GH CAN Operations Committee 12/13/17

                                                                     Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Operations Agenda

Wednesday, December 13^th, 2017

1.      Welcome and Introductions

2.       

3.      Case Conferences – Fred Faulkner

a.      206452  

b.      193260

c.      The CT Department of Housing supports shelter transfers if they’re happening in a coordinated way, but to make sure that everyone gets credit you should email Fred each case.  It’s important to make sure they are listed as folks who are being brought up for discussion.

4.      Coordinated Entry

a.      Cold Weather Updates – Sarah DiMaio

                                                    i.     Each day is busier than the last!  Triage at Center Church and Community Meals is going smoothly, and the same as the process was last year.  There is a concern because the Warming Center doesn’t have internet, so staff have been relying on a hot spot, which was slow, especially with CT HMIS.

                                                   ii.     In order to avoid safety concerns, the Warming Center staff have been prioritizing sex offenders for beds in year-round shelters where they are eligible to allow individual women to feel more comfortable at the Warming Center. 

                                                  iii.     There are some households who have been diverted from the Warming Center itself, sometimes using grocery gift cards. 

                                                  iv.     We still don’t have CT HMIS running because Nutmeg is building a program, so there aren’t going to be enrollments if you look today.

                                                   v.     Salvation Army is trying to provide hats, gloves, coat, and food for folks coming into triage.  There are snacks at warming center but no full meals because there isn’t a kitchen on site.

                                                  vi.     Nobody has been turned away because of capacity restraints.

b.      Diversion Appointments – Stephanie Corbin

                                                    i.     Even if folks are being immediately accommodated at the Warming Center it’s still essential that they attend their CAN appointments to determine if they are eligible for diversion financial assistance.

c.      Diversion Definition – Stephanie Corbin

                                                    i.     See p. 3

                                                   ii.     There were some concerns from staff that this definition was vague, and not easy to distinguish the difference between prevention and diversion.

5.      Coordinated Exit:

a.      Recently Housed – Lisa Quach

b.      Housing Data – see p.2

6.      Leadership Updates – Crane Cesario

a.      There was an email sent to designated PIT contacts.  There’s an upcoming CCEH training for shelter staff 1/9/18 from 10-12 or 1-3, registration ends on 12/29/17 for this training so sign up soon!  A webinar option is available if folks cannot be present.

b.      Leadership is working on reviewing the CAN Coordinated Entry Policies and Procedures manual- if anyone has feedback, please send it to Matt and Cat.

7.      Announcements

a.      Meeting Schedules: Do we want to meet on December 27^th?  This committee opted not to meet on 12/27.  Enjoy your holiday!

                                                    i.     Beginning in January, we will be shifting Leadership and Operations Committee meetings to the 1^st and 3^rd weeks of the month.

b.      The annual Homeless Persons Memorial will be held on Thursday, December 21^st at 6:30 at Center Church in Hartford. 

c.      If you are working with someone who reports being a veteran, please call CRT’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (for both families and individuals)

d.      Security Deposit Guarantee Program is only available for chronically homeless clients at this time. 

e.       

                                                                                                                

GH CAN Housing Data

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	165	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	478
Verified Chronic Matched	31
Verified Chronic Not Yet Matched	7	We currently have 7 chronic verified clients who have not yet been matched to housing. VI-SPDAT scores 11, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 3
Potentially Chronic Refusers	3
Verified Chronic Refusers	0
Potentially Chronic Matched	1	These households did not disclose a disabling condition, and are matched to various programs.
Potentially Chronic Not Yet Matched	26	Right now we believe 26 households have the chronic length of homeless history, but none of these individuals have their homeless and disability verifications completed.
Individuals - Active – Not Matched	533	This includes Active – Enrolled in CAN, Enrolled in TH & In an Institution
Families – Active – Not Matched	22	This includes Active – Enrolled in CAN, Enrolled in TH & In an Institution

SmartSheet Shelter Priority List Data

Individual Men	Individual Women	Families
Unsheltered              142	Unsheltered             102	Unsheltered             10
Total                          173	Total                         139	Total                          28

Connecticut Shelter Diversion Definition

Shelter Diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness at the front door of the homelessness response system by helping people identify immediate alternative housing arrangements and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing.  Every effort should be made to divert clients to other housing solutions at their first contact with the homelessness response system.   

Clients eligible for shelter Diversion include individuals or families seeking shelter who are:

·       Literally homeless (and not already sheltered). 

·        In possession of an eviction notice with an “Execution Date” ordered by the court provided or confirmed by CT Judicial website. (Notice to Quit is not sufficient).

·        Has been forced to leave an unsafe or unsustainable doubled-up situation.

o   If a client presents having left a doubled up situation that is safe, Diversion Specialist should work with that client to facilitate return to that housing.

If someone is doubled up illegally in subsidized housing, Diversion Specialist should work with landlord and family to see if the person can be added to the lease.

Shelter Diversion redirects families and individuals who are seeking immediate emergency shelter by helping them preserve their current housing situation (only in situations as noted above) or by assisting them to make immediate alternative housing arrangements.  They are thus able to avoid homelessness, and do not need to enter emergency shelter or be placed on an emergency shelter waitlist.

As a rule, shelter diversion should eliminate the need for any shelter stay. However, in rare cases, a short stay in shelter (less than seven days) as part of a diversion plan is allowable.  This means:

o   A diversion plan is put in place at the time a client is seeking emergency shelter (during their initial CAN appointment).

o   This plan requires some additional time to implement (examples: bus ticket but doesn’t leave until the next day, or housing identified but cannot move in for three days).

o   AND there are no other safe, temporary housing options.

o   This client can be counted as diverted if entered into shelter for less than seven days as part of the diversion plan.