Homelessness Prevention: Basic Overview

This article will review basic components of the project type "Homeless Prevention". 

HUD's definition of Homeless Prevention (HP): “A project that offers services and/or financial assistance necessary to prevent a person from moving into an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation.”

Basic Components of Homeless Prevention HMIS Workflow

Project Start Date Assessment

For Homeless Prevention projects, the project start date is the date of first interaction with the client.

To determine the start of each client's period of participation with a project. All projects need this data element for reporting time spent participating in the project.

Interim Assessments

• Update: Complete this type of Interim Review when there are changes to client information prior to Exit Date, including information to:
  • Disability Status
  • Health Insurance
  • Income & Sources
  • Non-Cash Benefits
• Annual Assessment: Complete this type of Interim Review for all clients with a project start date over 365-days.
  • This can be done within 30-days before or after the 1-year date of project start

'How To' resources for correctly updating HUD Verification Sub-Assessments:

• Training: Sub-Assessment 101 - Recording (December 2021)
  • Training: Sub-Assessment 101 – Slides chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ncceh.org/media/files/pages-page/ddb3db3d/subassessments-101.pdf  
• ZenGuide: Updating HUD Verification Sub-Assessments
• ZenGuide: Data Quality - HUD Verification Sub-Assessments

Project Exit Date Assessment

To determine the end of a client's period of participation with a project. All projects need this data element for reporting time spent participating in the project.

For Homeless Prevention projects, the project exit date is the date all services in the program ended OR there has been no client contact or services provided & recorded in HMIS in the past 90-days.

On the Exit Assessment, Homeless Prevention projects must complete the ‘Housing Assessment at Exit'.

• Housing Assessment at Exit
  • i.e. Where are they going?
• If Able to Maintain Housing at Entry, Subsidy Information
  • i.e. Is client receiving on-going monetary assistance?
• If Moved to New Housing Unit, Subsidy Information
  • i.e. Is client receiving a rental subsidy?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES? BELOW ARE LINKS TO RELATED ARTICLES!

• Data Entry Workflows 
• ClientPoint Entry - Exit Workflow
• Inactive Clients: How To Exit After 90-Days Inactivity