DHSed practical guide · Sources checked November 12, 2026
If rent is becoming unaffordable, the next step depends on what is happening now. Being short on next month's rent, receiving court papers and having nowhere to stay need different contacts.
Start with your situation: use legal help promptly if you have a notice or court papers. Contact HomeConnect at 800-498-8847 if you are homeless or need housing access help. Ask the provider what it can do for your situation today.
If you have a notice or court papers
Keep every page and the envelope or delivery information. Use the eviction help guide to reach current court self help and legal assistance. Do not wait for a rent support application to assume a legal deadline has stopped.
A housing referral, mediation service and lawyer do different work. Tell each provider what you received so you are asking for the right kind of help.
If you need housing access or may lose your place
Riverside County's HomeConnect connects people to a housing navigator for assessment and guidance. It is an access route, not a promise of an immediate vacancy, hotel room or cash grant. Explain where you are staying, when that arrangement may end and any needs that affect placement.
The County also describes housing support for eligible CalWORKs customers. Ask County staff about your actual household and current program criteria. Do not assume every household can use the same help.
If you are looking for a longer term housing program
On the date checked, the Housing Authority says its general Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 waiting list remains closed. It says a limited number of project based communities may accept applications through its current portal. Available lists can change.
Check the official application page before applying. Creating an account is not the same as submitting an application for an available list. Save any submission confirmation. A waiting list is not immediate rent relief.
Prepare one useful call
- Your actual address or current location and a safe way to contact you.
- What you need and how soon the situation may change.
- Any notice, case number or provider reference you already have.
- Language, mobility, family or transportation needs that affect access.
Ask whether intake is open, whether the provider serves your address and what it needs next. If it cannot help, ask for a specific current referral. Older rent relief pages can remain online after funding ends, so always check intake with the provider.
Your next step
Keep going
- Where to get food in Desert Hot Springs when money is tight
- You received an eviction notice in DHS where to get help
- Homeless or about to lose housing in Desert Hot Springs
- Seeing a doctor in Desert Hot Springs with little or no insurance
Sources and updates
- Riverside County HomeConnect coordinated entry
- County temporary housing assistance information
- Housing Authority current application and waiting list status
- Riverside Superior Court current eviction self help
Prepared by DHSed with AI assistance from the linked public sources. Provider details can change. Send a correction.