DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only 

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) participants identified by the District Office as homeless or at-risk of homelessness that are not registered in Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) and who choose to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program are expedited into the GAIN Program. They are given an expedited (next business day) appointment and assigned to the Homeless Supportive Services (HSS) GAIN Services Worker (GSW)/Contracted Case Manager (CCM).

Participants receive intensive case management services by the HSS GSW/CCM and by the Homeless Case Manager (HCM).

If participants who are already in GAIN, subsequently report being homeless or at-risk of homelessness and:

• Choose to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program, then their case will be transferred to the HSS GSW/CCM; or
• Decline to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program, then their case will remain with the GSW/CCM. 

Participants requesting CalWORKs Housing Program benefits need to be participating in GAIN in order to qualify for additional temporary shelter payments, help to prevent eviction, moving assistance, and rental subsidies. 

Participants engaged in Welfare-to-Work (WtW) activities are eligible for supportive services. 

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Homeless

A CalWORKs family is considered homeless when:

• It lacks a fixed and a 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 Case Management Program

A voluntary program for families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

Services provided are:

• Crisis Intervention;
• Short-term stabilization;
• Assistance with locating a hotel/motel when the participant needs emergency housing;
• Needs assessment;
• Assistance with resolving non-compliance or sanctions;
• An individualized housing plan;
• 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 Housing Programs that require WtW participation, such as Temporary Homeless Assistance Program (THAP)+14, Moving Assistance (MA), Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction (EAPE), and/or 4-Month Rental Assistance Program (RA); and
• An expedited, next business day appointment into GAIN program.

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. 

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.

HSS GSW/CCM

The HSS GSW/CCM is part of the 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. 

Homeless Case Management Program

The participant may choose to participate or decline to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program once they meet with the District HCM. 

Participants who decline to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program will go through the standard GAIN process. 

Maintaining Communication

HSS GSWs/CCMs, HCMs, and FSCs maintain constant communication to provide intensive case management to participants and needed services timely. 

Expedited into GAIN

Participants who request CalWORKs Housing Program benefits that require participation in WtW, who are not already in GAIN, and who choose to participate in the Homeless Case Management Program will be referred to the HSS GSW/CCM by the HCM and expedited into GAIN. This will facilitate the participant's access to services, referrals to needed resources, and secured housing.

The GSW/CCM will assist participants with the following:

• Coordinating and expediting a next business day appointment into GAIN;
• Assessing the participant's ability to participate in GAIN;
• Assigning participants to WtW activities, as appropriate;
• Evaluating for Good Cause, if appropriate; and
• Issuing supportive services identified by the HCM and requested by the participant. 

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

The GN 6006 - Service Provider Referral is used to refer the participant to the service provider that offers the training/education to the recommended WtW activity listed on the participant’s employment plan.

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