services along with intensive homeless case management services by CalWORKs. 

After determining the participant's activity in their Housing Plan, the Homeless Case Manager (HMC) and the participant decide on the days and hours needed to comply with the activity, including the number of hours per month the participant will participate. This information is then shared with the Homeless Supportive Services (HSS) GAIN Services Worker (GSW/Contracted Case Manager (CCM). The HSS GSW/CCM discusses and offers Family Stabilization, adds the Housing Search activity, approves transportation, and refers the participant to the appropriate Resources & Referral/Alternate Payment Program (R&R/APP) agency for child care. 

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Homeless

A CalWORKs family is considered homeless when:

• It lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence;
• It shares a residence with family and friends on a temporary basis;
• It has a primary nighttime residence that is a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations;
• It resides in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• It has a need for housing in a commercial establishment (e.g., hotel/motel), shelter, publicly funded transitional housing, or from a person or establishment with whom the Assistance Unit (AU) has a valid lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement, or 
• A Domestic Violence (DV) applicant/participant who is fleeing from the abuser even if the applicant/participant has not yet spent a night homeless. 

At-Risk of Homelessness

A CalWORKs family is at-risk of homelessness if the family:

• Received a notice to pay rent or a notice of pending eviction caused by a financial hardship due to circumstances out of the family's control (excludes evictions due to lease/contract violations); or
• Is experiencing a valid financial hardship that could render the family homeless if benefits are not provided.

Homeless Family Program (HFP)

This activity provides a means to identify, track, and provide transportation, child care, and ancillary services to participants participating in homeless activities. 

Homeless and at-risk of homelessness participants can be referred to housing search, life skills, and money management activities under this component.  

Homeless Case Manager (HCM)

The HCM is a GSW assigned to a CalWORKs District Office to assess/case manage homeless and at-risk of homelessness families applying for/or already receiving CalWORKs. 

Homeless Supportive Services (HSS) GSW/CCM

The HSS GSW/CCM is part of the Specialized Supportive Service (SSS) Unit at the GAIN Regional Offices and/or collocated at the Family Solution Centers (FSC). The HSS GSW/CCM works closely with the HCM to provide intensive case management to participants who request the Homeless Case Management Program services until their housing situation is stable. In addition, the HSS GSW collocated at the FSC communicates and works with the FSC staff (including the collocated FSC, Department of Public Health, and Department of Mental Health staff).

Note: SSS Refugee Case Managers (RCMs) in Refugee Employment Program (REP) offices assist homeless REP participants and collaborate with HCMs. HSS CCMs are inclusive of SSS RCMs throughout this policy. 

Permanent Housing Assistance Services (PHASE)

A web-based tracking application used by the HCM to capture homeless data for CalWORKs families. PHASE captures homelessness history, education, employment, income, service needs, and service referrals for each family.

Agencies Resource & Referral (R&R) Agencies

California Department of Education-contracted agencies that provide information about and referrals to licensed child care services and coordination of community resources. 

Alternative Payment Program (APP)

The ten local agencies contracted by the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to administer the CalWORks Stage 1 Child Care (S1CC) Program that also make reimbursements to child care providers for the provision of child care. 

Child Care Request

The child care request is completed on California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) Child Care Request Detail page or manually on the ST1-01, CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care Request form, if CalSAWS is not available, when a participant requests child care. 

Approved Child Care

A request for child care that has been determined eligible to receive child care services. 

Authorized Child Care

Approved child care that has been identified with a start and end date for approved child care services. 

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The CW 74 - Permanent Housing Search Document is used to document the applicant’s/participant’s search for permanent housing while receiving Temporary Homeless Assistance (HA).

The PA 129 - General Child Care Information provides a participant with infomation on how to select a child care provider and their rights and responsibilities. The form also verifies a participant's child care need at a point in time, while also informing a participant that they may request child care services at any time. 

ST1-01 – CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care Request form is used when CalSAWS is unavailable. A copy of the manually completed ST1-01 form is provided to the R&R/APP staff.

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