All Services | Outpatient and Support Services

Housing is an important part of behavioral health care. It provides safety and stability for people to be able to engage in treatment and maintain long-term recovery.

In San Diego County, there are two main ways you can access housing support connected to your behavioral health care:

1. Through your Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan or health plan; and
2. Through County Behavioral Health programs 

Housing Support Through Your Medi-Cal Health Plan

Some housing supports are provided through Medi-Cal health plans. One of these benefits is Transitional Rent. While the County of San Diego does not administer this benefit, we partner with health plans and may provide housing interventions through the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) after Transitional Rent ends.  

If you are enrolled in Medi-Cal, your health plan may check your eligibility for Transitional Rent and other housing-related benefits.

What is Transitional Rent?

Transitional Rent provides up to six months of rental assistance for eligible Medi-Cal members experiencing or at risk of homelessness who meet additional eligibility criteria. Covered costs include rent and housing-related fees like storage, amenities, and landlord-paid utilities that are part of the rent payment.

Transitional Rent is a Medi-Cal Community Support benefit through your Medi-Cal health plan.

At this time, Transitional Rent cannot be used to pay for current housing if you are only at risk of homelessness as additional criteria must be met. Transitional Rent also cannot be used for eviction prevention such as prospective or back rent.

Who is Eligible for Transitional Rent?

Eligibility for Transitional Rent is checked and determined by Medi-Cal health plans. Your health plan will check and determine your Transitional Rent eligibility. If you are eligible, they will coordinate with housing providers and issue rental payments for up to six months.

Only certain Medi-Cal members with behavioral health needs can receive Transitional Rent at this time. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a Medi-Cal health plan AND meet all of the following:

1. Have behavioral health needs
   You must meet access criteria for Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), Drug-Medi-Cal (DMC), or the DMC Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS).
2. Have a housing need
   You must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
3. Have a long-term housing solution
   You must have a confirmed placement, Housing Support Plan, and a way to pay rent after Transitional Rent ends.
4. Meet additional requirements
   You must meet at least one of the following:
   1. Be living unsheltered;
   2. Be eligible for an intensive behavioral health program, such as a Full Service Partnership; or
   3. Be transitioning from a setting such as:
      • A homeless shelter or interim housing;
      • A residential treatment program;
      • A hospital or other institutional setting;
      • Foster care; or
      • A similar temporary placement.

To Get Started

To access Transitional Rent, contact your Medi-Cal health plan or a Housing Transition Navigation Services (HTNS) provider working with the health plan. The health plan will review eligibility to check if you qualify for the benefit.

If you are found to be eligible, the health plan or HTNS provider will help develop a Housing Support Plan. This plan outlines housing goals, lists available options, and lays out the steps to help move you from housing instability or homelessness into permanent housing.

Health plans work with housing providers to identify appropriate housing options. County behavioral health programs may help connect individuals to their health plan, but only health plans can determine eligibility and provide the benefit. Contact your Medi-Cal health plan today to get started.

Housing Support Through County Behavioral Health Programs

County behavioral health programs can help connect you to treatment and recovery services. In some cases, housing support may be included as part of your behavioral health care.

To access housing support through a County behavioral health program, you must first be given an assessment and enrolled in behavioral health services. You cannot apply for these housing funds directly.

To Get Started

To access County behavioral health services, you’ll need to be assessed for eligibility for mental health or substance use disorder services. You can walk into one of the County Behavioral Health Clinics for an assessment or call 9-8-8 to find the closest clinic near you.

If you are eligible for services, your care team will develop a treatment and recovery plan with you. If you need housing support, they will include it as part of your plan.

What If I Still Need Housing Support After My Transitional Rent Ends?

If you still need housing support after Transitional Rent ends, you may be connected to longer-term housing supports through BHSA Housing Interventions.

BHSA Housing Interventions are included as part of a person’s overall treatment and are not a standalone benefit that someone can apply for. Like Transitional Rent, they are included in a person’s treatment and recovery plan that is developed with their care team.

For more information, check out Frequently Asked Questions.

Learn More

• Fact Sheet: Transitional Rent: CalAIM’s Newest Community Support
• Fact Sheet: Medi-Cal Transitional Rent Eligibility and Access Guide
• Fact Sheet: Medi-Cal Transitional Rent: What to Know Before You Request or Refer

To learn more about our current efforts to prioritize housing opportunities for all people with behavioral health challenges, read the BHS Five-Year Strategic Housing Plan. 

Other Housing Resources

For general housing resources offered by the County of San Diego:

Resources for people with a mental health or substance use condition and who may be experiencing homelessness:

Rachel’s Women’s Day Center
759 8th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 696-0873
Business Hours: 7am-5pm | Monday-Sunday
A drop-in day center for women who are unhoused or very low income.

Services: Bathroom, shower, laundry facilities, lunch service, behavioral health recovery support, and mental health screening and referrals, and more.

Connection 2 Community (C2C) Clubhouse
308 G St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 776-8605
Shower and laundry: 101 16th St. San Diego, CA 92101
Business Hours: 8am-4pm | Monday-Friday
For individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with mental health concerns.

Services: In-house resources, case management, outreach, and referrals to assist members trying to access mental health and housing services.

Solutions for Recovery
1750 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 515-2588
Business Hours: 8am-7:45pm | Monday-Thursday
8am-5pm | Friday
A substance use outpatient treatment program serving adults, with a focus on those who are LGBTQ and who may or may not be experiencing homelessness.

Services: Individual and group counseling sessions, mental health therapy, care coordination, peer-support services, Contingency Management, Ambulatory Withdrawal Management, and direct linkage to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) services.

Connections Community Counseling
3890 Murphy Canyon Rd, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: (760) 842-6202
Business Hours: 8:30am-7pm I Monday-Friday
An outpatient behavioral health program serving youth up to age 21 who are homeless, runaway, or residing in inadequate or non-permanent living situations.

Services: Diagnostic and treatment services, including therapy, case management, trauma-informed outreach and street safety groups in the community. Services can be accessed at their clinic or across various locations around the county.

Shared Housing

CHIP Independent Living Association (ILA)
Phone: 858-609-7960
Business Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday-Friday
Independent livings are privately-owned or operated homes or complexes that provide shared housing for adults with disabilities, including mental illness, and others who may benefit from a shared living environment. The ILA is a voluntary membership organization for independent living home operators. The ILA maintains an online directory, provides education to operators and the community, and monitors quality standards for member operators.

• Search the ILA online directory to find an available independent living home that is a member of the ILA. Contact the independent living home directly using the contact information listed.

CHIP Recovery Residence Association (RRA)
Phone: 858-609-7977
Business Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday-Friday
Recovery residences are privately-owned homes or complexes that provide housing for adults with a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder who are currently receiving outpatient SUD services or are enrolled in recovery services. The RRA is a voluntary membership organization for recovery residence operators. The RRA maintains an online directory, provides education to operators and the community, and monitors quality standards for member operators.

• Search the RRA online directory to find an available recovery residence that is a member of the RRA. Contact the recovery residence directly using the contact information listed.

This is not intended to be a complete list of housing and homeless resources in San Diego County.

Frequently Asked Questions