California's Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program is one of the state's primary tools for funding local homelessness response — and Governor Newsom's announcement of $145.4 million in Round 5 grants represents a significant infusion of resources for eight California regions. For renters on the edge of eviction, people already experiencing homelessness, or households living in unstable conditions, this funding may help expand access to programs that could stabilize their housing situation. Understanding how HHAP money actually moves — from the state to local agencies to individuals — is the first step toward connecting with services that may be available to you.

What Is HHAP and How Does the Funding Work?

The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program is a state-administered grant program created by the California Legislature. Unlike direct rental assistance programs such as Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) or Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), HHAP does not send money directly to individuals. Instead, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) distributes funds to regional Continuums of Care (CoCs) — the local planning bodies that coordinate homeless services in each county or multi-county region.

Those CoCs then sub-grant the money to local nonprofits, county agencies, and service providers who operate the actual programs: emergency shelters, transitional housing, rapid rehousing assistance, homelessness prevention services, and street outreach teams. This layered structure means there is no single state application portal. Access to HHAP-funded services happens at the local level, through local agencies.

Which Eight Regions Are Receiving Round 5 Funds?

The Round 5 announcement targets eight regional CoCs across California. HHAP allocations are generally weighted by the size of each region's homeless population as measured in the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count — a federally mandated census of people experiencing homelessness conducted each January. Regions with larger unsheltered populations, including those in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Bay Area CoCs, typically receive the largest shares of available funding.

Residents in all eight funded regions should contact their local CoC directly or dial 211 to ask which specific programs are being funded in their area under this round. Program availability, intake status, and waitlist conditions change frequently as funding is deployed, so real-time local information is more reliable than any statewide summary.

What Types of Programs May HHAP Round 5 Fund?

HHAP is a flexible block grant, which means local agencies have significant discretion in how they deploy the funds within state guidelines. Programs that HHAP dollars commonly support include the following categories.

Homelessness Prevention Assistance

This category is most directly relevant to renters facing eviction. Prevention funds may cover short-term rental arrears, utility arrears, move-in costs such as security deposits and first month's rent, and case management services designed to stabilize a household before it loses housing entirely.

Eligibility for prevention programs typically requires documentation of imminent housing loss — an eviction notice, a landlord's written notice to vacate, or a utility shutoff notice — and household income generally at or below 30–50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Individual program thresholds vary by county and by the specific agency administering the funds.

Rapid Rehousing

For people who are already unhoused, rapid rehousing programs provide short- to medium-term rental subsidies combined with housing navigation and case management. The goal is to move individuals and families into stable housing as quickly as possible rather than cycling them through shelter indefinitely.

Rapid rehousing subsidies are time-limited — typically ranging from three to twenty-four months depending on program design — and are not equivalent to a long-term Housing Choice Voucher. Participants are expected to transition toward self-sufficiency or other housing resources as the subsidy phases down. Case managers work with participants during this period to address barriers such as credit history, rental history, and employment.

Emergency Shelter and Interim Housing

Some HHAP funds support the operation of emergency shelters, safe parking programs, and interim housing sites such as converted motels or modular cabin communities. These are not permanent solutions, but they provide a safer environment and a connection point to case managers who can help people access longer-term resources including benefits enrollment, healthcare, and housing placement.

Outreach and Engagement

Street outreach teams funded through HHAP work to connect unsheltered individuals with services. If you or someone you know is living outside, in a vehicle, or in another location not meant for human habitation, outreach workers can be a critical first link to shelter placement, Medi-Cal enrollment, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Outreach teams are typically deployed in areas with visible unsheltered populations and can also be reached through 211.

How to Access HHAP-Funded Services: A Step-by-Step Approach

Because HHAP funds flow through local agencies rather than a single state portal, there is no centralized application. The following steps reflect the most effective approach for California residents seeking to connect with services that may be available under this funding.

Step 1: Call 211

Dialing 211 connects you to a local information and referral specialist who can identify currently available programs in your county, including those funded through HHAP. Be specific when you call: describe whether you are facing eviction, already unhoused, or in another unstable housing situation. Ask specifically about homelessness prevention funds, rapid rehousing programs, and any emergency rental assistance currently accepting applications in your area.

Step 2: Contact Your Local Continuum of Care

Every California county is part of a CoC. Most CoCs operate a Coordinated Entry System (CES), which is the standardized assessment and referral process used to connect people to housing resources based on need and vulnerability. Entering the CES is often a required step to access HHAP-funded housing programs, particularly rapid rehousing and transitional housing placements. You can locate your local CoC through HUD's website at hud.gov or by asking your 211 operator for a direct referral.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents Before You Apply

Programs move quickly when funding is limited, and having documents ready before you contact an agency can significantly reduce delays. Commonly required documents for HHAP-funded programs include:

  • Proof of identity: government-issued ID, passport, or birth certificate
  • Proof of income: recent pay stubs, benefit award letters (such as Social Security or CalWORKs), or a signed self-certification of zero income
  • Proof of housing instability: eviction notice, lease showing rental arrears, utility shutoff notice, or a written statement from a landlord
  • Social Security numbers for all household members (some programs have provisions for mixed-immigration-status households — ask your case manager)
  • Proof of California residency: utility bill, lease, or mail addressed to your current or last known address

Not every program requires every document on this list, but having them organized in advance prevents avoidable delays when a program slot becomes available.

Step 4: Apply to Multiple Programs Simultaneously

Waitlists for housing assistance in California are among the longest in the country. The Los Angeles CoC's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist, for example, has historically had wait times measured in years. Applying to HHAP-funded prevention programs, county general relief, open Section 8 waitlists, and any other available resources at the same time — rather than sequentially — is the most practical strategy for households in crisis. Accepting assistance from one program does not automatically disqualify you from others, though case managers can help you understand how different benefits interact.

Step 5: Follow Up Consistently

Once you have applied or been placed on a waitlist, keep detailed records of every interaction: dates, names of staff, reference or case numbers, and what you were told. Update your contact information with each agency any time your phone number or address changes. A significant number of households lose their place on waitlists simply because an agency could not reach them when a slot opened.

Income Limits: What to Expect

HHAP-funded programs do not use a single statewide income threshold. Most prevention and rapid rehousing programs target households at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) — the lowest-income tier — though some programs extend eligibility to 50% or even 80% AMI depending on local program design and the specific funding source being used.

AMI figures vary significantly by county across California. A household at 30% AMI in San Francisco represents a very different dollar figure than the same percentage in Fresno or Bakersfield. Your local program administrator will calculate your eligibility based on your county's current HUD-published AMI figures and your household's verified income and size. If you are unsure whether your income falls within a program's range, contact the agency directly — many will conduct a brief pre-screening by phone before requiring a full application.

Honest Assessment: What This Funding Can and Cannot Do

A $145.4 million allocation is meaningful, but scale matters. California's most recent statewide homeless count identified more than 180,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night. HHAP Round 5 funding, distributed across eight regions and multiple program types, will not close that gap on its own. What it may do is expand the capacity of local agencies to serve more households, open new shelter beds, and fund additional prevention slots that did not exist before this round.

For individuals, the practical implication is this: more funding means more program slots may become available, but demand will still exceed supply in most regions. Acting quickly, applying broadly, and staying engaged with your local CoC and 211 system gives you the best chance of connecting with assistance that may be available to you.

If You Are Facing Eviction Right Now

If you have received an eviction notice, do not wait for HHAP-funded programs to open intake. California's eviction process includes mandatory notice periods and court procedures that create a window for intervention — but that window closes once a court judgment is entered. Contact a local legal aid organization immediately; many offer free tenant representation and can sometimes negotiate directly with landlords or request court continuances while you pursue rental assistance. You can find legal aid in your county through lawhelpcalifornia.org. Simultaneously, contact 211 to ask about any emergency rental assistance funds currently accepting applications.

If you are already unhoused and need immediate shelter, 211 can also connect you to available shelter beds, safe parking programs, and outreach teams operating in your area tonight.

Program eligibility and availability vary by state. Not affiliated with any government agency.