Year Two of Successful Housing Support Program Underway

Article CWDA Staff

County human services agencies are offering an array of supportive services and working with community-based housing organizations to move families into permanent housing in the coming months. It’s part of a statewide program known as the CalWORKs Housing Support Program, now in year two thanks to funding provided in the 2015-16 State Budget.

This year, 44 counties were awarded funding to assist families who have become homeless due to various stresses and challenges in their lives. In addition to housing, families receive support such as job training, connections to employment opportunities, mental health services and child care. Research has shown that the high cost of housing is one of the most crushing barriers low-income families face. By assisting families with housing and other basic supports, children are more likely to do well in school and be healthy.

The Housing Support Program was created under the 2014-15 State Budget   by the Legislature and Governor Brown. Twenty counties received a combined $20 million in the 2014-15 State Budget, and an estimated 3,000 families were served in the first year.

The 44 counties awarded funding this year are: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa/Glenn/Trinity, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba.

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