GH CAN Operations 4/19/17

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Operations Agenda

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

               Attended: Alicia Akers, Janet Bermudez, Roger Clark, Sarah DiMaio, Fred Faulkner, Angel Fernandez, Kelly Gonzalez, Gerilyn Maciel, Kyren McCrorey, Maureen Perez, Heather Pilarcik, Chris Robinson, Amy Robinson, Marilyn Rossetti, Collette Slover, Wendy Walker, Ymonne Wilson, Kelanda Santos, Alise Rangasammy, Luz Serrano, Natalie Ramos, Klaudia Lobeska, Leslie Wilper, Monique Shand, and Janine Simms Colon.

1.      Welcome and Introductions

2.      What Mainstream Resources (DSS, WIC, etc) Are We Accessing?

Resources we have:
-        Monique says security deposit is easy access for clients to get access to
-        Sarah says that Atlas is half way to behavioral health

-        Klaudia says Goodwill Career’s has been helpful.

-        Wendy says soup kitchens are helpful

-        Alyse says furniture donations from San Juan Center

Resources we need:

-        Klaudia says utility assistance is needed, other transportation

-        Wendy says one difficulty is clients determining their medical insurance and access to health coverage and DSS

-        Lisa suggests a language line is needed

-        Jerry says there is confusion with SNAP, DSS and in need of a provider line

-        Amy suggests someone from DSS can come to one of the operations meetings and explain the process

-        Wendy says Bob’s Discount Furniture has been successful for her clients.

-        Sarah says that childcare is a need for their clients who are in shelter

-        Lisa says there is a need for better access for clients to get phones

-        Lisa says that having a DCF liaison would be helpful for family meetings

3.      Coordinated Exit:

a.      Housing Data Updates – see p. 2

b.      Recently Housed – Lisa Quach

c.      How Do We Explain to Clients What Resources May Be Available? – Sarah DiMaio, Wendy Walker

-Wendy explained that after a households has been referred to a housing opening, we need to have a consistent process for how all providers will communicate to clients about the referrals that are made, without giving too many program specifics.   In the past we have had challenges when case managers had some information about housing programs, but not enough to answer all client questions and this has led to more confusion down the line.

-Sarah says she says it is important that everyone provides broad detail of housing information to prevent confusion for clients and becoming frustrated with the housing program they are working with.

-Sarah proposes a vote if client is matched to housing program to wait for a week for housing case manager to contact client and if they do not have the case manager contact the case manager for the housing provider.

-Heather says that it is important to keep clients involved and provide some sort of information and we should vote on the language of what information that is provided for the client when matched to a housing program.

-Luz says it is important to inform clients that every client’s situation is different, because word travels quickly and people will want whatever they perceive as the "better" program.

-Sarah suggests to remove the bullets for the prompt guide that is on back page of agenda.

-The Housing Matching committees should have a time-frame for reaching out to all clients.  The proposal for this policy is to work within 7 business days from the point of referral to contacting a client.

-Alicia suggests to not put the agency’s name when telling the client which housing program they are matched to, to prevent confusion if clients try to reach an agency and cannot identify the program.

-If referrals do not happen housing case managers should reach out to case managers to notify them and they tell the client.

- An email will be sent out about this new procedure.

2.      Updates to the Release of Information

a.      Removal of old agencies

-CRT East Hartford Family Shelter, CRT McKinney Shelter removed due to being under CRT

-Removing Tabor House

-Institute of Living due to being under Hartford HealthCare

-Salvation Army Marshall House be removed to being covered under Salvation Army and be looped under Salvation Army Hartford

b.      Organization name changes

-Changed the name of Value Options to Beacon Health Options

3.      Training Needs

4.      Announcements

a.      The CT Coalition to End Homelessness will be hosting their Annual Training Institute on Thursday, May 18^th.  Register online at www.cceh.org. Early-bird registration discounts are available until May 1^st.

b.      There are openings available in this month’s full-day CAN Training.  Email mollie.greenwood@journeyhomect.org to register.

c.      There will be a forum about hoarding Thursday, April 27, 2017 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM featuring Randy Frost and Blaise Warden, PhD, at Suffield High School

GH CAN Housing Data Updates

Data Element	Number	Notes
Chronically homeless households housed in 2015	102	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless households housed in 2016	211	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless households housed in 2017	64	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Total Chronically homeless households housed in GH CAN	377
Verified Chronic Matched	63
Verified Chronic Not Yet Matched	15	We currently have 15 chronic verified clients who have not yet been matched to housing.
Potentially Chronic Matched	0
Potentially Chronic Not Yet Matched	61	Right now we believe 65 households have the chronic length of homeless history, but none of these individuals have their homeless and disability verifications completed.

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Coordinated Exit – Getting to Housing

Information for Case Managers

Most programs for homeless people must follow State and Federal rules. This is true in Connecticut.  We must have one standard way to help people get into shelter, known as Coordinated Entry.   We also have to have one way to help people get out of shelter or off of the streets, and that is Coordinated Exit.  The whole process is the Coordinated Access Network; it is called the CAN.  Connecticut has 8 CANs to cover the whole state.

First, we need to know who needs help.  We also must learn who has the most need for help.  To get started, people needing shelter call 211.  Then you get a CAN assessment appointment.  There, you will be asked for information about how long you have been homeless. You will also be asked if you have a disability, and to answer survey questions. 

CANs have to make a priority of people who have been homeless the longest and who have the greatest needs based on guidance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Three things are used to understand who is highest priority for program openings:

1. The time that a person or family has been homeless;
2. If the person or head of household has a disability;
3. The results of the survey.

To be top priority for Permanent Supportive Housing, you must be considered Chronically Homeless by federal definition.

How will I know if I am Chronically Homeless according to the federal definition?

To be considered Chronically Homeless you must have been homeless a long time, and have a disability and high needs. We have to have paperwork to verify your experience.  The next part may help you learn if you could be Chronically Homeless. If your true answers for all items in the chart below are YES, you may be considered Chronically Homeless.  Documents are required to verify your status. 

□ Yes    □ No	I am currently staying in one of these: ·        An emergency shelter (including a domestic violence shelter) ·        Outside – a place not meant for human habitation such as a car, park, hallways, under a bridge, etc. (you must obtain a letter verifying your time outdoors/in a place not meant for human habitation) ·        In a hospital or jail or another institution for under 90 days, and was in a shelter or outside the night before entering the institution ·        In a Hotel or motel paid for by government or charity
□ Yes    □ No	I have been staying in any of the places listed above for: ·        One year continuously without a break of a week or more OR ·        4 or more occasions in the last three years, that total to 12 months or more.  Occasions of homelessness are time that was spent in a homeless situation, like a shelter, that was interrupted by a week or more of a non-homeless situation, like staying with a friend or family member.  A new occasion would begin once you returned to a homeless situation.
□ Yes    □ No	I have one or more of the following disabilities that is expected to be of long, continuing duration and prevents me from being able to obtain and maintain housing, and I can document this disability: Physical, mental or emotional impairment including one caused by alcohol or drug abuse Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Brain Injury Developmental Disability HIV/AIDS

ð  This is not a guarantee.  The CAN must review your documents to learn your priority level.

If you answer yes to one of the following, you cannot be considered Chronically Homeless:   

□ Yes     □ No	I do not have a disability of any kind.
□ Yes     □ No	I currently stay on someone’s couch or at their place (doubled up), such as a family or friend’s place.
□ Yes     □ No	I have a room or apartment that I pay for, or it is paid for by family or a friend, even if I go to a shelter sometimes.

Tough Decisions

The priority is how the CAN decides who is eligible for the resources we have to help.  There is not enough for everyone, so the people who are highest priority can be offered more assistance.  Many people who come into shelter figure out a way to leave on their own.

·                    Some people may be able to get Permanent Supportive Housing.

·                    Other people may get short term help with rent, from Rapid ReHousing programs. 

·                    People with some income can become roommates to share cost of housing. 

·                    Sometimes families or friends can help, or

·                    Some people get jobs or other income and can pay their own way.

Staying in shelter for a long time or moving from shelter to shelter does not guarantee that you will eventually qualify for an apartment.  Being homeless for many months does not necessarily mean you will meet the definition of chronically homeless.  Additionally, each housing program has their own specific eligibility criteria, and not all housing programs are the same.

What forms are needed?   How can I get my documents ready?  You must have some forms filled out so we can work with you.  Forms are available at JourneyHomeCT.org/projects.  □ Release of Information You need to agree to share your information in our database system so we can work together to help you. If you choose not to share your information, we can still work with you, but it makes it more difficult and can make things go more slowly.  □ Homeless Verification Your case manager can help complete the Homeless Verification Form.     If you have been living outside, a witness such as a PATH or Homeless Outreach Worker, or a neighbor can write a letter. □ Disability Verification Your health care provider can complete the Disability Verification form, or you can provide a letter from SSI/SSDI.  This form must be signed by a licensed practitioner who is authorized to diagnose and treat your disability.  □  Other documents – Identification, Social Security Card, Income and others It is always a good idea to have identification.  If you do not have identification, we can help you get what you need. Having other documents, including your Social Security Card and any income information is important too.

 

Please contact your case manager, outreach worker, or 211 for help.