GLOSSARY

Chronically homeless is defined as an individual or family that is homeless and resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven or in an emergency shelter, and has been homeless and residing in such a place for at least one year or on at least four separate occasions in the last three years. The definition also requires that the individual or family has a head of household with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability.

Continuum of Care describes the annual competitive funding application process to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including all of the resources within a jurisdiction that provide services and housing to homeless populations, and/or the progression from street homelessness to stable permanent housing. Components include prevention, street outreach, a Coordinated Entry System (see below), emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent housing placement through rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing.

Coordinated entry is a process developed to ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access and are quickly identified, assessed, referred and connected to housing and assistance based on their needs. The Coordinated Entry System allows resources to be better matched with individuals’ needs.

The definition of homelessness contains four categories, including: (1) Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, as defined; (2) individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence; (3) unaccompanied youth and families with children and youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition; and (4) individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member.

The HEARTH Act amended and reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with substantial changes, including consolidating HUD's competitive grant programs and amending HUD's definition of homelessness and chronic homelessness. The HEARTH Act details the requirements for CoC governance, CoC planning requirements, CES, utilization of HMIS for evaluation of system performance, and Unified Funding Agency designation.

The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a software system used to collect client-level data and information on the provisions of housing and services to homeless individuals and families and persons at risk of homelessness. Each Continuum of Care is responsible for selecting an HMIS software solution that complies with HUD's data collection, management and reporting standards. HUD funds HMIS programs and requires Continuum of Care funded agencies to participate in order to track bed and unit occupancy, service utilization, submit performance and outcomes reports semi-annually.

This acuity tool is used within the Coordinated Entry System to target available resources to those in the greatest need, including those with frequent use of emergency medical services and those with dual diagnosis and tri-morbidity profiles. The VI-SPDAT defines tri-morbidity as co-occurring psychiatric, substance abuse and chronic medical conditions.