Access

Access is the initial point-of-contact into the homeless response system for individuals and families facing a housing crisis. The Access stage utilizes a multi-tiered triage tool to link a households to services and support that best help them to resolve their housing crisis. These include: mainstream/community referrals, housing stabilization planning, prevention assistance, prioritization for shelter (motel vouchers, emergency shelter or domestic violence shelter), or referrals to a CARES assessment. 

Homeless Services

Homeless Services include emergency shelter, outreach services and emergency access for those would need immediate access to law enforcement or domestic violence services for person fleeing violence.  Emergency service access utilizes a shelter screen that triages and prioritizes the most vulnerable to shelter beds and motel vouchers, since resources are very limited.  Homeless services link households to an assessment sight if a VI-SPDAT assessment is needed.

Housing First approach

Coordinated Entry System has a Housing First orientation, so that people are housed quickly without preconditions or service participation requirements. Housing first is applied to the CARES System.  All persons should have rapid, fair and equal access to our homeless response system. Persons should be supported to rapidly enter open units through timely data entry, rapid enrollment and support with documenting eligibility. All programs are required to have low barrier access. Housing search/navigation services are used to assure persons with the highest barriers have the supports they need to find housing and that persons are not lingering on the referral list. Clients have choice of housing type, location, services and drive their housing stability plans.  

Assessment

Assessment is client-centric, provider informed, decision-making process with a standardized, evidenced based tool (currently the VI-SPDAT + Supplement) that is designed to base housing placement on objective need criteria versus timing or subjective criteria. The assessment process identifies and documents: individuals needs, homeless history, housing barriers, clients choices (housing location & type), and program eligibility to match housing interventions (transitional, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive) to household desires and situation. The Assessment stage also increase the CoCs understanding of the scope, depth and need for housing through uniform data collection and outcome reporting.  

Self & Guided Resolution

Self and guided resolutions are utilized for those who could be diverted from entering the homeless system.  Its used to assist households with other problem-solving resources and assistance.  This could include mediation, rehousing with friends or family, connecting with housing location assistance, financial assistance or referring to mainstream services. Mainstream services are publicly funded programs that provide services, housing and income supports to all low-income persons.

Mainstream and Community Resources

Mainstream services are publicly funded programs that provide services, housing and income supports to all low-income persons. Examples of mainstream services would be Section 8, Public Housing, MFIP, SNAP benefits, daycare assistance, food pantry referrals, vouchers for clothing, furniture or household needs, WIC, legal aid, energy assistance, etc. These recourses could be used to divert households out or the homeless system or to provide additional support within the system.

Stabilization

Stabilization services assess and strengthen housing stability through the provision of support services, stabilization plans, advocacy, and linkage to community and mainstream services. Plans and services are designed to maximize housing stability and support independence using client centered, creative engagement, and harm reduction and principles. Services may include pre-move-in plans, landlord engagement, crisis planning, and connection to natural supports. The CARES System utilizes a comprehensive assessment tool called the SPDAT that identifies specific barriers to housing stability. Assessments are ongoing to help identify where additional support is necessary and where growth has occurred.

Prevention Assistance

This is assistance is for those who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Prevention assistance may be rental and/or case management assistance. The CARES System utilizes a prevention triage tool to prioritize prevention services including targeting of the most vulnerable and likely to become homeless.  Outcomes may include assistance with prevention resources, mainstream linkage or referral to emergency access or assessment. This may vary from community to community.

Assignment

Assignment is the matching of households to all supportive housing dedicated homeless beds or units based on: Eligibility, CARES Prioritization Policy, VI-SPDAT Score, Client Choice and open Units.  Selection of referral for program opening goes the priority list manager.  The priority list manager runs and sorts reports in the current databases, matches program eligibility and send the appropriate referral to the housing provider who notified that there was an opening.  The housing provider then contacts the household.