Emergency Assistance Program

Emergency Assistance Program is sponsored by Housing Industry Foundation. Provides emergency grants to individuals and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties to prevent homelessness and community displacement.

Emergency Housing Fund - Housing Industry Foundation HIF’s Emergency Housing Fund offers a lifeline after unforeseen and temporary financial setbacks, acting as a bridge between crisis and stability for people living in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. An unstable housing situation can arise from any number of unexpected circumstances, such as medical bills, job loss, or a death in the family.

HIF collaborates with a network of partner agencies that provide initial screening and supportive services for those that demonstrate need and ability to utilize our emergency housing grants for sustained stability leveraging up to $2,500 in support benefiting households threatened with homelessness.

In 2024, HIF granted over $932,500 in assistance to help prevent more than 560 families in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties from experiencing homelessness. For questions, please contact HIF at EHF@hifinfo. org .

See our FAQs below to see what you need to apply today. HIF’s Emergency Housing Fund (EHF) provides one-time emergency financial assistance to help cover back rent, security deposits, and utility costs for residents of Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in California. If you’re at risk of losing your housing, a grant from HIF may be able to help.

To apply, you’ll need to connect with a case manager at one of our partner agencies. These case managers are specially trained in the HIF application process. If you have questions or need help gathering documents, the case manager will act as your main point of contact.

They’ll guide you through the application process and submit your completed application on your behalf. HIF’s priority is to provide fast assistance to those facing an urgent need. If your application is approved, payments will be made directly to your landlord or utility company.

What documents do I need to provide to my case manager? You will need to provide IDs for everyone in your household. Only the IDs listed below are acceptable.

Social Security cards are not an acceptable form of identification.

Birth or hospital certificate (for Minors) School identification card (for Minors) Drivers license/ID card (Adults) Passport or government-issued identification with photo (Adults) Lease agreement, including any Section 8 paperwork, or any Housing Vouchers in your name Rent ledger or other documentation about past due rent Documents related to housing costs you owe, including utility bills, pay or quit documents, etc. Employment verification—your pay stubs, for example Income verification—all sources including EDD income Any documentation that helps explain the crisis you are experiencing For example, a letter from your employer if you lost your job or unpaid hospital bills if you have them.

You must reside in either Alameda, Santa Clara or San Mateo County in California You are a low-income family or individual who is at risk of losing their housing, or are in the process of re-housing after a job loss, eviction or medical emergency You need help paying rent, security deposit or utility bills (PG&E, water/garbage) You have not previously received an Emergency Housing Fund grant You must demonstrate the ability to sustain housing going forward Your online application is completed by one of our trained EHF partners Your documents must demonstrate a need due to unforeseen circumstances If you live in California and in Alameda, San Mateo or Santa Clara County, click on one of the links below to find the agency for your area.

Alameda County Resources: Alameda County Housing Resources San Mateo County Resources: San Mateo County Resources Santa Clara County Resources: Santa Clara County Resources by zip code Santa Clara County Resources Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System You can also try reaching out to 211. org or findhelp. org for more resources.

Please email us at ehf@hifinfo. org . HIF does not provide any program services at our local office.

How do I find a case manager? Try reaching out to 211. org or findhelp.

org for more assistance. If you live in California and in either Santa Clara or San Mateo County, you can also check out the following links of core service agencies: Santa Clara County Core Services Agencies San Mateo County Core Service Agencies We only work with case managers from these core service agencies. You need to find a case manager who will submit an application to us if they find you meet our criteria.

How can I check the status of my application? Your case manager will be your main point of contact for updates. HIF does not provide any program services at our local office or over the phone.

How can I check the status of my application? Your case manager will be your main point of contact for updates. HIF does not provide any program services at our local office or over the phone.

How will I know when I am approved? If you are approved, we will contact your case manager. This email will include both the grant amount and the date the check was mailed to your landlord or utility company from our office.

Can I apply again if I was previously denied? Yes, your case manager can re-apply for you if your EHF grant was not approved because either your landlord or case manager was non-responsive. However, you cannot re-apply if your EHF grant was not approved because your application did not meet the program requirements.

What happens after my application is submitted? The application review process can take between 1 and 2 weeks. Sometimes faster if you provide all the required documentation to your case manager.

If you are approved, HIF will contact your case manager directly to let them know when the check is issued. Once approved, we send the payment directly to your landlord or utility company If you are denied, your case manager will share other housing assistance options available to you.

HIF Emergency Housing Fund (EHF) offers critical one-time financial assistance for residents of Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in California who are at immediate risk of losing their housing. Our fund helps cover back rent, security deposits, and utility costs, prioritizing swift support to keep individuals and families safely housed.

HIF collaborates closely with partner agencies throughout Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Applications are submitted by trained case managers, who act as intermediaries on behalf of their clients. In order to submit an application, case managers must first complete HIF’s Emergency Housing Fund Process training, ensuring they understand the application requirements and can effectively guide clients.

Please email us at ehf@hifinfo. org . HIF does not provide any program services at our local office.

In this process, the case manager serves as the primary contact, answering client questions, collecting necessary documentation, and supporting the application from start to finish. If an application is approved, HIF issues payment directly to the client’s landlord or utility provider, providing fast and reliable assistance to stabilize housing. What do HIF EHF grants cover?

HIF can assist with emergency financial assistance towards rent, security deposit and/or utilities for residents in Alameda, San Mateo or Santa Clara Counties in California. How can I apply for a grant? To apply, you’ll need to connect with a case manager at one of our partner agencies.

These case managers are specially trained in the HIF application process and are to assist you every step of the way. If you have questions or need help gathering documents, the case manager will act as your main point of contact. They’ll guide you through the application process and submit your completed application on your behalf.

HIF’s priority is to provide fast assistance to those facing an urgent need. If your application is approved, payments will be made directly to your landlord or utility company. What is the criteria to qualify for a grant?

You must reside in Alameda, Santa Clara or San Mateo County in California You are a Low-income family or individual who is at risk of losing their housing or are in the processing of re-housing after a job loss, eviction or medical emergency You need help paying rent, security deposit or utility bills (PG&E, Water/Garbage) You have not previously received an Emergency Housing Fund grant You must demonstrate the ability to sustain housing going forward Your online application is completed by one of our trained EHF partners Your documents must demonstrate a need due to unforeseen circumstances How do I find a case manager?

If you live in California and Alameda, San Mateo or Santa Clara County, click on one of the links below to find the agency for your area. Alameda County Housing Resources or Alameda County 211. org San Mateo County Service Agencies Santa Clara County Services Agencies or Here4You Hotline Or you can also try reaching out to https://www.

211. org/ or findhelp. org to find more resources.

How can I check the status of my application? Your case manager will be your main point of contact for updates. HIF does not provide any program services at our local office or over the phone.

How will I know when I am approved? If you are approved, we will contact your case manager. This email will include both the grant amount and the date the check was mailed to your landlord or utility company from our office.

Can I apply again if I was previously denied? Yes, your case manager can re-apply for you if your EHF grant was not approved because either your landlord or case manager was non-responsive. However, you cannot re-apply if your EHF grant was not approved because your application did not meet the program requirements.

What documents do I need to provide to my case manager? You will need to provide IDs for everyone in your household. Only the IDs listed below are acceptable.

Social Security cards are not an acceptable form of identification.

Birth or hospital certificate (for Minors) School identification card (for Minors) Passport or government-issued identification (Adults) Lease agreement, including any Section 8 paperwork, or any Housing Vouchers in your name Rent ledger or other documentation about past due rent Documents related to housing costs you owe, including utility bills, pay or quit documents, etc. Signed landlord payment plans Employment verification—your pay stubs, for example Income verification—all sources including EDD income Any documentation that helps explain the crisis you are experiencing For example, a letter from your employer if you lost your job or unpaid hospital bills if you have them.

What happens after my application is submitted? The application review process can take between 1 and 2 weeks. Sometimes faster if you provide all the required documentation to your case manager.

If you are approved, HIF will contact your case manager directly to let them know when the check will be issued. Once approved, we send the payment directly to your landlord or utility company If you are denied, your case manager will share other housing assistance options available to you. Can you send a check directly to me?

No, all payments are sent directly to your landlord or utility company. How can I check the status of my client’s application? Please reach out to jennifer@hifinfo.

org for the status of your client’s application. Can my client contact HIF directly for updates regarding their application? No, we only work directly with case managers.

Please do not have your client contact us directly. How long does the application approval process take? The approval process can take between 1 to 14 days.

It really depends on how complete the application is with documentation and explanation of your client’s crisis. How will I know when my client is approved? If your client’s application is approved, you will receive an email stating your client has been “Pre-Approved”.

Once the check has been processed, you will receive another email stating that the check has been mailed out to either the property or utility company. Can I apply again for my client if they were previously denied? Yes, you can re-apply for your client if their application was previously denied.

However please reach out to jennifer@hifinfo. org to discuss your client’s situation before re-applying. What are some common mistakes made when filling out the application?

The most common mistakes are not including the client’s ID and/or IDs for all household members, or not including a current W-9, making a typo in an email address, and/or inaccurately completing the budget form. Be sure to include all of the required information and documentation requested in the application form because we cannot process incomplete or inaccurate applications. Can the check be sent directly to the client?

No, all payments are sent directly to your landlord or utility company. Can I come and pick up the check in person? Yes, as the case manager, you or a representative from your agency can come and pick up the check.

We can not, however, release the check to the client or landlord. If you wish to pick up the check, please contact jennifer@hifinfo. org to make the necessary arrangements.

Who can I contact for more information? Please email us at ehf@hifinfo. org .

HIF does not provide any program services at our local office. For the past five years, Leonie has lovingly raised her adopted granddaughter, providing the stability and care every child deserves. But as living costs continued to rise, a series of financial setbacks—including reduced household income, increasing rent, utility bills, vehicle expenses, and delays in public assistance—left the family struggling to keep up.

At the same time, Leonie was navigating personal challenges that made it impossible to continue working. For Rhamell, financial stability has always been built through careful planning, responsible budgeting, and hard work.

As a single adult supporting himself, he has often found himself in a difficult gap, earning too much to qualify for many assistance programs, yet still living paycheck to paycheck as the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise. When expenses began to add up, including bills and other financial obligations, Rhamell found himself facing a challenge.

After experiencing homelessness for more than five years, Kristina is proud to experience stable housing—a milestone made possible through determination, hard work, and community support. To maintain her housing, Kristina works two jobs and has remained committed to rebuilding her life. However, a series of unexpected crises recently threatened the stability she had worked so hard to achieve.

Her brother suffered a brain bleed and was placed on life support in Las Vegas. When Roma lost her job due to a lack of work, her family’s financial stability quickly unraveled. Despite taking on temporary jobs whenever she could, the income wasn’t enough to keep up with rent and other household expenses.

As the missed payments accumulated, her landlord began the legal eviction process, leaving Roma and her two teenage children facing the very real possibility of losing their home. The uncertainty weighed heavily on the family. Read stories from EHF grant recipients >