In California, Medi-Cal members with complex medical needs may qualify for housing assistance through programs such as Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, which provide assistance with housing deposits, tenancy sustainment support, transitional rent, and medical respite housing. These services are designed to stabilize the housing situation of individuals whose health conditions are exacerbated by homelessness or unsafe living conditions.
How to Get Started with Housing Assistance in California Through Medical
If you are a Medi-Cal member in California, you can access housing assistance through the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. This program views housing as a “Community Support” service, as stable housing is considered essential for your overall health.
The most direct way to access these benefits is to contact your Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (for example: L.A. Care, Health Net, Molina Healthcare).
- Check your ID card: Look for the customer service number on your Medi-Cal health plan ID card.
- Request a “Housing Navigator”: Ask for a referral for “Community Supports” or “Housing Transition Navigation Services.”
- Talk to your doctor: You can also ask your primary care provider or clinic to submit a referral for these services on your behalf.
Housing Benefits Available Through CalAIM
Through the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, Medi-Cal managed care plans can offer 14 “Community Supports” designed to address health-related social needs. These benefits recognize stable housing as a fundamental component of your healthcare.
Housing Transition Navigation Services: You are assigned a dedicated navigator who helps you find available housing, complete rental applications, and gather essential documents, such as Social Security cards or birth certificates.
Housing Deposits: This service provides one-time financial assistance to establish a home. It may cover:
- Security deposits and application fees.
- First and last month’s rent.
- Utility connection fees and up to three months of utility arrears.
- Essential items, including furniture (bed, table, chairs) and appliances such as a microwave or a refrigerator.
- Medically necessary items, such as air conditioners, hospital beds, or air filters.
Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services: Once you have moved in, this service helps you maintain your housing. It includes guidance on tenant rights, resolving disputes with landlords, and assistance with annual housing recertifications.
Beyond the core trio, CalAIM offers specialized residential supports for specific health needs:
Transitional Rent: A newer mandatory benefit (effective January 1, 2026) that provides up to 6 months of rental assistance to members who are transitioning out of institutional settings or who are at high risk of homelessness and have behavioral health needs.
Recuperative Care (Medical Respite): Short-term residential care (up to 90 days) for individuals who are too ill to live on the street but do not require hospitalization.
Post-Hospitalization Temporary Housing: Up to 6 months of temporary housing for members with high medical or psychiatric needs, immediately following discharge from a hospital or treatment facility.
Nursing Facility to Community Transitions: Specialized assistance for individuals moving out of nursing facilities to reintegrate into a home-like community setting.
Environmental Accessibility Adaptations: Funding for home modifications (such as ramps or grab bars) to ensure that you can live independently and safely in your own home.
Transitional Rent Benefit
Starting January 1, 2026, eligible members will be able to receive up to 6 months of rental assistance, known as “Transitional Rent.” This benefit is specifically intended for individuals transitioning from institutional settings (such as hospitals or skilled nursing facilities) or for those at high risk of homelessness who have significant behavioral health needs.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for Medi-Cal housing assistance, you must generally meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan.
- Be experiencing homelessness or be at imminent risk of homelessness.
- Have complex health needs, such as a serious mental health condition, a chronic physical illness, or a history of frequent emergency room visits.
Specialized Housing Programs through Medi-Cal
Assisted Living Waiver (ALW): For seniors or individuals with disabilities who require a level of care typically provided in a nursing home but prefer to live in an assisted living facility.
California Community Transitions (CCT): Helps individuals who have resided in a medical facility for at least one day to reintegrate into the community.
Project-Based Rental Assistance (Project 811): Provides permanent supportive housing for low-income individuals with disabilities (ages 18 to 61) who are transitioning out of long-term care.
How to Apply
Step 1: Contact your Medi-Cal health plan and ask about Community Supports or Enhanced Care Management.
Step 2: Request housing-related services, such as rental deposits, housing maintenance support, or transitional rent.
Step 3: Work with a case manager to complete intake forms and provide the required documentation (ID, proof of Medi-Cal enrollment, medical needs).
Step 4: Connect with housing providers, shelters, or transitional housing programs.
Contact Numbers
Northern California: 1-833-721-6012 (TTY 711)
Southern California: 1-866-551-9619 (TTY 711)
Medi-Cal Member Services: 1-855-839-7613 (TTY 711)
Key Points
Medi-Cal offers housing assistance linked to medical needs through ECM and Community Supports.
Services include rental deposits, housing maintenance support, transitional rent, and medical respite housing.
Contact your Medi-Cal health plan or call the regional hotlines to start the process. Prepare the documentation in advance to avoid delays.
