Colusa County believes in utilizing a Housing First approach, which includes housing individuals without preconditions and helping customers secure permanent housing as soon as possible.

To apply, or for additional information on program qualifications, program fees, and availability, please call (530) 458-0250 or come into our office and speak with a Case Manager at 251 E. Webster St, Colusa, CA 95932.

Housing Assistance Flyer: English I Spanish

CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP)

The CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) gives housing stability for families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in the CalWORKs program. HSP offers financial assistance and housing-related supportive services, including but not limited to: rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, interim shelter assistance, legal services, and credit repair. HSP assists families in the CalWORKs program that are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.

How to Apply:

The Housing Support Program is administered through CalWORKs by the Colusa County Department of Health & Human Services.

CalWORKs recipients who are experiencing homelessness. For HSP, CDSS defines homeless as:

1. Lacking a fixed or regular nighttime residence; and either
2. Having a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or In receipt of judgment for eviction, as ordered by the court.

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA)

The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) Program aims to help CalWORKs families meet the reasonable costs of securing housing. The CalWORKs HA program serves eligible CalWORKs recipients, or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. CalWORKs HA can provide payments for temporary shelter for up to 16 days in a 12 month period, as well as payments to secure or maintain housing, including a security deposit and last month’s rent, or up to two months of rent arrearages.

Types of Homeless Assistance

Effective January 1, 2019 

• Temporary HA, which helps families pay the costs of temporary shelter.
  1. 16 calendar days of motel vouchers ($85 per day + $15 for each additional family member, up to $145 daily)
• Permanent HA, which helps families secure housing or prevent eviction.
  1. Security deposit and 1st month rent or 2 months arrearages to prevent eviction.
• CalWORKs Victims of Domestic Abuse/Expanded Temporary Homeless Assistance 
  1. Available to individuals who have past or present domestic abuse and are fleeing his or her abuser. Expanded Temporary Homeless Assistance provides CalWORKs applicants with Temporary Assistance for up to 32 days.
• CalWORKs recipients, or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. 

Homeless Disabled Advocacy Program (HDAP)

The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) assists homeless and at risk of becoming homeless, disabled individuals apply for disability benefit programs, while also providing housing supports. The HDAP requires that participating counties offer outreach, case management, benefits advocacy, and housing supports to all program participants. HDAP now also supports former foster youth seek disability and social security payments.

HDAP Has four core requirements: 

• Outreach
• Case Management
• Disability Advocacy
• Housing Assistance 

Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP)

Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) grant funding. HHAP is a block grant program designed to address immediate homelessness challenges throughout Colusa County. 

Spending is informed by a best practice’s framework focused on moving homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. Ensuring those individuals and families maintain permanent housing.

Colusa County Housing Case Managers can help those who qualify with: 

• Rental assistance and Rapid Rehousing
• Landlord Assistance (including, but not limited to, security deposits and holding fees)
• Prevention and Shelter Diversion to permanent housing

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program

The ESG program provides grant funding to (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street, (2) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, (3) help operate and provide essential services in emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families, and (4) prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 into law, which provided over $1 trillion in relief to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, public health, State and local governments, individuals, and businesses.

Section 3202 of the ARP appropriated $5 billion for new Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) that were allocated to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across the country. The EHVs provide for rental assistance and service funding to prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus and to facilitate the leasing of the emergency vouchers, such as security deposit assistance, utility hook-up or arrearage assistance, housing search assistance, moving assistance, and other costs related to retention and support of participating owners.

Transitional Housing Program

The Transitional Housing Program is a 5 unit housing complex where residents receive case management to link them to services in the community. Residents are expected to participate in activities that promote living skills and self-sufficiency as well as search for permanent housing.

Agency Partners

California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency

https://bcsh.ca.gov/

California Department of Housing and Community Development

https://www.hcd.ca.gov/

California Department of Social Services

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/

Dos Rios Continuum of Care (CoC)

Dos Rios Continuum of Care (CA-523) | County of Glenn

Regional Housing Authority (RHA)

http://www.regionalha.org/home

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

https://www.hud.gov/

Dos Rios Continuum of Care

Colusa, Glenn and Trinity Counties comprise the Dos Rios Continuum of Care, CoC Number: CA-523. The Continuum of Care is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness. The Dos Rios Continuum of Care procures and manages grants for Colusa County.

Colusa Continuum of Care and Tri-County Community Action Partnership

The Colusa CoC & TCCAP are 18 Colusa based agencies and nonprofits who collaborate on ways to assist the homeless and at risk homeless population in Colusa County. The group meets every 3 months. Below is a list of all members:

• A Hand Up
• American Red Cross
• CAPC-Colusa Family Action Center
• Colusa County Behavioral Health
• Colusa County Health and Human Services
• Colusa County Jail
• Colusa County Library
• Colusa County Migrant Housing
• Colusa County Veterans’ Services
• Colusa Medical Center
• Colusa One-Stop
• Community Action Partnership
• Community Development Department
• Dos Rios Continuum of Care
• First 5 Colusa-Family Action Centers
• Foster Youth/CCOE
• Karen’s House
• Ministerial Association of Colusa County