Housing Deposit

Here is a complete description of all the benefits under CalAIM's Housing Deposits program:

CalAIM Housing Deposits — Complete Program Description

What Is the Housing Deposits Program?

The CalAIM Housing Deposits program is one of three services in the "housing trio" of Community Supports available through Medi-Cal managed care. Housing Deposits assist with identifying, coordinating, securing, or funding one-time services and modifications necessary to enable a person to establish a basic household. The services and goods provided to a member must be based on an individualized assessment of needs and documented in the member's housing support plan. Contra Costa Health

This program is specifically designed to remove the financial barriers that prevent homeless or at-risk Medi-Cal members from moving into permanent housing when a unit is secured. It covers the upfront costs — the deposits, setup fees, and essential household items — that most people simply cannot afford after a period of homelessness.

💰 What the Housing Deposits Program Covers

Housing Deposits include the following specific benefits: Contra Costa Health

1. Security Deposit

Security deposits required to obtain a lease on an apartment or home. This is the core benefit of the program — covering the upfront deposit a landlord requires before a member can move in. Per California law, the security deposit limit equals one month's rent. Contra Costa HealthPartnershiphp

⚠️ Important 2025 Update: Effective July 1, 2025, DHCS removed coverage of first and last month's rent to avoid duplication with the new Transitional Rent Community Support. Members who do not meet criteria for Transitional Rent will only receive the security deposit if they meet eligibility requirements. Partnershiphp

2. Utility Setup Fees and Deposits

Set-up fees and deposits for utilities or service access, and payment of utility arrears. This includes: Contra Costa Health

Deposits required by gas and electric companies to start service

Water and sewer setup fees

Internet or telephone service deposits

Payment of past-due utility arrears to restore or establish service eligibility

3. First Month Utility Coverage

First month coverage of utilities, including but not limited to telephone, gas, electricity, heating, and water. This ensures members can immediately have functioning utilities when they move into their new home without falling behind on bills from day one. Contra Costa Health

4. Health and Safety Services

Services necessary for the individual's health and safety, such as pest eradication and one-time cleaning prior to occupancy, along with necessary minor repairs to meet HUD Housing Choice Voucher program quality standards or other habitability standards, where those costs are not otherwise covered. This can include: Contra Costa Health

Professional pest control (rodents, bed bugs, cockroaches)

Deep cleaning of the unit before move-in

Minor repairs needed to make the unit safe and habitable

Addressing hazards such as mold remediation needed for health

5. Essential Household Goods and Furnishings

Members moving out of homelessness typically have no belongings at all. The Housing Deposits program can cover essential household goods necessary to establish a basic, functional home, based on the member's individual needs and documented in their housing support plan. This can include items such as:

Bedding — mattress, bed frame, sheets, pillows, blankets

Basic furniture — table, chairs, couch or seating

Bathroom essentials — towels, shower curtain, bath mat

Kitchen basics — pots, pans, dishes, utensils, cups

Cleaning supplies — mop, broom, vacuum

Laundry items — laundry basket, detergent

Personal safety items — smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, door locks

📝 Note: Effective January 1, 2026, California Assembly Bill 628 requires landlords to maintain stoves and refrigerators in rental units. Providers should validate working appliances during the walk-through to ensure landlords are following this requirement. As a result, these appliances are no longer covered under Housing Deposits. Health Net

6. Moving Costs and Application Fees

Application fees required to apply for a rental unit (where not prohibited)

Moving assistance costs associated with getting the member's belongings or essential items into the new home

Housing Deposit service requests must be submitted within 30 days of the member moving into their housing unit as noted in the lease agreement. Providers may request Housing Deposit authorization for services prior to move-in, such as application fees or goods, to ensure a smooth transition for the member. Health Net

📋 Housing Support Plan Requirement

All members who receive Housing Deposits are required to have a housing support plan. All services and goods related to Housing Deposits must be identified as reasonable and necessary in the member's housing support plan. This plan is developed with the member and their care team and documents exactly what items and services are needed, why they are necessary, and how they support the member's health and stability. CA

✅ Who Is Eligible

To qualify for Housing Deposits, a Medi-Cal managed care member must:

Be enrolled in a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) that has elected to offer Housing Deposits

Be experiencing homelessness (meeting the HUD definition) or be at significant risk of homelessness

Have a housing unit secured or in process — the deposits are tied to an actual lease or housing placement

Have a documented housing support plan identifying the specific needs to be covered

Be transitioning into a permanent housing setting (not temporary shelter)

A member can receive Housing Deposits and Housing Transition Navigation Services at the same time to secure housing. They can also be paired with Transitional Rent if eligible for both. Justice in Aging

🔁 Frequency and Lifetime Limits

Housing Deposits are available once per demonstration period. Housing Deposits can only be approved one additional time with documentation as to what conditions have changed to demonstrate why providing Housing Deposits would be more successful on the second attempt. MCPs are expected to make a good faith effort to review information available to them to determine if a member has already received Housing Deposits once within the demonstration period. CA

Additionally, Housing Deposits may only be offered per household, regardless of the number of Medi-Cal members in that household. Partnershiphp

❌ What Housing Deposits Cannot Be Used For

Ongoing rent payments — Housing Deposits cannot pay rent; that is covered by Transitional Rent

Duplicate services — Cannot be used for items already covered by another state, local, or federal program

First and last month's rent — removed as of July 1, 2025 due to overlap with Transitional Rent

Non-essential or luxury items — all goods must be identified as reasonable and necessary in the housing support plan

🔗 How Housing Deposits Fits in the Full Housing Continuum

The "housing trio" is an evidence-based bundle proven to help people experiencing homelessness get and keep housing. Housing Deposits is the critical second step: California Health Care Foundation

1. HOUSING TRANSITION NAVIGATION SERVICES → Helps the member find and secure a housing unit 2. HOUSING DEPOSITS ← You are here → Covers security deposit, utilities, household essentials to move in 3. TRANSITIONAL RENT (new Jan 2026) → Covers up to 6 months of rent to help the member stay stable 4. HOUSING TENANCY & SUSTAINING SERVICES → Ongoing support to maintain tenancy and prevent eviction

📊 Program Parameters at a Glance

ParameterDetailCost to member$0 — fully covered through Medi-CalLifetime limitOnce per demonstration period (through Dec 2026); second approval requires documented justificationPer householdOne authorization per household, not per individualSecurity deposit capUp to one month's rent per CA lawAuthorization timingMust be submitted within 30 days of move-in; pre-move-in requests allowed for application feesAvailable statewideYes — offered in all 58 counties by contracted MCPsCan be combined withHousing Transition Navigation Services, Transitional Rent, Housing Tenancy & Sustaining Services, ECM

📖 Real-World Example

A homeless services provider secured authorization from a managed care plan for housing deposits, which helped a member pay the deposit for his apartment and modify the apartment to include grab bars. Once housed, the member also received tenancy and sustaining services to help him maintain his housing. Since he had lived outdoors for many years and wasn't accustomed to paying rent, he initially fell behind on payments, but his tenancy and sustaining services case manager helped advocate to the landlord to prevent eviction and arranged for his rent to be deducted from his SSI check automatically. California Health Care Foundation

To access Housing Deposits, a referral can be made by the member themselves, a family member, a housing provider, a primary care provider, an ECM Lead Care Manager, a hospital discharge planner, or any community organization. Contact your Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan to initiate the process.