On July 28, 2026, the Department of Social Services released ACIN I-35-26, which summarizes amended regulations on CalWORKS Homeless Assistance.
The updated regulations implement existing statutory changes made to Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 11450 by SB 1065 back in 2020. Together, they remove several prior barriers noted below:
Resource Limit: The $100 liquid resource limit that normally applies to certain “special need” CalWORKs payments does not apply to families who need HA.
Financial Hardship Criteria: Families no longer need to show that the eviction creating the need for Homeless Assistance is because of a verified financial hardship that was beyond their control or that they are experiencing a financial crisis.
Deposits/Fees to Secure Residence: Prior to the statutory change, CalWORKS would only pay for deposits or other charges to secure housing if the costs were deemed a “reasonable” condition to secure residence. Last month’s rent and security deposits are currently allowable if these payments are conditions of securing a residence without analysis of whether they are reasonable conditions.
Disaster Relief: Homeless Assistance is available to eligible families when needed due to state or federally declared disasters, whether or not the disaster is “natural”.
Self Attestation: Counties must accept a sworn statement from the family for verification of homelessness for all Homeless Assistance applicants and issue or deny Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA) benefits the same working day the family submits the Statement of Facts – Homeless Assistance (CW 42) form.
Defining “Questionable Homelessness”: If the family meets the criteria of “questionable homelessness,” counties must continue to verify homelessness within three days and refer families to its early fraud prevention and detection unit. Previously, however, the definition of “questionable homelessness” was left up to individual counties. The amended statute and regulations define “questionable homelessness” and now limit referral to the early fraud unit for verification only when there is an actual “reason to suspect that the family has permanent housing.”
Refunds: Counties are not entitled to any refund or share of a refund of permanent Homeless Assistance (e.g. deposits)— they must be returned to the family.
Additionally, the amendments and regulations expand Homeless Assistance for applicants who are victims fleeing abuse to obtain a second 16-day period of Temporary Homeless Assistance when they become actual CalWORKs recipients.
The regulations transmitted by this ACIN became effective on July 1, 2026 and are available here: Div 44, Chap 44-211 – Eligibility and Assistance Standards Manual.
(S. Ropelato)