Beach Cities Interfaith Services

Housing Stability and Homeless Prevention Services and Support for Individuals Exiting Homelessness and Entering Permanent Supportive Housing

The goal of BCIS’ housing and homeless prevention program is to assist with housing those without shelter and maintain housing for those who are on the brink of losing it. We strive to remove obstacles in their way to gain permanent housing stability. BCIS’ housing stability/prevention program focuses on awarding small grants on average of $800-$1,000 to individuals and families who find themselves in unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from paying their rent. These situations can include a job loss, medical expense, a large car repair, or becoming a victim of crime, such as domestic violence, or a small but crippling unpaid debt on a credit report. Our greatest strength comes from our collaborative partnerships comprised of faith-based, nonprofit and civic community organizations who refer individuals and families seeking our support. Our partners refer potential clients to BCIS after assessing the circumstances of the individual or families, and identifying what they need. Our partners recognize that potential clients do not go through a lengthy qualifying process or a governmental bureaucracy to receive our help. Our Board’s Grants Committee awards funding within one-three days after they are referred or often the same day in emergencies. How does our process work? • An individual or family is referred to BCIS from one of our 28 referral partners who has already vetted them for eligibility. • Once a referral is received, a member of the Board’s Grants Committee assumes responsibility for the referral, and collects more information from the collaborating partner. • The individual or family completes an intake questionnaire that collects demographic information, current housing situation, other requests for assistance they have contacted, income sources, and the reasons why their housing is at risk. • The Board Committee reviews these requests and acts quickly, sometimes the same day in an emergency, to help the individual or family to stabilize their housing so delays are avoided in receiving assistance due to multiple layers of bureaucracy. • BCIS pays the rent directly to the landlord or vendor to assure that 100% of the money goes to the stated purpose. • BCIS also strives to encourage our grantees to become self-reliant and financially independent. All of our recipients receive information about community resources such as CalFresh, CalWorks, and any available governmental financial programs. • In order to guide an individual towards independence, financial counseling is a recommended but not required part of the process. • BCIS reviews grants on an ongoing basis as they are received. A phone survey is conducted by a Grants Committee member at six month and one year intervals from the receipt of the award. Questions are asked about any progress recipients have made in securing employment, attending school, applying for benefits, and whether or not they are achieving a level of financial and housing stability. Since 2021, BCIS's core programming and model has focused primarily on housing stability and homelessness prevention efforts. Building on our core housing stability and prevention services, BCIS has expanded services offered to include small, targeted grants for individuals transitioning out of homelessness and into permanent supportive housing. Even after meeting all eligibility requirements, many individuals face critical financial barriers such as insufficient funds for security deposits or the need for essential move-in items, including furnishings. In partnership with nonprofit housing developers, BCIS addresses these gaps by providing small grants that remove last-mile obstacles to housing access. In 2024-25, BCIS partnered with Jamboree Housing in Irvine on a 43-unit affordable housing development for homeless seniors in Huntington Beach. BCIS committed to funding 42 security deposits of $1,000 each for unhoused seniors who needed a security deposits to qualify for permanent supportive housing. This joint project aligns with our purpose and mission to prevent homelessness and provide housing stability for people who are already homeless. In 2026, BCIS will collaborate with American Family Housing and National Core on Oasis apartments, a permanent supportive housing development for 62 individuals exiting homelessness by providing financial assistance for move in expenses such as security deposits or furnishings.