Program Rules

Program Rules & Guidelines: ARG Cohort 4 Rental Assistance

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Program Name: Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) Cohort 4 — Direct Housing Assistance
Program Goal: To prevent homelessness and support housing stability for eligible individuals formerly incarcerated in the California state prison system by providing financial assistance for housing-related costs.

Service Philosophy: We operate on a Housing First model. This means we provide assistance without pre-conditions like sobriety or program participation. Our focus is on housing stability as a primary goal.

 

Section 1: Eligibility Criteria

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To be eligible for assistance, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

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1.1 Justice System Involvement

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• Requirement: Must be an adult (18 years or older) who was previously incarcerated in a California state prison.

• Priority: Priority for assistance is given to individuals who are currently on state parole and/or who have been released from prison within the last 12 months. However, individuals released at any point in the past are still eligible to apply.

1.2 Geographic Service Area

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• Requirement: Must currently reside in, or have confirmed plans to exit to within the next 30 days, one of the designated Counties under this program.

• List of Eligible Counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba

 

1.3 Housing Need

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• Requirement: Must have a verifiable, immediate need for financial assistance to either obtain or retain housing. This includes, but is not limited to:​

  • Experiencing literal homelessness (unsheltered, in a shelter, or in a place not meant for habitation).

  • Being unable to secure a housing unit without assistance for move-in costs.

  • Being doubled-up with friends or family in an unstable situation.

• Being at risk of homelessness (e.g., received an eviction notice, cannot pay rent).

 

Section 2: Types of Assistance Covered

(Eligible Costs)

 

Financial assistance can be provided for the following direct housing costs, subject to program funding and reasonableness review:

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• Rent and Arrears:

  • Back Rent (Arrears): Payment of past-due rent to prevent eviction and stabilize tenancy. Documentation of the hardship that led to the arrears is required.

  • Current/Future Rent: Short-term rental assistance to bridge a gap in funding, typically when paired with arrears or move-in costs for a new unit.

• Move-In Costs:

  • Security Deposits: Full or partial payment of a security deposit for a new rental unit.

  • First and/or Last Month’s Rent: Required payments to secure a lease.

  • Required Application Fees: Fees charged by a landlord to process a rental application.

• Emergency Housing:

  • Short-Term Hotel/Motel Vouchers: For emergency situations, such as when exiting an institution before permanent housing is secured or during a health/safety crisis. (Typically limited to 14-30 days).

• Housing Stabilization Supports:

  • Landlord Incentives: One-time payments to landlords to encourage them to rent to an eligible applicant (e.g., holding fee, damage repair incentive).

  • Host Stipends: A stipend paid to a friend or family member who is providing temporary housing to the applicant. This stipend is capped at the local HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the area and unit size.

  • Basic Set-Up Items: Essential household items necessary to make a housing unit habitable, such as bedding, basic kitchen appliances, and cleaning supplies. These are typically provided via voucher or direct purchase by the agency.

 

Generally Ineligible Costs: Parking fees, storage unit fees, pet fees, moving truck rentals, utility bills (unless required to secure tenancy), and non-essential furniture.

 

Section 3: The Application Process & Required Documentation

 

3.1 Before You Begin

 

The application takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete if you have your documents ready. If you are missing documents, please apply anyway. Our staff will work with you to find alternatives.

 

3.2 Detailed Documentation Requirements

 

You will need to provide documentation to verify your eligibility and housing need. We understand documents can be hard to get; we accept a range of options and will assist you.

• A. Identity Verification (Choose One):

  • Government-Issued Photo ID (e.g., Driver's License, State ID, Passport)

  • Birth Certificate

  • School or Work ID Card

  • Alternative: If no documents are available, we will use a self-attestation process verified by program staff.

• B. Proof of Residency in an eligible County (Choose One):

  • Current Lease or Rental Agreement

  • Utility Bill (electric, gas, water, waste) dated within the last 60 days.

  • Official mail from a government agency or nonprofit service provider verifying your address.

  • For individuals exiting an institution: A letter from a case manager, parole officer, or the institution confirming your planned discharge destination is one of the eligible Counties.

• C. Proof of Housing Cost and Owed Amount:

  • Part 1: Proof of Tenancy/Occupancy:

    • A written lease agreement OR

    • A simple, signed letter from your landlord, master tenant, or host confirming your oral or written rental agreement, the address, and the monthly cost.

  • Part 2: Proof of Amount Owed (Choose One):

    • Rent ledger from the landlord/property manager.

    • Pay-or-Quit Notice or Eviction Notice (3-day, 30-day, etc.).

    • A signed letter from the landlord/host detailing the specific amounts due (for arrears, deposit, etc.).

    • Court stipulation or settlement agreement.

    • Bank statements or receipts showing a history of rent payments.

• D. Payee Information (for Issuing Payment):

  • An IRS W-9 form (or W-8BEN for non-residents) completed by the landlord, master tenant, host, or vendor who will receive the payment directly from us. If the payee cannot provide a W-9, we will use alternative methods such as vouchers or direct purchase of items.

• E. Proof of Hardship (Required for Arrears Assistance):

  • Documentation of a financial hardship within the last 12 months, such as:

    • Job loss or reduction in hours (termination letter, change in pay stubs).

    • Unemployment or public benefit statements.

    • Documentation of loss of an income-earner in the household.

    • Receipts for significant unexpected expenses (medical, funeral).

    • Documentation of a new dependent.

    • A signed letter from a case manager describing the hardship.

• F. Supplemental Documents (If Applicable):

  • Housing subsidy letter (e.g., Section 8 voucher) showing the tenant portion of rent.

  • Formal eviction court papers ("Unlawful Detainer").

  • Letter from an eviction-defense attorney.

 

Section 4: Program Policies & Participant Rights

 

4.1 Prioritization of Applications

When funding is limited, we prioritize households with the highest risk of immediate homelessness. Priority factors include:

• Imminent eviction (e.g., within 14 days of a lockout, having received an Unlawful Detainer summons).

• Households with children, pregnant members, older adults (60+), or individuals with disabilities/serious health conditions.

• Individuals exiting a correctional, medical, or treatment facility within 30 days.

• Recent history of literal homelessness (unsheltered or in a shelter).

 

4.2 Duplication of Benefits Policy

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• Our program cannot provide payment for a housing cost that has already been covered by another assistance program for the same time period (e.g., receiving rental assistance from two sources for the same month's rent).

• Applicants must attest that they are not requesting duplicative benefits.

• If a duplication of benefits is discovered, whether due to error or fraud, the household may be required to repay the duplicated amount to the program. Fraudulent receipt of funds may result in prosecution.

 

4.3 Grievance and Appeals Process

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• If you disagree with a decision made on your application, you have the right to a secondary review.

• You must submit a simple, written request for review within 14 calendar days of receiving the decision notice.

• A program supervisor who was not involved in the original decision will re-evaluate your application and provide a written response within 10 business days.

 

4.4 Your Rights

• Non-Discrimination: We do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, disability, or any other protected class. We follow fair housing practices.

• Immigration Status: We do not ask about or require disclosure of immigration or citizenship status. It is not an eligibility factor.

• Language Access: Free interpretation services and translated materials are available upon request.

• Reasonable Accommodations: Accommodations for disabilities are available at every stage of the application and assistance process.

• Privacy: We collect only the personal information necessary to determine eligibility, process payments, and meet state reporting requirements.

 

Section 5: Additional Resources & Contact Information

 

5.1 Eviction Protections and Legal Help

• California state law and some local ordinances provide eviction protections ("just cause" eviction, required notice periods).

• If you receive eviction court papers (an "Unlawful Detainer"), you must act immediately, as you may have only 5 court days to respond.

• Free resources are available:

  • Call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for local tenant resources.

  • Contact your county's Superior Court Self-Help Center for assistance with legal forms.

  • Find a non-profit legal aid organization at LawHelpCA.org.

This information is for general guidance and is not legal advice.

 

5.2 Contact Us for Application Help
 

Do not delay applying because you are missing documents. Our staff is here to help you complete the process.