Alameda County Home Stretch Health Care Services Agency Email: Homestretch@acgov.org Phone: 510.567.8017 Fax: 855.658.5466 Website: http://everyonehome.org/our‐work/home‐stretch/
Topics • Overview • Definitions • Process Overview • CES Assessment & Eligibility • Document Readiness & Housing Navigation • Housing Match • Exercise: Sample Housing History
Overview • A collaboration between: • Alameda County Health Care Services Agency • Behavioral Health Care Services, Housing Services Office • EveryOne Home • Key partners: • Alameda County Housing and Community Development • Local housing authorities • County and community healthcare and housing providers
Overview Home Stretch provides County‐wide resource matching for homeless people with disabilities to permanent supportive housing and related resources as part of the Coordinated Entry System.
Overview What is Permanent Supportive Housing? 1. Subsidized housing (generally 30% of a household’s income) 2. Supportive Services to assist persons to live independently and maintain their housing.
Overview PSH in Alameda County • There are approx. 2000 PSH units in Alameda County. • These units include various types of housing: tenant‐based certificates, site‐ based subsidies, units of various sizes (including SROs), and shared housing. • 1200‐1300 units are rental‐assistance (vouchers) (primarily MHSA, CoB S+C, and County S+C vouchers). • Home Stretch is the coordination of existing PSH resources. • Approximately 11% of people in HMIS who exit homelessness, exit to a permanent supportive housing program.
DEFINITIONS ‐ Eligibility Persons* are eligible for Home Stretch if, at the time of CES Assessment, they are: • HUD Literally homeless • HUD Disabled • 18 or older or an emancipated youth • Residing in Alameda County * Families are eligible for Home Stretch if the head of household is eligible.
DEFINITIONS: LITERALLY HOMELESS
Definitions – “Literally Homeless”
Definitions – “Literally Homeless” An individual or head of household is literally homeless who is: • Living on the streets, in a place not meant for human habitation, or in an emergency shelter or safe haven; OR • In an institutional care facility* for no more that 90 days, where the individual was literally homeless at the time of entry into the care facility; OR • In transitional housing designated for homeless individuals and it is documented that they were homeless at the time of entry * Institutional care facilities include jails, licensed inpatient substance abuse facilities, licensed inpatient mental health treatment facilities, hospitals, etc.
DEFINITIONS: CHRONICALLY HOMELESS
Definitions – “Chronically Homeless” HUD’s “chronically homeless” definition has three elements. Individuals must: 1. Be currently literally homeless 2. Have a long duration of homelessness 3. Be disabled To be considered chronically homeless, an individual must meet all three elements.
Chronic Homelessness – Living Situation The person must be currently residing in a place that meets HUD’s “literally homeless” definition. Image from: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/01/31/sf‐supervisor‐fears‐booming‐tent‐cities‐could‐become‐new‐ homeless‐policy/ *NOTE: If a person is living in transitional housing, they are not considered chronically homeless Image from: http://www.transequality.org/blog/win‐hud‐tells‐homeless‐shelters‐to‐respect‐self‐identified‐gender
Chronic Homelessness ‐ Duration The person must have been residing in a place that meets the HUD “literally homeless” definition: • F or at least 12 consecutive months leading up to the present ; or • O n at least four separate episodes totaling a minimum of 12 months in the last 3 years. Each episode must be at least a 7 days break in homelessness
DEFINITIONS: DISABILITY
Definitions ‐ Disability 1. The person must have one or more of the following conditions: • Substance use disorder • Serious mental illness • Developmental disability • Post‐traumatic stress disorder • Cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury • Chronic physical illness or disability 2. Their condition(s) must be expected to be of long‐ continuing or of indefinite duration and substantially impede their ability to live independently
Home Stretch ‐ Process Overview
2‐1‐1 Housing Resource Centers (HRCs) Street Outreach
SCORE PRIORITIZATION
BAY AREA LEGAL AID LEGAL ADVICE LINE 800‐551‐5554
Housing Navigation Activities • Housing navigation set of activities and a way of supporting people that help them achieve permanent housing • Not everyone can provide the full level of this support within their professional roles • Different roles can overlap • The list of Housing Navigation duties promoted by Home Stretch came from bringing people like you together to create a checklist of best practices/overall snapshot of needs
Home Stretch ‐ Process Overview
Document Readiness HOUSING and PUBLIC BENEFITS PORTFOLIO Documentation of identity, income, household make‐up, and credit, legal, and housing history are needed for application to any affordable housing opportunity and most private market rate rentals. For many HUD funded programs, documentation of homeless and disability status are also required. To be considered for PSH, clients must have all required “Housing and Public Benefits Portfolio” documents submitted and verified before they will be eligible for housing match.
Document Readiness – Housing Portfolio Required Forms: Housing Profile Form Government‐ issued photo ID Social Security Card Disability verification (specific type, if applicable to client) – serious mental illness, HIV/AIDS, developmental disability, substance use disorder (dated within 60 days) Housing History Homelessness Verification (dated within 60 days) Recommended Forms: Income Verification Vets verification (if applicable) Tenant Resume/Sample Housing Application Tenant/Credit History Report Other Documents from Household Members or Special Needs (see Home Stretch Documentation Checklist for further info)
Homelessness and Disability Verifications
Documenting HUD Homelessness • Use the Home Stretch Housing History Form to list each episode of homelessness starting with the current living situation and going back 3 years (in reverse chronological order). • Determine what form of verification can be obtained for each episode of homelessness listed on the form. • Obtain all verifications needed to verify each individual episode used to document chronic homelessness.
Documenting HUD Homelessness Types of Verifications Recognized by HUD 1. Third‐party documentation (can use HMIS records) 2. Self Certification (only if unable to obtain other forms of documentation) 3. HMIS Records
Homeless Verification – HMIS Record
Homeless Verification 3 rd Party & Self Certification Verification must include: 1. Date of verification 2. Name of client 3. Start and end date of episode 4. Specific living conditions of episode 5. Specific location of the episode 6. Signature of person verifying (self / third‐party) * Third party verifications must be written on agency letterhead of the person signing it * A separate verification is needed for each episode of homelessness
3 rd Party 2 Verification 5 3 3 1. Date of verification 2. Name of client 3. Start and end date of episode 4 4. Specific living conditions 5. Specific location of the episode 6. Signature of person verifying *ON AGENCY LETTERHEAD 6 1
Self‐Certification 2 3 3 1. Date of verification 2. Name of client 4 and 5 3. Start and end date of episode 4. Specific living conditions 5. Specific location of the episode 6. Signature of person verifying 1 6 What is this?!
Documenting ‐ HUD Disability • Obtain documentation of a disability from a professional licensed by the state to diagnose and treat the disability and his or her certification that the disability is expected to be of long‐continuing or of indefinite duration and substantially impedes the individual’s ability to live independently OR written verification from the Social Security Administration OR the receipt of a disability check. • NOTE: For Home Stretch, documentation from a licensed professional is preferable as this documentation can help qualify individuals for disability specific services and housing opportunities that the other forms of documentation may not provide.
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