HMIS 101: Helpful Definitions For Housing And Homelessness Organization Staff

Homelessness Defined

Depending on how your project is funded, staff may need to know the definitions of homelessness that Alaska uses as well as the definitions that HUD (Housing & Urban Development) uses. The main difference between how Alaska and HUD define homelessness is that Alaska includes staying in someone else's home in its definition of homelessness. In other words, if a family is doubled up or an individual is couch surfing, their experience is included in the Alaska definition of homelessness but not in the federal definition of homelessness.

Alaska's Definition of homelessness

Used by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and HAP grants.

Homeless Person:

(1) The BHAP (Basic Homeless Assistance Program) program utilizes the homeless definition adopted by AHFC in AS 18.56.090(f).

"Homelessness" means the state of an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes an individual who:

Is sharing the housing of other individuals because of loss of housing, economic hardship, domestic violence, or a similar reason;
Is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground because of the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
Is living in an emergency or transitional shelter;
Is abandoned in a hospital;
Is waiting for a foster care placement;
has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
Is living in a car, a park, a public space, an abandoned building, substandard housing, a bus or train station, or a similar setting;
Is fleeing a domestic violence situation, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing;
Is being evicted within a week, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing;
Is being discharged within a week from an institution, including a mental health treatment facility, substance abuse treatment facility, or prison, in which the individual has been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing.

Housing Placement (Rapid Re-Housing) Services

Actions taken to assist persons experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent housing in properties not operated by the grantee; or payment of security deposits, utility deposits or first months rent.

Homeless Prevention Services

Actions taken to prevent persons who are in imminent danger of becoming homeless from losing their permanent residence, including payment of past due rent or mortgage payments; payment of water, sewer, heating fuel, or electric utility bills; or payment of basic telephone costs when the service is essential to prevent homelessness.

15 AAC 154.400. Homeless assistance program (HAP)

(4) "homelessness" means the state of an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes an individual who

(A) is sharing the housing of other individuals because of loss of housing, economic hardship, domestic violence, or a similar reason;

(B) is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground because of the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

(D) is abandoned in a hospital;

(E) is waiting for a foster care placement;

(F) has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

(G) is living in a car, a park, a public space, an abandoned building, substandard housing, a bus or train station, or a similar setting;

(H) is fleeing a domestic violence situation, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing;

(I) is being evicted within a week, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing; and

(J) is being discharged within a week from an institution, including a mental health treatment facility, substance abuse treatment facility, or prison, in which the individual has been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days, does not have an alternative residence, and lacks the resources and support needed to obtain housing;

HUDs Definition of Homelessness

HUD established four categories of Homelessness.

Literally Homeless: An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:

Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation;
Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, and local government programs); OR
Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.

Imminent Risk of Homelessness: An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that:

Residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance;
No subsequent residence has been identified; AND
The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.

Homeless Under other Federal Statutes: Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless as defined above, but who:

Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes;
Have not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application;
Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during the preceding 60 days; AND
Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special needs or barriers.

Fleeing/Attempting to Flee DV: Any individual or family who:

Is fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
Has no other residence; AND
Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.

Special note: Your CoC (Continuum of Care) needs HUD approval to serve individuals and families considered Homeless under other Federal Statutes. Please read HUDs Notice on Limitation on Use of Funds to Serve Persons Defined as Homeless Under Other Federal Laws (https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/1988/notice-limitation-use-funds-serve-persons-defined-homeless-other-laws/).

Other Definitions

Disability of Long Duration: (1) a disability as defined in Section 223 of the Social Security Act; (2) a physical, mental, or emotional impairment which is (a) expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration, (b) substantially impedes an individuals ability to live independently, and (c) of such a nature that such ability could be improved by more suitable housing conditions; (3) a developmental disability as defined in Section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act; (4) the disease of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or any conditions arising from the etiological agency for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; or (5) a diagnosable substance abuse disorder.

Documentation of the Disability: Physical disabilities, mental health problems, developmental disabilities, and chronic health conditions all require documentation for federal projects. Accepted forms of documentation include written verification from a state-licensed professional, such as a medical service provider or a health-care provider, the Social Security Administration, or the receipt of a disability check (i.e., SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) check or VA (Veteran s Administration) disability benefit check). For mental health problems, a state-licensed social worker can provide documentation.

Physical Disability: A physical impairment which is (a) expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration, (b) substantially impedes an individuals ability to live independently, and (c) of such a nature that such ability could be improved by more suitable housing conditions. Accepted forms of documentation include written verification from a state-licensed professional, such as a medical service provider or a health-care provider, the Social Security Administration, or the receipt of a disability check (i.e., SSDI check or VA disability benefit check).

Developmental Disability: A severe, chronic disability that is attributed to a mental or physical impairment (or combination of physical and mental impairments) that occurs before 22 years of age and limits the capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency. Accepted forms of documentation include written verification from a state-licensed professional, such as a medical service provider or a health-care provider, the Social Security Administration, or the receipt of a disability check (i.e., SSDI check or VA disability benefit check).

Chronic Health Condition: A diagnosed condition that is more than three months in duration and is either not curable or has residual effects that limit daily living and require adaptation in function or special assistance. Examples of chronic health conditions include, but are not limited to, heart disease (including coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack and any other kind of heart condition or disease); severe asthma; diabetes; arthritis-related conditions (including arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia); adult onset cognitive developments (including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic distress syndrome, dementia, and other cognitive related conditions); severe headache/migraine; cancer; chronic bronchitis; liver condition; stroke; or emphysema. Accepted forms of documentation include written verification from a state-licensed professional, such as a medical service provider or a health-care provider, the Social Security Administration, or the receipt of a disability check (i.e., SSDI check or VA disability benefit check).

Mental Health Problem: May include serious depression, serious anxiety, hallucination, violent behavior, or thoughts of suicide. A state-licensed social worker can provide documentation. Other accepted forms of documentation include written verification from a state-licensed professional, such as a medical service provider or a health-care provider, the Social Security Administration, or the receipt of a disability check (i.e., SSDI check or VA disability benefit check).

Recent Institutional History:

Definitions for some options:

Drug or Alcohol Treatment Facility: Includes inpatient treatment and detox.
Foster Home: This term applies to youth only.
Group Home: Includes all facilities for people with disabilities (cognitive or physical); may also be used for corrections clients. Includes adult foster care. Placement done through social services or corrections departments.
Half-way House: Includes placement for corrections clients after jail or prison OR for clients after chemical dependency treatment.
Mental Health Treatment Facility or Hospital: Includes regional treatment centers (state hospitals), Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS), crisis residences, and psychiatric inpatient units at local hospitals.
Residence for People with Physical Disabilities: Includes nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and rehab hospitals.

Permanent address: A permanent address is an apartment, house, or room where the client last lived for 90 days or more. Shelters and time-limited housing are not permanent addresses.

Domestic Violence: Ascertaining whether a person is a victim of domestic violence is necessary to provide the person with the appropriate services to prevent further abuse and to treat the physical and psychological injuries from prior abuse. Also, ascertaining that a person may be experiencing domestic violence may be important for the safety of program staff and other clients. At the aggregate level, knowing the size of the homeless population that has experienced domestic violence is critical for determining the resources needed to address the problem in this population. Special Issues: Programs should be especially sensitive to the collection of domestic violence information from clients and should implement appropriate interview protocols to protect client privacy and safety such as: asking this question in a private location and not in the presence of a romantic partner; delaying all entry of data about clients identified with a recent history of domestic violence; or choosing not to disclose data about clients with a history of domestic violence to other homeless programs.

Resources for Definitions

While defining and understanding the different definitions of homelessness is important, it is by no means the only set of definitions. Here is compiled a list of resources that contain many of the definitions you may need to know.

Definitions of commonly used data elements in HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) HUD HMIS Data Standards Resource Page (https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/3824/hmis-data-dictionary/)
Federal Partner Program Manuals
Statutory definition of Alaska Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries (https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/beneficiaries/who-they-are/)