Author: Stephen Goldberg

Changes to CalWORKs Homeless Assistance

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program.  16 days of temporary homeless assistance no longer needs to be used consecutively.  Families will be able to receive 16 days of Homeless Assistance cumulative in a 12-month period.  The 16 days of temporary Homeless Assistance will not be exhausted until all 16 days are used, the family resolves their homelessness or 12 months have passed.  The first three days of temporary homeless assistance must still be issued the day the family applies, followed by weekly issuances not to exceed 16 days.

However, this change will be not be effective until it is automated.  CDSS estimates that will take six to nine months.  Counties are encouraged to implement this change using a manual workaround as soon as possible.  CDSS will release the official implementation date later.

Families must still provide receipts verifying temporary Homeless Assistance was spent on shelter.  Counties are encouraged to offer good cause or accept a sworn statement when benefits are not received consecutively and families have not kept their receipts.  Counties are also encouraged to grant good cause or accept a sworn statement of permanent housing search when they do not have proof of their search.

Removal of the consecutive day requirement also applies to Homeless Assistance for persons fleeing domestic violence.  However, those benefits will still be issued in 16 day increments.

Effective January 1, 2020, families will no longer be required to use Homeless Assistance to rent from a person in the business of renting properties.  Families now can use Homeless Assistance to rent from any person or establishment with whom the family executes a valid lease, sublease or shared housing agreement.  This change also allows temporary Homeless Assistance to enter into a short-term lease, sublet or sharing housing arrangement to meet temporary housing needs.  (ACL 19-118, January 2, 2020.)

Time on aid for CalWORKs Family Reunification cases

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding time on aid for CalWORKs Family Reunification cases that receive temporary homeless assistance benefits.

Effective January 1, 2018, CalWORKs families receiving Family Reunification services are eligible for temporary homeless assistance if the county determines these benefits are necessary for reunification to occur.  Previously, these families could only receive supportive services.  These families are not eligible for a CalWORKs grant.

CDSS states that homeless assistance benefits are considered special need payments and special needs payments count as receipt of aid towards the recipients CalWORKs 48-month time on aid limit.  Homeless Assistance does not tick the Federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families time on aid clock because federal regulations consider homeless assistance to be non-recurring short-term benefits, not assistance.  (ACL 19-112, December 12, 2019.)

Tenant Protection Vouchers for foster youth

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has guidance regarding Tenant Protection Vouchers for foster youth.  Tenant Protection Vouchers are now available for Family Reunification Program-eligible foster youth in communities that do not administer Family Reunification Programs.  To be eligible, a Public Housing Authority (PHA) must: administer the Housing Choice Voucher program, not administer the Family Reunification Program, have a partnership with a public child welfare agency, accept Family Reunification Program –eligible your referrals, determine eligibility and update their administrative plan.  The public child welfare agency must provide supportive services.

Eligible youth must be at least 18 years of age and not more than 24 years of age, left foster care or will leave foster case within 90 days, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

These vouchers sunset when the youth leaves the program.  If a youth does not use the voucher, the PHA must notify HUD and HUD will reduce the PHA’s housing choice voucher assistance to account for the removal of the voucher.  These vouchers cannot be project based.   PHAs may admit youth to the program who are not on the waiting list or without consideration of waiting list position.  These vouchers provide assistance for a maximum of 36 months.  (PIH Notice 2019-20, July 26, 2019.)

Utility Rate Reduction Incentive in Public Housing

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has guidance regarding use and eligibility of the Rate Reduction Incentive (RRI).  The RRI is a financial incentive for Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to pursue special and significant efforts beyond what is required by statute or regulation to reduce their utility rate.  PHAs that take an eligible action will be eligible to retain one-half of the annual savings realized from their actions.  The lower rate cannot be result of factor that do not require PHA action such as market changes, rate changes for all customers or consuming energy at a different time of day.

Eligible activities include special rate negotiated by and for the PHA, wellhead purchase of natural gas, power purchase agreement using a third-party energy supplier, energy efficiency investments that lead to lower utility rates, investments to allow for fuel switching capability in order to participate in an interruptible utility rate, commodity purchases of regulated utilities in a deregulated market that result in a lower utility rate, active commodity trading and on-site renewable energy.

Activities ineligible to receive RRI include energy investments that lower utility consumption but not the rate, selecting the best available utility rate, combining or removing meters to prohibit individual tenant metering, and fuel switching to obtain a better rate when new equipment is not required.  (PIH Notice 2019-24, September 3, 2019.)

Emergency call systems in public housing

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued guidance on emergency call systems in public housing.  There is no requirement to install emergency call systems in public housing.  HUD does not prescribe the type of emergency call system a public housing authority should use if there is a system present or installed.

However, emergency call systems may be required to be installed and operable as reasonable accommodations, modification or auxiliary aids pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.

If a public housing authority has call-for-aid pull cords, wireless communication notification systems or other similar emergency call systems in a public housing property, the systems must function as intended, are subject to Real Estate Inspection Center (REAC) inspection protocols and must be tested. Housing Authorities are not required to replace older call systems with wireless or electronic communication technology.  However, when the public housing authority uses call-for-aid pull cords, REAC inspectors must verify the system functions as intended and the cords must be accessible.  (PIH Notice 2019-25, October 11, 2019.)