Eligibility Criteria Explainer & Quick Reference Guide

Date: April 2026

Description:

Transitional Rent eligibility criteria are complex. The Transitional Rent Eligibility Criteria Explainer (the Explainer) supports a shared understanding of eligibility for the Behavioral Health Population of Focus across Housing Community Supports providers, counties, and Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs). The goal is to translate DHCS policy into a plain language, usable flowchart with supporting information to help users answer the question, “Is this member eligible for Transitional Rent right now?” The Explainer is intended for staff use only, as other documents in plain language should be developed and used for Medi-Cal member outreach and education. 

The Explainer includes these sections:  

  • Background & Instructions 
  • Quick Reference Flow Chart 
  • Supporting pages: 
    • Placement, Housing Support Plan, and Housing Sustainability  
    • Clinical Risk Factors 
    • Housing Status 
    • Transitioning Population Criteria 
    • Room and Board Cap 
  • Glossary 
  • References

When using the pdf version on a digital device, users can move throughout the document using links to travel back and forth between the Quick Reference Flow Chart and the supporting pages. 

There is also a Quick Reference Guide (Quick Reference), which has the background, instructions, and quick reference flow chart only. 

How partners could use this report:

  • For Providers and Referrers: 
    • Onboarding guide to teach front-line staff about eligibility requirements for Transitional Rent. 
    • Quick reference to ensure that all eligibility criteria are met before Transitional Rent referral submission. 
    • Help understand why a Transitional Rent referral was approved or denied.  
  • For MCPs: 
    • Utilization Management staff support to review Transitional Rent authorization requests. 
    • Training tool for providers on Transitional Rent eligibility requirements.