Housing Opportunities Program

In San Mateo County, California, the Housing Opportunities Program (HOP) is a component of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. It is designed to help motivated families with specific goals complete their goals through a housing scholarship of a yearlong rental subsidy. The program pays 60 percent of the rent the first six months and 30 percent the remaining six months. To be eligible, families must be receiving, eligible for, or have left TANF in the last 24 months; must be enrolled and have completed 50 percent of an education or job skills program; must be employed or have a source of income; or must have a well-planned educational and/or vocational goal that will enable them to achieve self-reliance within the program timeline. In addition to the rental subsidy, families are connected to mentors and receive case management and life-skills training. A nonprofit agency, HIP Housing, runs the program with funding from the San Mateo County Department of Human Services.

The goal of this program is to provide housing help and supportive services to low- income families transitioning to self-reliance.

Since its inception in 1993, HOP has served 870 low-income adults and children and 180 families have graduated.