Question 1

What is Keep People Housed (KPH)?

Accepted Answer

Keep People Housed is a homelessness prevention program that provides emergency financial assistance, supportive services, and care coordination to residents in Oakland, Contra Costa County, Solano County, and Sonoma County who are at risk of losing their housing and succumbing to homelessness. The program is designed to stabilize households long-term by addressing both the immediate financial crisis and the underlying factors contributing to housing instability.

Question 2

Who is eligible for assistance through KPH?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility varies slightly by county, but in general, applicants must:
Live in one of the covered service areas (Oakland, Contra Costa, Solano, or Sonoma) 
Have a household income below 30% or 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) 
Be currently experiencing a housing crisis (e.g., past-due rent, lease violation, or need for move-in assistance) 
Demonstrate a high risk of becoming homeless without intervention

Question 3

Is financial assistance guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. While we aim to serve as many households as possible, our resources are extremely limited. Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will receive financial assistance. All applications are reviewed based on urgency, vulnerability level, and available funding.

Question 4

What does the program's budget support?

Accepted Answer

KPH’s budget is intentionally designed to provide both direct assistance and long-term stabilization. It includes: 
62% for direct financial assistance to help with rent, move-in costs, and utilities 
28% for operations, including staffing, outreach, housing navigation, care coordination, legal aid, and program infrastructure 
10% for overhead, such as administrative compliance and data reporting

We fund a robust subgrantee network that includes: 
Legal aid partners who help residents with eviction defense 
Community-based organizations that conduct culturally competent outreach 
Case managers and care coordinators who help residents create housing stability plans

Question 5

What is the difference between eviction defense and homelessness prevention?

Accepted Answer

Eviction defense is a reactive strategy. It involves legal services, as well as financial support provided to tenants already facing court proceedings for eviction.

Homelessness prevention is proactive. It intervenes before a household is formally evicted, ideally when they first fall behind on rent or face a financial shock. Prevention may involve financial support, care coordination, housing navigation, employment support, and referrals to other wraparound services.

Question 6

How do I apply for assistance?

Accepted Answer

You can apply directly through the Homelessness Prevention Platform (HPP), which is mobile-friendly and available in multiple languages. You can also contact one of our partner organizations or dial 2-1-1 for support.

Question 7

Can undocumented residents apply?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Immigration status is not a barrier to accessing assistance through KPH. Many of our outreach and subgrantee partners specialize in serving undocumented households with culturally responsive care.

Question 8

How are applicants prioritized?

Accepted Answer

We use a data-driven, equity-centered approach to prioritize households based on factors such as: 
Disability or chronic health conditions 
Recent experience of homelessness 
Living in neighborhoods with high rates of displacement 
Presence of children, seniors, or other vulnerable household members 
This ensures limited resources go to those most statistically likely to fall into homelessness without intervention.

Question 9

What happens after an application is submitted?

Accepted Answer

Once your application is submitted, it is reviewed by care coordinators who may reach out for documentation or further information. If approved, you will be paired with a care coordinator to develop a housing stability plan and determine the appropriate intervention.

Question 10

What services are offered beyond financial assistance?

Accepted Answer

KPH supports clients with: 
Budgeting and financial planning 
Employment support and workforce development referrals 
Legal assistance 
Housemate matching and downsizing support 
Referrals to CalAIM services for eligible Medi-Cal recipients

Question 11

How is this different from past rental assistance programs like ERAP?

Accepted Answer

Unlike emergency response programs like the COVID-19 ERA Program, KPH is a long-term infrastructure focused on prevention. It includes care coordination and supportive services, not just one-time payments.

Question 12

How is the program funded?

Accepted Answer

Depending on geography, KPH is funded through a blend of public and philanthropic sources, including contributions from the City, County, and private funders. Philanthropic support has reduced our average cost per household by up to 28%, helping us serve more people efficiently.

Question 13

How can I support this program?

Accepted Answer

We welcome support from the community, whether it’s through advocacy, donations, or spreading awareness. If you are interested in supporting our work, please contact us directly or join our advocacy efforts with local city councils and county leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions