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When Everything Feels Unstable: Real Housing & Help Resources Across California


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When the government slows down, when programs freeze, and when families start asking “What now?” — that’s when we need to know where the real doors are.


This isn’t a list of random links. This is your survival guide — built for the people who can’t afford to keep waiting.

If you’re in Los Angeles, Ventura, Contra Costa, Monterey, or Santa Cruz County, here’s how to find housing, apply for Section 8, get connected through Coordinated Entry, and start CalAIM services through your Medi-Cal plan.



🌆 Los Angeles County: Where Systems Are Big — and So Are the Resources



If you’re in L.A. County, don’t try to figure it all out alone. Start here:



🏠 Coordinated Entry (CES)



  • LAHSA – Get Help: Find shelters, housing intake, and outreach through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.


    👉 lahsa.org/get-help

  • Walk into a CES Access Center or call (800) 548-6047 to start your housing intake.




🧾 Section 8 & Housing Waitlists



  • Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA): hacla.org

  • Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA): lacda.org


    Both post open or limited waitlists — sign up for alerts.




❤️ CalAIM (ECM & Community Supports)



If you’re on Medi-Cal, you qualify for services that go way beyond the doctor’s office: housing navigation, case management, and even moving assistance.


  • Contact your plan (usually LA Care or Health Net) and say:


    “I want to start CalAIM — Enhanced Care Management.”

  • Learn more: dhcs.ca.gov/CalAIM



Mystis Adult & Family Services – LA County Intake





🌴 Ventura County: Small County, Big Collaboration




🏠 Coordinated Entry






🧾 Section 8






❤️ CalAIM (ECM & Community Supports)





Mystis – Ventura County Intake





💪 Contra Costa County: One Call Can Change Everything



🏠 Coordinated Entry






🧾 Section 8






❤️ CalAIM



  • Contra Costa Health Plan: Offers ECM and Community Supports like housing navigation, medically tailored meals, and case management.


    🌐 cchealth.org/cchp



Mystis – Contra Costa Intake





🌊 Santa Cruz County: Help Starts with “Housing for Health”




🏠 Coordinated Entry






🧾 Section 8






❤️ CalAIM



  • Central California Alliance for Health: ECM/Community Supports provider for Santa Cruz residents.


    🌐 thealliance.health



Mystis – Santa Cruz Intake





🌅 Monterey County: Deep Roots, Real Action




🏠 Coordinated Entry



  • Coalition of Homeless Services Providers (CHSP): They manage CES for Monterey and San Benito Counties.


    👉 chspmontereycounty.org




🧾 Section 8






❤️ CalAIM



  • Central California Alliance for Health: Same plan as Santa Cruz — provides ECM & Community Supports referrals.


    🌐 thealliance.health



Mystis – Monterey Intake





🧭 How to Use These Resources (Step-by-Step)



  1. Start with Coordinated Entry. Call or walk in. Say you’re “seeking housing navigation or shelter.”

  2. Apply for Section 8. Even if closed, register for waitlist alerts.

  3. Activate CalAIM. If you have Medi-Cal, call your health plan and ask for “Enhanced Care Management.”

  4. Email Mystis. We partner with local programs to help you get through the process and stay supported.



✊ The Bottom Line



You deserve more than survival. You deserve a plan, a partner, and a real place to live.

California’s systems are complicated — but they’re built to help you.

Mystis is here to walk that road with you, county by county, until stability isn’t just an idea — it’s your reality.



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