CHART: Lancaster County’s Coordinated

Assessment

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What does CHART stand for?

Community Homeless Assessment

and Referral Team

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Meet the Community Homeless Assessment and Referral Team

• Dana Robertson, CHART Manager

• Yvonne Zeiset, CHART Worker

• Sarah Fritz, CHART Worker

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Why Coordinated Assessment?

Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines for Continuum of Care requirements

Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness- 10 year plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

The Concept: Coordination, collaboration, and a process that is progressive for individuals and households accessing our system.

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The Purpose of CHART

To provide standardized and coordinated assessment and referral services for everyone who is seeking services from the network of homeless service providers in Lancaster County, PA.

Focus:

Diversion

Shelter Assignment

Rapid Re-Housing

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CHART’s Partners

• 2-1-1 Call Center at United Way of Lancaster County

• Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP)

• Lancaster County Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing Shelters

• Other Community Providers (YOU!)

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CHART’s Process

Pre-screening Referral to CHART

CHART Assessment

Divert Shelter RRH

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Purpose of Pre-Screening

• “…to identify those who qualify for assessment services to receive support in a housing crisis”

• For those who are literally homeless or in certain imminent risk categories

• For those facing eviction*

*until June 30th, 2015

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Definitions

• Literally Homeless: On the street, in a car, or living in a place not meant for human habitation. Also sometimes may be someone who stayed at a shelter the night before.

• Imminent Risk of Experiencing Homelessness:

-exiting an institution (hospital, prison, d&a treatment facility) within 14 days

-in a hotel currently but needing to exit within a few days with no plan on where they will stay next

• Facing Eviction: Households who have a written eviction letter from the MDJ, a court order filed by the Property Landlord or Manager, or a lockout notice*

*ends June 30th, 2015 5/22/2015 9

Important considerations: Domestic Violence and Veterans

Services

• Domestic Violence: If disclosed either before or during the pre-screening, the individual is directed to the DVS hotline that is available to serve those fleeing domestic violence.

• Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Veterans of America is the resource for Veterans seeking shelter. The 2-1-1 call specialists help veterans make connections with these programs rather than being referred to CHART directly.

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Pre-screening Questions

1. Have you or any adult currently living in your household ever served in any branch of the US military? For this purpose the National Guard is not considered military service.

2. Are you currently living on the street, or in a place that was not really made for people to live in, or in an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program?

3. Are you in danger of losing your housing?

4. Do you have a written notice to quit/eviction letter?

5. When will you lose your housing?

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What happens after the pre-screen?

• CHART is notified electronically via our Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

• CHART contacts the household within 24 hours/one business day of the referral

• CHART schedules assessment within 24 hours/one business day

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CHART Assessment: basic information

• The ultimate goal is to meet with each household as soon as possible and at a time that is convenient for them

• CHART workers complete assessments in person or by phone

• CHART workers are mobile and can meet in various community settings

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CHART Assessment: Key Priorities of Assessment

• Listening

• Value and worth of each household/individual

• Strengths based interviewing techniques

• Education about community resources

• Safety first

• Choice

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CHART Assessment: Initial Questions

The following are the initial items reviewed in a face to face CHART assessment:

• -HMIS data: Collect all household information

• -Client documents and income verification

• -HUD Homelessness verification

We then take time to explore with the client(s) how they came to be here today…

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CHART Assessment: Diversion

• The purpose of Diversion is to help households seeking shelter determine if there are any other viable options where a temporary living arrangement can be utilized instead of shelter so that a plan for permanent housing can be carried out shortly thereafter.

- Client input

- Conflict Mediation

- Motivational Interviewing

- Short term/solution focused planning

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CHART Assessment: Resource Review

• The purpose of the Resource review is to determine the households existing connections in the community.

Resource questions:

- What community supports are you connected to?

- Are you meeting with any professional organizations in the community?

- Who would you consider to be part of your close support network?

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CHART Assessment: Shelter Assignment

• The purpose of shelter assignment is to assist a household that cannot otherwise be diverted from homelessness connect with the shelter that best fits the household’s needs and goals.

• Shelter assignment is based on knowledge of each shelter’s mission and requirements

• Decisions that are made take into consideration Tabor’s conflict of interest policy and the household’s choice.

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Rapid Re-housing

What is Rapid Re-housing?

Case management services that assist an individual/household with:

• a permanent housing search/procurement

• Landlord advocacy

• planning services for budgeting, rent payment, tenant responsibilities

• Move-in costs via household savings or short term funds

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CHART Assessment: Rapid Re-Housing Referral

• The purpose of the Rapid Re-Housing section of the assessment is to utilize Lancaster County’s existing Rapid Re-housing services to ensure these services are utilized to assist a household in quickly exiting the shelter system.

• Rapid Re-housing assignment is based on knowledge of each organization’s mission and requirements

• Decisions that are made are based on Tabor’s conflict of interest policy and client choice.

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Challenges and Strengths

Strengths:

• Timing

• Accessibility

Challenges:

• Available options

• Safety

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THANK YOU!

Questions?

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Contact Info.

Dana Robertson

CHART Manager

Tabor Community Services

Drobertson@tabornet.org

(717) 358-9380

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