The Real Reason People Lose Housing (And the Free Medi-Cal Service That Prevents It)
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Housing Tenancy & Sustaining Services
Getting Housing Is Hard. Keeping It Is Harder.
You finally made it. You have keys. You have an address. You moved in your stuff. You survived the impossible task of getting housed.
Then reality hits:
The landlord sends a lease violation notice about something you didn't understand
Rent is due but your disability check was delayed
Your neighbor complains about noise and threatens to call the police
You're overwhelmed managing bills, groceries, medical appointments, and everything else
Within 90 days, you're facing eviction
Fact #1: Nearly 40% of formerly homeless individuals lose their housing within the first year—not because they can't afford rent, but because they lack the support systems to sustain tenancy.
This is the part nobody talks about. Getting housed is celebrated. Staying housed is lonely, overwhelming, and complicated. And most people fail because they're doing it alone.
What If You Didn't Have to Do It Alone?
If you have Medi-Cal through Health Net or Health Plan of San Joaquin, you might qualify for Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services—ongoing support designed to help you keep your housing once you have it.
This isn't a one-time check-in. This is a dedicated professional who stays with you, helps you navigate landlord relationships, teaches you budgeting skills, mediates conflicts, and connects you to resources before small problems become eviction notices.
What Housing Tenancy Support Actually Looks Like
Think of it as having a housing coach in your corner. Someone who:
Helps you understand your lease and tenant rights
Mediates conflicts with landlords or neighbors before they escalate
Teaches budgeting and money management so rent gets paid on time
Connects you to utility assistance when bills pile up
Helps you access food banks, transportation, and other community resources
Checks in regularly to identify problems early
Advocates for you when issues arise
Provides crisis intervention when you're at risk of losing housing
Fact #2: Members who receive ongoing tenancy support services maintain stable housing at rates exceeding 85%—more than double the success rate of those without support.
Who Needs This? (Probably You)
If you've experienced homelessness, you're transitioning from incarceration or institutional care, you're managing mental health or substance use challenges, you're at risk of losing your housing, or you're simply overwhelmed trying to manage everything on your own—you qualify.
You don't have to be failing to get help. This service is designed to prevent failure in the first place.
The Hidden Cost of "Figuring It Out Yourself"
Here's what happens when people try to sustain housing without support:
Missed rent payments lead to late fees, then eviction notices
Small conflicts with neighbors escalate to police calls and lease violations
Lack of knowledge about tenant rights means getting taken advantage of
Overwhelming stress leads to relapse, mental health crises, or giving up
Eviction goes on your record, making future housing nearly impossible
One eviction can trap you in homelessness for years. Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services prevents that cycle before it starts.
How Help Is Hope Keeps You Housed
Here's what we do:
You complete our intake form telling us about your housing situation
We assess your eligibility for Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services
We connect you with partner providers who deliver ongoing support
You get a dedicated housing support specialist who checks in regularly
When problems arise, you have someone to call who knows how to solve them
We don't just get you connected and disappear. Our care team coordinates your housing support with your health, mental health, and recovery goals. Learn more about how our Enhanced Care and Community Support services work together to keep you stable.
This Is About More Than Just Keeping a Roof Over Your Head
Housing stability is the foundation for everything else:
Managing your health conditions and attending medical appointments
Maintaining sobriety and recovery
Keeping custody of your children
Holding down a job
Rebuilding relationships
Living with dignity
When housing is unstable, everything else collapses. When housing is stable, everything else becomes possible.
You Don't Have to White-Knuckle This
You got housed. Now let us help you stay housed.
Book a session with our care team and learn how Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services can provide the ongoing support you need to thrive in your home—not just survive.
This is a covered Medi-Cal benefit through CalAIM Community Supports. It costs you nothing. But it could save everything.
Hope is not a luxury. It is a lifeline. Let us help you hold onto what you've worked so hard to achieve.
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