Eviction Prevention - Shelter, Inc.

Description

Offers assistance is to help prevent homelessness for households at immediate risk of becoming homeless, once every two years. Program provides limited financial assistance to eligible applicants for housing-related expenses. Assistance may be available for up to one month of rental arrears (back rent) for households that can demonstrate the ability to maintain ongoing housing costs after receiving support. Security deposit assistance may also be available for individuals or families who are relocating due to an unexpected or urgent situation, with requests required to be submitted within 30 days before or after the move-in date. This program does not provide assistance for more than one month of back rent, future or advance rent payments, late fees, or utility bills. Individuals requiring assistance beyond these limitations are encouraged to contact 211 for additional resources.

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5pm

Required Documents

Adults: Current, valid photo ID for each adult in the household. Minors: Birth certificate or hospital birth document for each child in the household.(Required for each household member age 18 or older who is employed). Last three consecutive months of pay stubs showing a decrease in income. Documentation of any government assistance received (e.g., EDD, SSI, SSDI, TANF), including the corresponding award letter. Child support documentation, if applicable. Proof of Financial Hardship Provide documentation relevant to your situation: Layoff: Letter from former employer. Medical leave: Doctor's note with start and end dates. Loss of income: Any document(s) showing reduced income due to financial hardship. Uninhabitable unit: Official documentation as proof. Homelessness: Homeless certificate, if applicable. Domestic violence: Police report, if applicable.April 23, 2026 If Requesting Back Rent Assistance — Tenancy Documents (Provided by your current landlord) Signed lease agreement (signed by both tenant and landlord), rent ledger from the landlord. If Requesting Deposit or First Month's Rent — New Tenancy Documents (Provided by your new landlord) A letter of intent to rent that includes: Anticipated move-in date (must be within 30 days of the request), security deposit amount, monthly rent amount. Additional Documents for Section 8 Voucher Holders Requesting Deposit Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher. rental tenancy agreement, family composition document, rent Portion Calculation, inspection Pass document.

Eligibility

An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence includes someone who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements, including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels or motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, and local government programs; or is exiting an institution where they resided for 90 days or less and had been living in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution. This definition also includes any individual or family who is fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, has no other residence, and lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.

Fees

Tenant rent portion will vary during participation.

Intake Procedure

Apply online. Full intake is usually conducted by a case manager.

Languages

English and Spanish

Service Area

Contra Costa County

Geography Served

Telephone Numbers

Description

Offers assistance is to help prevent homelessness for households at immediate risk of becoming homeless, once every two years. Program provides limited financial assistance to eligible applicants for housing-related expenses. Assistance may be available for up to one month of rental arrears (back rent) for households that can demonstrate the ability to maintain ongoing housing costs after receiving support. Security deposit assistance may also be available for individuals or families who are relocating due to an unexpected or urgent situation, with requests required to be submitted within 30 days before or after the move-in date. This program does not provide assistance for more than one month of back rent, future or advance rent payments, late fees, or utility bills. Individuals requiring assistance beyond these limitations are encouraged to contact 211 for additional resources.

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5pm

Required Documents

Applicants are required to provide documentation for all household members to verify eligibility. All adults must submit a current, valid photo ID, and minors must provide a birth certificate or hospital birth record. For employed household members age 18 or older, documentation must include the last three consecutive months of pay stubs demonstrating a decrease in income, along with verification of any government assistance received (e.g., EDD, SSI, SSDI, TANF), including corresponding award letters. Child support documentation must be provided if applicable. Applicants must also submit proof of financial hardship relevant to their situation, such as a layoff notice from a former employer, a doctor’s note for medical leave with specified dates, documentation showing reduced income, official verification of an uninhabitable unit, a homeless certificate, or a police report in cases of domestic violence, when applicable. Additional documentation is required based on the type of assistance requested. For back rent assistance, applicants must provide tenancy documents from their current landlord, including a signed lease agreement and a rent ledger. For security deposit or first month’s rent assistance, applicants must submit documentation from the prospective landlord, including a letter of intent to rent that specifies the anticipated move-in date (within 30 days of the request), security deposit amount, and monthly rent amount. Section 8 voucher holders requesting deposit assistance must also provide a Housing Choice Voucher, rental tenancy agreement, family composition document, rent portion calculation, and inspection pass documentation.

Eligibility

Contra Costa County residents living with minor children. Hardship must be: Unexpected — not something you could have planned for. Not self-created. Temporary in nature. Recent — occurred within the last three months

Fees

None

Intake Procedure

Apply online. Full intake is usually conducted by a case manager.

Languages

English and Spanish

Service Area

Contra Costa County

Geography Served

Telephone Numbers

Description

Offers assistance is to help prevent homelessness for households at immediate risk of becoming homeless, once every two years. Program provides limited financial assistance to eligible applicants for housing-related expenses. Assistance may be available for up to one month of rental arrears (back rent) for households that can demonstrate the ability to maintain ongoing housing costs after receiving support. Security deposit assistance may also be available for individuals or families who are relocating due to an unexpected or urgent situation, with requests required to be submitted within 30 days before or after the move-in date. This program does not provide assistance for more than one month of back rent, future or advance rent payments, late fees, or utility bills. Individuals requiring assistance beyond these limitations are encouraged to contact 211 for additional resources.

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5pm

Required Documents

Adults: Current, valid photo ID for each adult in the household. Minors: Birth certificate or hospital birth document for each child in the household.(Required for each household member age 18 or older who is employed). Last three consecutive months of pay stubs showing a decrease in income. Documentation of any government assistance received (e.g., EDD, SSI, SSDI, TANF), including the corresponding award letter. Child support documentation, if applicable. Proof of Financial Hardship Provide documentation relevant to your situation: Layoff: Letter from former employer. Medical leave: Doctor's note with start and end dates. Loss of income: Any document(s) showing reduced income due to financial hardship. Uninhabitable unit: Official documentation as proof. Homelessness: Homeless certificate, if applicable. Domestic violence: Police report, if applicable.April 23, 2026 If Requesting Back Rent Assistance — Tenancy Documents (Provided by your current landlord) Signed lease agreement (signed by both tenant and landlord), rent ledger from the landlord. If Requesting Deposit or First Month's Rent — New Tenancy Documents (Provided by your new landlord) A letter of intent to rent that includes: Anticipated move-in date (must be within 30 days of the request), security deposit amount, monthly rent amount. Additional Documents for Section 8 Voucher Holders Requesting Deposit Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher. rental tenancy agreement, family composition document, rent Portion Calculation, inspection Pass document.

Eligibility

Contra Costa County residents living with minor children. Hardship must be: Unexpected — not something you could have planned for. Not self-created. Temporary in nature. Recent — occurred within the last three months

Fees

None

Intake Procedure

Complete online application.

Languages

English and Spanish

Service Area

Contra Costa County

Geography Served

Telephone Numbers