County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Shelter Deductions and Utility Allowances for Households Experiencing Homelessness Number Page 63234 1 of 3 Revision Date 070120023 Background Households HH experiencing homelessness that are not receiving free shelter throughout the month may be entitled to the homeless shelter deduction or may claim actual shelter costs PurposeThis section details the shelter expenses HHs experiencing homelessness may incur and the deductions they may be entitled to This section is being revised to include vehicle expenses that may be considered shelter costs for HHs experiencing homelessness PolicyExperiencing homelessness does not imply a HH does not have any monthly shelter expenses The following are shelter expenses that may be incurred by a HH experiencing homelessness they include but are not limited to Hotelmotel expenses Fees required to stay at a homeless shelter Vehicle expenses if living in a vehicle Staff are to evaluate the shelter expenses the HH incurs and allow the deduction that is most beneficial to the HH 1 Homeless Shelter Deduction HHs experiencing homelessness that do not receive free shelter for the entire month may receive the homeless shelter deduction refer to Section 621101 for the current homeless shelter deduction amount If the HH experiencing homelessness does not incur any shelter expenses nor do they anticipate having any shelter expenses they are not eligible to the homeless shelter deduction For HHs eligible to the homeless shelter deduction staff are to determine if the HH would receive more benefits if given the homeless shelter deduction or if they received the State Utility Allowance Subsidy SUAS allowing the HH the Standard Utility Allowance SUA deduction HHs may not receive the homeless shelter deduction and a utility allowance simultaneously HHs experiencing homelessness may claim actual shelter expenses instead of the homeless shelter deduction when actual expenses would entitle the HH to more benefits than when using the homeless shelter deduction When the actual expenses are used as a shelter cost a utility allowance may also be allowed Note The homeless shelter deduction is always deducted from the net income when determining eligibility and allotment refer to section 63254 for more information 2 Vehicle Expenses Considered Shelter Costs HHs experiencing homelessness that live in a vehicle and are responsible for paying reasonably anticipated or reoccurring expenses on the vehicle may claim the expenses as a shelter cost A vehicle expense that occurs less frequently than monthly may be averaged over the months in which it is intended to cover Vehicle expenses include but are not limited to Vehicle payments County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Shelter Deductions and Utility Allowances for Households Number Page Experiencing Homelessness 63234 2of 3 Collision and comprehensive insurance premiums insurance that covers the vehicle itself Liability and medical insurance premiums are not allowable shelter costs The cost of overnight parking and camping fees Maintenance expenses Note The cost of fuel such as gasoline or diesel fuel to operate or heatcool a vehicle is not an allowable shelter or utility expense 3 Verification Staff are to accept the shelter expenses reported by the HH verbally or on a signed application status report or application for recertification without requesting additional verification Verification shall only be requested if the shelter expenses are questionable If the HH is reporting vehicle insurance premiums as a vehicle expense clarify the portion paid for collision or comprehensive coverage since the only portion of the premium that is considered a shelter expense is insurance on the vehicle itself The following examples demonstrate how to determine which deductions would be most beneficial to the HH experiencing homelessness Example Scenario A HH experiencing homelessness consists of husband and wife neither is disabled or elderly The wife receives 800 per month as a cash gift The HH lives in their car and pays 300 per month for the car loan They also pay 200 per month for car insurance of which 100 of the insurance is for liability 100 is for comprehensive coverage The HH does not have any utility expenses Outcome If the HH was given the homeless shelter deduction they would be eligible to 384 per month in CalFresh benefits If the vehicle expenses of 400 per month 300 car payment 100 comprehensive insurance are used as the shelter cost the HH would be eligible to 362 per month in CalFresh benefits If the 400 in vehicle expenses are used as the shelter cost the HH may also claim a utility allowance If the HH is issued the SUAS payment it would entitle them to more benefits making the HH eligible to 516 per month in CalFresh benefits In this case we would use the vehicle expenses as a shelter cost and issue out SUAS allowing the SUA deduction since that would be the most beneficial to the HH Example Scenario HH experiencing homelessness consists of disabled mother and 10 yo son Mom receives 1000 per month in Social Security Disability benefits The HH stays in a hotel 4 nights per month and pays 100 per night when staying at the hotel and pays for no utilities Outcome If the HH was given the homeless shelter deduction the HH would be eligible to 324 per month in CalFresh benefits If the hotel expense of 400 per month is used as the shelter cost the HH would County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Shelter Deductions and Utility Allowances for Households Number Page Experiencing Homelessness 63234 3of 3 Example Scenario Outcome be eligible to 273 per month in CalFresh benefits If the hotel expense of 400 per month is used as the shelter cost the HH may also claim a utility allowance If the HH is issued the SUAS payment it would entitle them to more benefits making the HH eligible to 440 per month in CalFresh benefits In this case we would use the actual shelter costs and issue out SUAS allowing the SUA deduction since that would be most beneficial to the HH A HH experiencing homelessness consists of single 30 yo male He receives 800 per month in State Disability Insurance SDI He lives at a homeless shelter and is responsible for paying 25 per month to stay there and pays for a telephone If the HH is allowed the homeless shelter deduction he is not allowed a utility allowance he would be eligible to 149 per month in CalFresh benefits If the HH is given SUAS instead of the homeless shelter deduction he would be eligible to 175 per month in CalFresh benefits If the actual shelter expense of 25 per month is claimed as the shelter cost the HH may also claim a utility allowance Since the HH pays for a telephone the HH is given the TUA utility allowance making him eligible to 98 per month in CalFresh benefits If the HH is issued the SUAS payment instead of TUA the HH would be entitled to more benefits Therefore if the actual shelter cost of 25 per month is claimed as the shelter cost and the HH is issued the SUAS payment instead of TUA he would be eligible to 183 per month in CalFresh benefits In this case we would use the actual shelter costs and issue out SUAS allowing the SUA deduction since that would be most beneficial to the HH References ACL 1938 ACIN I1807 ACIN I7304 ACIN I4303 ACIN I1523 MPP 6350235 MPP 6350236 CFR 2379d6i Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by 07312026 Approval for Release RICK WANNE Director SelfSufficiency Services