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Changes to the Bringing Families Home program

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Bringing Families Home Program. Bringing Families Home provides financial assistance and housing support services to families receiving child welfare services, including tribal child welfare services, where the family is experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing stability will increase family reunification or prevent foster care placement.

For Bringing Families Home, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

The definition of homeless is now expanded to include individuals or families who are fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual, family member, including a child.

The definition of permanent housing is now clarified to be no predetermined time limits on the length of stay at the premises.

CDSS must adopt regulations for the Bringing Families Home program by July 1, 2024.

Technical assistance about the Home Safe program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-21, March 21, 2024.)

Changes to the Home Safe program

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Home Safe Program. Home Safe provides housing support services to older adults and dependent adults who are both at risk of homelessness, and who experience abuse, neglect, exploitation, or unable to care for their own needs interests.  The program is operated by counties and tribes with grant money from CDSS.

For Home Safe, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

The definition of adult protective services was limited to meaning in Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.10.  The definition of adult protective services is now expanded to include activities performed, in accordance with tribal law or custom, by tribes because of the potential for abuse or neglect.

The definition of older adult was limited to persons over age 60.  The definition of older adult is expanded to include individuals receiving services from a tribe within the age range established by the tribe for serving needy and vulnerable older adults.

Technical assistance about the Home Safe program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-12, March 1, 2024.)

Changes to the HDAP program

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Housing and Disability Assistance Program (HDAP). HDAP provides housing support and disability benefits advocacy for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.  The program is operated by counties and tribes with grant money from CDSS.

For HDAP, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

CDSS is now required to adopt regulations for all aspects of the HDAP program by July 1, 2024.

Grantees are required to seek Interim Assistance Reimbursement from program participants, meaning that grantees must take necessary steps to recoup HDAP benefits from retroactive Supplemental Security Income payments.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2024.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

Technical assistance about the HDAP program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-13, March 1, 2024.)

COVID-19 vaccination requirement for In-Home Supportive Services workers

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The State Public Health Officer has ordered that all In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers be vaccinated by November 30th 2021.  This requirement does not apply to IHSS providers who live with or are family members of the recipient.

To be eligible for these exemptions, the provider must only provide to a single household. If a provider services multiple households, the exemption does not apply and the provider must adhere to the vaccination requirement.

Providers may also be granted an exemption if they provide the recipient with a COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form signed by the provider either stating:

  • The provider is declining the vaccination based on religious beliefs; or
  • The provider is excused from receiving the vaccine due to an eligible medical reason (with an exemption form signed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or other licensed medical professional).

The recipient’s responsibilities include requesting documentation showing that the provider has been vaccinated or can provide an exemption form. The recipient is responsible for reviewing the exemption form and determining if the provider has met the criteria to meet one of the exemptions listed above.  A recipient may not enforce the vaccination requirement.

Once the recipient determines that the exemption is met, the unvaccinated provider must meet the requirements when entering or working in the recipient’s residence:

  • The unvaccinated provider must be tested weekly for Covid-19 with either an authentic PCR or antigen test.

 

  • The unvaccinated provider must always wear a surgical mask or respirator while in the home. Each county can distribute Essential Protective Gear to any IHSS recipient or provider who requests it.

The provider’s responsibilities include maintaining all records regarding their vaccination status, vaccination records, or documents showing their medical exemption status. If the provider is exempt, they are responsible for keeping records of their weekly testing results.  Providers who are not currently working with a recipient must show proof of their vaccination or their exemption when they are hired.  Providers may use their annual State sick leave, if eligible, to take time away from work to get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 infection.

Notices to inform all IHSS providers who are not live-in providers or provide services to nonfamily members have been sent on October 2021 stating the new vaccination/exemption requirements.  (ACIN I-81-20, October 11, 2021.)

 

Emergency Broadband Benefit

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The Federal Communications Commission has announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit to help families struggling to afford internet service because of COVID-19.  The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 for broadband service for eligible households and $75 per month on qualifying Tribal Lands.  Eligible household can also get a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet if they contribute between $10 and $50 toward the purchase price.

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of these criteria:

  • Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
  • Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough because of COVID-19, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single tax filers and $198,000 for joint tax filers; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

The providers participating in the program are listed here.

Eligible providers can enroll on the program here.  (https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, May 7, 2021.)

COVID-19 federal stimulus belongs to recipient

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The Internal Revenue Service has issued an alert that the federal stimulus payment belongs to the recipient and not to a nursing home or other care facility.  The stimulus payment is intended for the recipient even if a nursing home or other care facility receives the payment.  The stimulus payment is not a resource that must be turned over to a nursing home or other care facility.

The stimulus payment does not count as income Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  The stimulus payment does not count as a resource for 12 months for any of those programs.

Social Security representative payees are not responsible for managing the stimulus because the stimulus money belongs to the recipient.  Representative payees should talk to the recipient about the stimulus money. If the recipient wants to use the stimulus money independently, the representative payee should give the stimulus money to the recipient.  (IR 2020-21, June 16, 2020.)