SDP payment is Los Angeles County's term for a one-time cash transfer to people experiencing homelessness
SDP stands for Supplemental Diversion Payment. It is money the county gives directly to a person who is currently unhoused, usually between $500 and $1,000, with the goal of preventing them from entering the shelter system or staying there longer. The payment is not a loan—you do not repay it. It comes from the county's homelessness services budget, not from a federal program or nonprofit organization.
The payment is meant to cover an when ready barrier to housing: a security deposit, first month's rent, moving costs, or a utility reconnection fee. The county does not give you cash to spend however you want. Instead, a case manager or housing worker verifies what the barrier is, and the payment goes toward that specific thing. In most cases, the money goes directly to the landlord, utility company, or moving service—not to you.
SDP is one tool among many that Los Angeles County uses to move people into housing quickly. It is not the same as emergency rental information (which covers ongoing rent arrears), permanent supportive housing (which includes a lease and ongoing services), or general relief (which is a different county cash program for people who do not meet other program rules).
Key Takeaways
- SDP is a one-time payment of $500 to $1,000 from Los Angeles County to remove a specific barrier to housing.
- The money goes to a landlord, utility company, or moving service—not directly to you as cash.
- You must be currently unhoused and have a housing opportunity lined up (a lease offer or a place willing to rent to you) to receive SDP.
- A case manager or housing worker determines whether you meet the criteria and what the payment should cover.
- SDP is fastest when you work with a homeless services provider, shelter, or outreach team that already knows how to submit the request.
Who decides whether you get SDP and how much
Los Angeles County does not have a single SDP office. Instead, the money flows through different agencies depending on where you are and who is helping you. If you are in a county shelter, the shelter's case management team can request SDP on your behalf. If you are connected to an outreach team or nonprofit housing provider, they can submit the request. If you are unhoused but not yet connected to services, you can walk into a county Department of Health Services office or call the county's homeless services line to be referred to someone who can help.
The person or agency requesting the payment must document what the barrier is. Common barriers include: a landlord asking for a security deposit before you can move in, utility companies requiring a deposit to turn on gas or electricity, moving company fees, or process fees for housing. The case manager verifies that the barrier is real (by asking the landlord or utility company directly, usually by phone or email) and that you do not have other resources to cover it. If you have family who can pay, or if another program (like emergency rental information) already covers the cost, you will not receive SDP.
The amount varies. Most payments are $500 to $1,000, but the county can approve more or less depending on the actual cost of the barrier. A security deposit in one neighborhood might be $800; in another it might be $1,500. The case manager requests the amount that matches the real expense.
What you need to have in place before you can receive SDP
SDP is not meant to help you find housing. It is meant to help you move into housing you have already found or that has already been offered to you. Before a case manager will submit an SDP request, you need to show that a landlord or property manager is willing to rent to you—usually by having a lease offer, a signed lease, or a written commitment from the landlord saying they will rent to you once the barrier (the deposit, the utility fee, the moving cost) is removed.
You also need to be currently unhoused. "Unhoused" means you do not have a permanent place to sleep at night—you are in a shelter, on the street, in a car, in a temporary motel stay paid by the county, or in some other unstable housing situation. If you have a lease or a permanent place to live, you do not meet the basic requirement for SDP.
The case manager will also ask about your income and resources. If you are working or receiving benefits, they will ask whether you can cover part or all of the barrier yourself. SDP is designed for people with no other way to pay. If you have savings or family support available, the county may ask you to use that first.
How long SDP takes and what happens after approval
Once a case manager submits an SDP request, approval usually takes three to seven business days. The county's Department of Health Services reviews the request to confirm the barrier is real and that you meet the criteria. If everything checks out, the payment is processed and sent directly to the landlord, utility company, or moving service.
You do not receive the money yourself. The case manager or housing worker will tell you when the payment has been sent and will confirm with the landlord or service provider that it was received. Your job is to stay in touch with the case manager and make sure you are ready to move in or have the service activated on the date the payment is expected to arrive.
After SDP is paid, you are expected to move into the housing or set up the utility. If you do not follow through—if you get the security deposit paid but then do not sign the lease, or if you get the utility deposit paid but do not move in—the county may not help you again with SDP. The program assumes you will use the payment for its intended purpose.
SDP versus other Los Angeles County homelessness programs
Los Angeles County offers several programs that sound similar but work differently. Understanding the difference matters because you might be turned down for one program but still be able to use another.
| Program | What it covers | Who it is for | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDP (Supplemental Diversion Payment) | One-time payment for a barrier to housing (deposit, moving costs, utility fee) | Unhoused people with a housing opportunity lined up | One payment, one time |
| Emergency Rental information | Ongoing rent payments for people behind on rent | Renters (housed or at risk) who owe back rent | Up to 12 months of arrears, sometimes future rent |
| Permanent Supportive Housing | A lease plus ongoing case management and services | Chronically unhoused people, often with disabilities or mental health needs | As long as you stay in the program |
| General Relief | Monthly cash payment | People who do not meet other program rules (no income, no family support) | Monthly, ongoing |
If you are unhoused and have found a place to rent but cannot pay the upfront costs, SDP is the right tool. If you have a lease but are behind on rent, you need emergency rental information instead. If you need ongoing housing and support services, you should be referred to permanent supportive housing. If you have no income and no housing opportunity yet, general relief or shelter services may come first.
How to start the SDP process
If you are in a Los Angeles County shelter, ask your case manager about SDP. They already have the forms and know the process. If you are unhoused but not in a shelter, call 211 (a free referral line) and ask to be connected to a homeless services provider or outreach team in your area. You can also walk into any Los Angeles County Department of Health Services office and ask about diversion payments or homelessness services.
When you contact someone, be ready to tell them: where you are sleeping now, whether you have a housing opportunity (a landlord willing to rent to you), what the barrier is (deposit, moving costs, utility fee), and how much money you need. The faster you can answer these questions, the faster a case manager can submit your request.
If you already have a lease offer or a written commitment from a landlord, bring that with you. If you do not yet have a housing opportunity, the case manager can help you search or connect you with a housing navigator who works with unhoused people. But SDP itself only works once you have a specific place and a specific barrier to move in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get SDP if I am staying with a friend or family member?
No. SDP requires you to be currently unhoused, which means you do not have a permanent place to sleep. Staying with someone temporarily does not count as permanent housing, but it may disqualify you from SDP because the county considers it a housing arrangement. Ask a case manager to clarify your situation—the rules can vary depending on the length of stay and whether the arrangement is formal.
What if the landlord asks for more money than the SDP payment?
If the barrier costs more than the maximum SDP amount, a case manager can sometimes request a higher payment or combine SDP with other resources. You might also be asked to contribute part of the cost yourself, or the case manager can look for a different housing option with lower upfront costs. Do not agree to pay the difference out of pocket without asking the case manager first—there may be other options.
Can I use SDP to pay for a motel or temporary housing?
SDP is designed for permanent housing barriers, not temporary shelter. It cannot be used to pay for a motel stay or temporary housing. If you need when ready shelter, ask about the county's emergency shelter system or temporary motel vouchers, which are separate programs.
What happens if I receive SDP but then do not move in?
If you do not follow through on the housing after SDP is paid, the county may flag your file and be less likely to help you with SDP again. The program assumes the payment will be used to move into the housing. If your situation changes and you can no longer move in, tell your case manager when ready so they can document what happened.
Do I have to repay SDP?
No. SDP is a one-time payment, not a loan. You do not repay it. The money is a grant from Los Angeles County to remove a barrier to housing.