Various rental assistance programs operate throughout California to help low-income households, families, and individuals facing eviction or homelessness. Although the state’s COVID-19 rental assistance program ended in 2022, rental assistance—whether emergency, short-term, or long-term—remains widely available through state initiatives, county social services agencies, local public housing authorities, and non-profit organizations.
Statewide Rental Assistance Programs
The State of California administers specific programs integrated primarily into its broader social safety net systems.
CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) Program
The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) Program provides immediate emergency financial aid to eligible low-income families to pay for temporary emergency shelter or to secure and maintain permanent housing. Administered at the county level by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the program serves families currently receiving CalWORKs cash aid, as well as applicants deemed “apparently eligible” for the program who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of losing their housing.
The program is strictly divided into two distinct components: Temporary Homeless Assistance and Permanent Homeless Assistance.
How to Apply
Since the state distributes funds through the various counties, you must submit your application directly to your local county social services agency. Applications can be processed online via BenefitsCal, by phone, or in person at a regional Social Services office. When applying, be prepared to present identification, proof of your CalWORKs status or income, and documentation regarding your housing crisis (such as an eviction notice or a motel receipt).
CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP)
The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) is a state-funded program designed to rapidly move homeless CalWORKs families into permanent housing or to prevent at-risk families from losing their homes. Administered locally by 56 participating California counties under the supervision of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the HSP operates using an evidence-based framework of Rapid Re-housing and Homelessness Prevention.
Unlike the standard CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) program, which offers short-term emergency hotel vouchers (for 16 days), the HSP offers more extensive, long-term financial assistance combined with intensive case management to achieve permanent housing stability.
How to Apply for HSP
Since the program adapts to local community needs, funding amounts, rental subsidy durations, and program opening dates are managed directly by your regional social services office. To apply, you can request a referral to the HSP program directly from your assigned CalWORKs case manager, submit an online application via the state’s BenefitsCal portal, or consult the county administration links listed in the CDSS Housing Support Program (HSP) Directory.
Home Safe Program
The Home Safe program is a state-funded California initiative designed to support the safety and housing stability of vulnerable adults who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness. Overseen by the Housing and Homelessness Division of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the program combines housing-focused financial assistance with intensive case management [CDSS Housing and Homelessness Division].
Unlike programs linked to families or cash assistance, Home Safe is uniquely integrated into county Adult Protective Services (APS) systems to protect individuals who are also facing situations of self-neglect, abuse, abandonment, or financial exploitation [CDSS Housing and Homelessness Division].
How to apply for the program or obtain a referral
Because Home Safe operates entirely within the protective services system, individuals cannot apply through standard social services public intake counters.
To access the program, a formal report or inquiry must be submitted to the relevant county Adult Protective Services (APS) agency [CDSS Housing and Homelessness Division]. If an APS social worker verifies that a client is facing a housing crisis in addition to a safety risk, they will initiate an internal referral to the Home Safe program [CDSS Housing and Homelessness Division]. You can find the direct emergency phone number (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) for your county’s APS services by consulting the CDSS APS County Contact Directory.
Long-term federal and subsidized housing
Locally administered federal programs are available to provide ongoing monthly financial assistance for rent.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program—commonly known as Section 8—is a federal program that helps very low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program is administered locally by various Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) throughout California.
Unlike public housing complexes, the voucher is tied to the tenant; this means the assistance moves with them, allowing them to choose their own rental housing (including single-family homes, townhouses, or apartments).
How to Find Your Local PHA
To apply for the benefit, you must contact the specific public housing agency that administers the city or county where you plan to live. You can find direct contact links, notices regarding open waiting lists, and fact sheets on local income limits by using HUD’s California Housing Authority Directory or by consulting the state housing maps on BenefitsCal.
Subsidized Housing
Subsidized housing in California is a federal and state initiative in which the government pays apartment owners directly to offer reduced rents to eligible low-income tenants. Unlike the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8)—where the subsidy is tied to the tenant and moves with them—subsidized housing is project-based; this means the financial assistance is permanently linked to a specific building or apartment unit. If you move out of a subsidized apartment, the rental assistance remains available for the next eligible tenant.
Use HUD’s official California affordable housing search tool to generate a comprehensive directory of properties under the Project-Based Section 8, Section 202, and Section 811 programs, organized by city and ZIP code.
Charitable and Non-Profit Organizations Assisting with Rent in California
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Councils
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) operates as a decentralized network of regional diocesan councils and local parish volunteer groups (known as “Conferences”) that provide emergency rental assistance, utility payment aid, and eviction prevention services directly to low-income tenants across California.
Because SVdP operates based on local geographic areas, you must apply through the specific council or parish conference that covers your ZIP code. Assistance is provided to anyone facing a financial crisis, regardless of religious affiliation.
SVdP does not use standard online applications or walk-in offices to manage financial rental assistance. They operate through a specific admission system:
The intake call: You contact your regional council or the nearest Catholic parish to request financial assistance.
The home visit: If funds are available, local volunteers (known as “Vincentians”) schedule a mandatory “home visit.” They meet with you at your home to understand your financial hardship, verify your lease agreement, and determine the exact scope of your needs.
Direct payment to the landlord: If the application is approved, the SVdP issues checks directly to your landlord or property management company to settle an outstanding debt or cover a deposit; they do not hand cash directly to tenants.
Salvation Army Centers in California
The Salvation Army operates extensively throughout California, offering local emergency financial assistance, help with utility payments, short-term housing, and eviction prevention to individuals and families facing sudden crises. Because their social safety net programs are highly decentralized, all financial aid—including rent and utility assistance—is managed directly by local community centers (“Corps Community Centers”) in each neighborhood, rather than by central regional offices.
How to request help and find the office serving your zip code
To quickly locate the center with available funds for your specific residential area:
- Go directly to The Salvation Army USA Local Finder Tool.
- Enter your 5-digit residential zip code.
- The database will provide the phone number, address, and operating hours of the local community center.
What to expect: Salvation Army funds are intended for unexpected, short-term financial emergencies (such as an unforeseen medical bill, temporary job loss, or car breakdown). To receive assistance, you will need to complete an intake interview and provide proof of your financial crisis, a current lease agreement, and a notice of outstanding debt issued by your landlord or utility company.
Community Action Agencies
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are local non-profit and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight poverty at the community level. In California, a network of 60 CAAs covers all 58 counties, administering millions of dollars in federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds.
CAAs are premier portals for emergency rent relief, eviction prevention, utility assistance (LIHEAP), and security deposit matches, customizing their services to the specific economic conditions of their home county.
How to Find Your Local CAA
If your county does not appear on the list above, you can locate the assigned agency using the state’s central directory:
- Visit the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) provider directory.
- Select your county from the interactive drop-down list.
- The system will display direct contact phone numbers, office locations, and website links for both your local Community Action Agency (CAA) and your regional LIHEAP utility assistance provider.
Application tip: CAA emergency funds are often distributed in seasonal funding cycles or monthly allotments. If an agency informs you that its rental assistance program has temporarily run out of funds, ask exactly when the next funding cycle begins and what documentation you can prepare in advance to ensure your application is submitted immediately when service resumes.
