The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidelines for implementing Housing First Principles for CalWORKs Housing Support Program, Bringing Families Home, Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, and Home Safe. Counties must design and implement these programs in accordance with Housing First.
Housing First is an evidence-based approach that connects individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to permanent housing as quickly as possible. Housing First also offers voluntary supportive services as needed and requested without making housing contingent on participation in supportive services. Housing First follows the basic principle that everyone is ready for housing, regardless of the complexity or severity of their needs, and stable housing is the foundation for achieving other goals.
Other foundational principals of Housing First include:
- Social Services and care coordination are key elements of housing stability
- Housing First promotes flexibility, individualized support, client choice, and autonomy, and is not one size fits all.
- Housing First operates across the spectrum of housing interventions, and is not limited to one type of program.
- Supportive services are offered throughout the recipient’s time in the program.
Housing First must be incorporated into all aspects of program design, including written program polices and procedures. Housing First must be followed throughout the duration of service delivery, not just at enrollment in the program.
Counties must work collaboratively with recipients to develop individualized housing and service plans.
Housing First has eleven core components:
- Tenant screen and selection practices must promote accepting applicants regardless of their sobriety, use of substances, completion of treatment, or participation in services.
- Applicants are not rejected because of poor credit or financial history, poor or lack of rental history, criminal convictions unrelated to tenancy, or behaviors that indicate a lack of housing readiness.
- Counties must accept referrals directly from shelters, street outreach, drop-in centers, and other parts of the crises response system used by people experiencing homelessness.
- Supportive Services must emphasize engagement and problem solving over therapeutic goals and service plans that do not have predetermined goals.
- Participation in services or program compliance is not a condition of permanent housing tenancy.
- Tenants should have a leave that meets all legal requirements.
- Using alcohol of drugs, by itself without other lease violations, is not a reason for eviction.
- In communities with coordinated assessment and entry systems, eligible tenants should be prioritized on criteria other than first-come-first serve.
- Case managers and services coordinators should be trained in actively use evidence-based practices.
- Services must be informed by a harm-reduction philosophy.
- The project and specific apartment may include special physical features that accommodate disabilities, reduce harm, and promote health, community, and independence.
(ACL 24-88, November 15, 2024.)