Shelter Plus Care
Chronically homeless residents of Berkeley may get placed into the Shelter Plus Care housing subsidy program after calling 211 and going through the coordinated entry system.
Shelter Plus Care is a housing subsidy program for individuals who are chronically homeless in Berkeley. Participants pay approximately 30% of their income towards rent, and receive ongoing supportive services.
To be eligible for Shelter Plus Care, you must contact 211 and participate in the coordinated entry system. Staff will perform an intake process and prioritize households with the highest level of need.
Participants must be chronically homeless and have a disability
To receive Shelter Plus Care, participants must meet one of the definitions of homelessness below:
- Continuously homeless on the streets or in shelters for last 12 consecutive months;
- Currently on the streets or in a shelter for less than 12 months, with at least 4 separate occasions of being homeless and on the streets/in shelters during the past 3 years as long as the combined occasions equal at least 12 months; OR
- Staying in an institutional care facility for fewer than 90 days and prior to that met the above criteria for being chronically homeless (Institutional care facilities include jails, substance abuse or mental health treatment facilities, hospitals or other similar facilities).
- Residing in transitional housing and prior to that met the above criteria for being chronically homeless (Persons in transitional housing do not meet HUD criteria, but may qualify for City of Berkeley program on a limited basis).
Participants must also have a disability due to one or more of the following conditions:
- Severe mental illness
- Drug/alcohol dependence
- Physical disability
- Chronic medical condition
Priority will be given to those with a high need for services as determined by: a life-threatening health condition; frequent use of emergency services or multiple hospitalizations; or frequent contacts with law enforcement officials.
