Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families.
Under existing law, in addition to the monthly CalWORKs aid, after a family has used all available liquid resources in excess of $100, the family is entitled to receive an allowance for certain nonrecurring special needs, including homeless assistance.
The bill would eliminate the requirement that the family have used all available liquid resources in excess of $100 in order to receive the homeless assistance allowance.
Under existing law, a family is considered homeless for the purpose of establishing eligibility for homeless assistance benefits if, among other things, the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit. Existing law requires the family to demonstrate that the eviction is the result of a verified financial hardship, as specified, and not other lease or rental violations, and that the family is experiencing a financial crisis that may result in homelessness if preventive assistance is not provided.
The bill would eliminate the requirement for a family to demonstrate the reason for the eviction and the existence of the financial crisis.
Existing law requires temporary shelter assistance to be granted or denied immediately upon the family's application for homeless assistance, and requires benefits to be available for up to 3 working days. Existing law requires the county welfare department to verify the family's homelessness within the first 3 working days and requires the 3-day temporary shelter benefits to be extended for up to a total of 16 calendar days based upon a documented search for permanent housing, as specified.
This bill would require the temporary shelter assistance to be granted or denied the same day as the application and would require the benefits to be available for up to 16 calendar days. The bill would eliminate the requirement for the county welfare department to verify the family's homelessness within the first 3 working days. The bill would authorize the county to extend the temporary shelter benefit for an additional 16 calendar days, and would eliminate the requirement for a housing search. The bill would require the county welfare department, if a family has secured and been approved for permanent housing assistance, to extend the temporary shelter assistance until the date that permanent housing is secured, or the date that the family moves into the approved permanent housing, whichever occurs first, but not to exceed an additional 30 calendar days.
Existing law authorizes a nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance to an eligible family to pay for the last month's rent and security deposits, if these payments are reasonable conditions of securing a residence.
This bill would additionally authorize that benefit for the first month's rent, and would limit the benefit for a security deposit to an amount not to exceed twice the amount of the monthly rent. The bill would remove the reference to "reasonable" in requiring the payments to be conditions of securing a residence.
Existing law sets limits on the temporary shelter assistance and permanent housing assistance and makes those limits apply for a 12-month period.
This bill instead would make those limits apply for each incidence of homelessness.
Under existing law, county welfare departments, and all other entities participating in the costs of the CalWORKs program, have the right in their share to any refunds resulting from payment of the permanent housing.
This bill would eliminate that provision.
Existing law authorizes the daily amount for the temporary shelter special needs benefit for homeless assistance to be increased if authorized by the current year's Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds for that purpose.
This bill instead would require that daily amount to be adjusted annually to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment calculated by the Department of Finance based on changes in the California Necessities Index.
Under existing law, a CalWORKs applicant who provides a sworn statement of past or present domestic abuse and who is fleeing their abuser is deemed to be homeless and is eligible for temporary homeless assistance, consisting of 2 periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days of temporary shelter assistance in a lifetime.
This bill would require the 2nd 16-day period to continue to be available to the applicant when the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient during the first 16-day period.
Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.
This bill would, instead, provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill.
By expanding the duties of county welfare departments administering the CalWORKs program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.