HMIS & the HEARTH Homeless Definition Category 1: Literally Homeless individuals and families All 3 circumstances include an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. Circumstance
Description
Unsheltered
Person sleeping in a place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. car, park, abandoned building, campground) Person living in a supervised shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements. Can be publicly or privately operated. - Emergency/Congregate shelters - Hotel/motel vouchers Persons who are exiting an institution (e.g. jail or hospital), if the following 2 conditions are true: (1) Length of stay is 90 days or less AND (2) Place not meant for human habitation or in emergency shelter prior to entry into institution
Sheltered
Exiting an Institution
Created by Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) October 2014
Service Point Question Housing Status
Service Point Answers
Residence Prior to Project Entry Housing Status
Place not meant for human habitation
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Emergency Shelter, including hotel/motel paid with emergency shelter voucher Place not meant for habitation Safe Haven Category 1 – Homeless
Housing Status
Category 1 – Homeless
Category 1 – Homeless
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Psychiatric Hospital Substance abuse treatment facility or detox center Hospital or other residential non-psychiatric medical facility Jail, prison, or juvenile detention Foster care home or foster care group home
Length of Stay in Previous Place
One day or less Two days to one week More than 1 week, but less than 1 month One to three months
Category 2: Individuals and families who will imminently (within 14 days) lose their primary nighttime residence with no subsequent residence, resources, or support networks. All 3 circumstances require the following 3 conditions: (1) They will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence within 14 days. There must be some evidence that they are no longer able to remain where they were previously staying. (2) There is no other place they can go without help. (3) They lack resources or support networks (i.e. family, friends, faith-based, or other social networks) needed to obtain other permanent housing. Circumstance Paying for Housing
Description Client/family is the lease-holder or tenant. Client/family could own or rent.
WISP Question Housing Status
WISP Answer(s) Category 2 – At imminent risk of losing housing
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Hotel/Motel
Client/family staying in motel/hotel paid for by self or anyone other than fed/state/local programs or by a charitable organization.
Housing Status
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Rental by client, with ongoing housing subsidy Rental by client, with VASH subsidy Rental by client, with GPD TIP subsidy Owned by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Owned by client, with ongoing housing subsidy Transitional housing for homeless persons Category 2 – At imminent risk of losing housing
Residence Prior to Project Entry Housing Status
Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher Category 2 – At imminent risk of losing housing
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Staying or living in a family member’s room, apartment or house Staying or living in a friend’s room, apartment or house
Family/Friends
Client/family staying with friends or family and being kicked out.
Created by Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) October 2014
Category 3: Unaccompanied youth (under 25) or families with children and youth who meet the homeless definition under another federal statute and additional criteria. Clients/families must meet the following 4 conditions: (1) Meet homeless definition under another federal statute. (2) No lease, ownership interest, occupancy agreement in permanent housing during preceding 60 days. (3) Persistent instability – two or more moves in preceding 60 days. (4) Expected to continue instability for an extended period of time because of special needs or two or more barriers to employment. Special Needs include: Chronic physical health; mental health conditions; and/or substance addiction Histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse (including neglect) Presence of a child or youth with a disability Barriers to Employment include: Lack of a high school degree or GED and/or illiteracy History of incarceration and/or history of unstable employment Circumstance If entering shelter…
Description Families or unaccompanied youth who meet this definition and are going into shelter
Other HMIS criteria that can be used to illustrate eligibility: Homeless Primary Reason Income question and subHomeless Secondary Reason assessment Primary Language Spoken Highest Level of Education Speaks English? Attained Created by Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) October 2014
WISP Question Housing Status
WISP Answer(s) Category 3 – Homeless only under other federal statute
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Staying or living in a family member’s room, apartment or house Staying or living in a friend’s room, apartment or house Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher
Household County Median Income (CMI) Percentage On Probation? On Parole?
Disability question and subassessment First Time Homeless?
Category 4: Individuals and families fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence with no subsequent residence, resources, or support networks. Person fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, staking, or other dangerous or life threating condition. Clients/families must meet the following 3 conditions: (1) The violence occurred either: • In the persons’ primary nighttime residence or • Makes the person afraid to return to their primary nighttime residence (2) They have no identified subsequent residence. (3) They lack resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing. Circumstance Domestic Violence
Description Fleeing or attempting to flee violence
Created by Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) October 2014
WISP Question Housing Status
WISP Answer(s) Category 4 – Fleeing domestic violence
Residence Prior to Project Entry
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Rental by client, with ongoing housing subsidy Rental by client, with VASH subsidy Rental by client, with GPD TIP subsidy Owned by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Owned by client, with ongoing housing subsidy Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher Staying or living in a family member’s room, apartment or house Staying or living in a friend’s room, apartment or house Foster care home or foster care group home
Domestic Violence victim/survivor
Yes
When experience occurred
Must have an answer
HEARTH Homeless Definition & Grant Eligibility Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Category of Homelessness Category #1 Literally Homeless Category #2 Imminent Risk of Homeless Category #3 Under other Federal Statute Category #4 Flee or attempt to flee DV (a) (b)
Street Outreach X (a)
Emergency Shelter X
X
Rapid Re-Housing X (b)
Homeless Prevention
X
X (b)
X
X (b)
X
X (b)
X (b)
Must serve persons sleeping in a place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation. Must only serve participants with annual income at or below 30% of CMI.
Continuum of Care Program (COC) Category of Homelessness Category #1 Literally Homeless Category #2 Imminent Risk of Homeless Category #3 Under other Federal Statute Category #4 Flee or attempt to flee DV (a) (b)
Supportive Service Only (SSO) X
Safe Haven X (b)
Transitional Housing X
X
X
X (a)
X (a)
X
X
Permanent Supportive Housing X (b)
Rapid Rehousing
Must receive prior HUD approval to serve this category. Additional limitations on eligibility within Category 1. See also Continuum of Care Program Interim Rule.
Created by Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) October 2014
X (b)