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)