FHSP General Assistance Request (GAR) Information Center
The General Assistance Request (GAR) program provides funding to support the housing retention and clinical goals of participants housed through the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool (FHSP).
Use the tabs below to review eligible expenses, the GAR process, approval thresholds, and the latest program updates.
What Is the General Assistance Request Program?
The GAR program provides General Assistance funding for FHSP housed participants to support housing retention and clinical goals. GAR should only be requested when no other funding is available from DMH, DHS, or ICMS.
Note: The availability of funds from other resources must always be researched before submitting a General Assistance Request. GAR does not cover move-in or move-out costs. See the Move-In Assistance Policy and Damage Mitigation Policy for those needs.
What GAR Covers
- Rental arrears (tenant portion) due to short-term hardship
- Utility arrears (gas, electricity, water)
- Repair or replacement of furniture and appliances provided at move-in
- Unit damages that occurred during the participant’s tenancy
- Other expenses necessary for participant health, safety, or housing habitability — subject to funder review
What GAR Does NOT Cover
- Long-term or ongoing financial support such as recurring monthly payments
- Items or services not essential to health, safety, or housing habitability
- Items readily available through another resource
- Move-in costs (see Move-In Assistance Policy)
- Move-out costs (see Damage Mitigation Policy)
Key Policy Documents
FHSP Program Updates
The following updates reflect recent changes to FHSP policy, services, and operations. Review each update carefully and share relevant information with your teams and partners.
April 30, 2026 — TSS Ends for Federal Voucher Holders
Brilliant Corners Housing Coordinator support (TSS) will end for all federal voucher holders currently receiving TSS from BC. This change is due to the program timeline and is not related to participant choice or compliance.
- TSS from BC ends April 30, 2026. Case managers must not tell participants TSS will continue past this date or promise any extensions.
- Extensions through June 2026 will only be granted for participants experiencing domestic violence or serious health challenges.
- No other extensions will be available beyond June 2026.
- This discontinuance does not affect a participant’s eligibility for ICMS or their rental subsidy.
- ICMS case managers should work closely with each affected participant’s assigned BC Housing Coordinator to support planning for a smooth TSS graduation.
February 4, 2026 — Updated FHSP Relocation Policy and New Request Form
The FHSP Team has updated the Relocation Policy for all FHSP participants. Key updates:
- Service Providers must submit a completed Relocation Request Form to the assigned Housing Coordinator, including participant and tenancy details, reason for relocation, interventions attempted if applicable, and a clinical letter for reasonable accommodation requests if applicable.
- Advocacy letters are no longer required.
- All relocation requests require funder approval prior to proceeding.
Move-In Assistance (MIA) for relocation is available five years after the participant’s initial FHSP move-in date, or earlier in emergency situations at the funder’s discretion. MIA requests must indicate the relocation and include the approved Relocation Request Form. Funder reviews are completed within five business days.
January 28, 2026 — Horizon: Reduced-Service Tier for Stable FHSP Tenants
HSH and Brilliant Corners introduced Horizon, a reduced-service tier within FHSP for participants who have successfully maintained housing, achieved independent stability, and no longer require intensive service support.
Under Horizon, participants continue receiving their rental subsidy. Service support remains available as needed through single intervention limited assistance and a responsive pathway for re-engagement with full tenancy support if needs increase.
Eligibility criteria:
- Housed with a scattered site Tenant-Based Voucher (TBV)
- No zero income
- Not actively relocating or recently housed within 90 days after lease-up
- Stability markers: housed for 3 or more years and holds a CHAMP acuity score of 4 to 5
May 29, 2025 — TSS for Federal Voucher Holders No Longer Available
Effective May 29, 2025, Tenancy Support Services (TSS) for Federal Voucher (FV) holders is no longer available. ARPA funding has been fully expended and Brilliant Corners will no longer accept new FV applications. Clients currently enrolled in TSS will continue to receive financial assistance through the remainder of their two-year program term.
Participants without TSS are no longer eligible to receive Move-In Assistance through Brilliant Corners. Non-FHSP Move-In Assistance requests submitted through the FHSP Portal after May 29, 2025 will be denied.
Providers are strongly encouraged to explore CalAIM Community Supports Housing Deposit as an alternative for eligible clients.
- CalAIM Housing Deposit email: housingdeposits@dhs.lacounty.gov
- CalAIM Office Hours: Bi-weekly Wednesdays at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams
Eligible Expenses
The following expense types are eligible for General Assistance funding. All requests are subject to funder review and must include required supporting documentation. Items vary based on the type of request.
Important: For items over $500, three competitive bids are required. A bid is defined as three price comparisons for the same or similar item. Three copies of the item and price must be included with the request.
Asthma Remediation
Must be preapproved by the County. Can include services necessary to reduce emergency visits or hospitalization:
- Allergen mattresses and pillow covers
- HEPA vacuums or air filters
- Pest management services
- Dehumidifiers
- Moisture-controlling interventions
- Minor mold removal and remediation
- Ventilation improvements
- Asthma-friendly cleaning products and supplies
- Other interventions identified by a clinician as necessary to reduce symptoms
Cleaning Services
Must be preapproved by the County. Covers pest eradication and needs associated with emergency cleaning and hoarding.
Damage Mitigation
The FHSP Program may cover damage mitigation costs for damages identified after the participant has vacated the unit. Existing security deposits and insurance coverage must be exhausted first.
Rental Arrears Assistance
May cover all or part of a participant’s rental arrears (tenant portion only) due to short-term general hardship. Federal Voucher recipients are eligible for one-time rental and utility arrears assistance only and do not qualify for ongoing rental assistance. Repeated requests require a case conference.
Utility Arrears
GAR can cover partial or full payment of past-due utility bills including gas, electricity, and water.
Furniture and Appliance Repair or Replacement
GAR may cover repair or replacement of furniture and appliances initially provided at move-in. Items can be sourced from vendors other than CORT as long as the cost does not exceed the CORT price.
Moisture Control and Minor Mold Remediation
Covers moisture-controlling interventions and minor mold removal. Must be preapproved by the County.
GAR Submission Process
The ICMS provider is responsible for completing the GAR Form and submitting it to the Brilliant Corners (BC) Housing Coordinator along with all required supporting documentation. If the participant is not enrolled in ICMS, the BC Housing Coordinator may complete the form on their behalf.
Step 1: Complete the GAR Form
ICMS provider completes the GAR Form including participant identification, reason for request, tenancy details, and all required supporting documentation.
Step 2: Submit to BC Housing Coordinator
Submit the completed form and all supporting documents to the assigned BC Housing Coordinator. All relocation requests require funder approval prior to proceeding.
Step 3: Review and Decision
Once a complete and accurately completed form is submitted, the review process should be completed within five business days. Urgent requests such as replacing a refrigerator for medication storage should be completed within 1 to 3 business days.
Approval Thresholds
All threshold amounts include shipping costs, taxes, and installation costs.
- Up to $75: BC Housing Coordinator approval. Additional requests within three months require supervisor approval.
- Up to $250: Senior Housing Coordinator approval. Additional requests within three months require supervisor approval.
- Up to $499: Program Supervisor approval. Additional requests within three months require supervisor approval.
- $500 and above: Funder approval required. Program Manager signature required in specific circumstances. Additional requests within three months require supervisor approval.
- Unit damages exceeding $1,000 at closeout: Must be submitted to the Operations Closeout Unit upon participant move-out.
Federal Voucher Recipients
Case managers must submit requests for one-time rental and utility arrears assistance for Federal Voucher recipients to Housing Coordinators.
- First, a request must be submitted to CalAIM for Move-In Assistance (MIA)
- Federal Voucher recipients who are denied CalAIM funding must coordinate with their Case Manager and Housing Coordinator to submit a GAR following the required thresholds in the policy
FHSP Resources
The following documents and tools support ICMS providers in managing General Assistance Requests and FHSP program requirements.
GAR Policy and Form
Access the full FHSP General Assistance Request Policy and the GAR Form. Updated April 10, 2025.
Move-In Assistance Info Page
For move-in costs and CalAIM Housing Deposit information, visit the Move-In Assistance page. GAR does not cover move-in costs.
Additional Policy Documents
- View Relocation Policy Update Letter from BC
- View Updated Relocation Policy
- View Relocation Request Form
- View Housing Listings Hub
Questions about GAR or FHSP? Contact your assigned BC Housing Coordinator directly.