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Data Elements: 4.12 Current Living Situation
Data Element
The Current Living Situation reflects where the client is staying on the date of each interaction with a client.
Contacts that require the collection of Current Living Situation include activities such as a conversation between a street outreach staff and client about the client's well-being or needs, an office visit to discuss their housing plan, or a referral to another community service where a conversation with the client occurred as the referral was being made.
For Coordinated Entry projects, record a Current Living Situation anytime any of the following occurs:
- A Project Start associated with Coordinated Entry; or
- A Coordinated Entry Activity is recorded; or
- The client's living situation changes; or
- If a Current Living Situation has not been recorded for longer than a community-defined length of time (i.e., longer than 90 days). The CoC (Continuum of Care) must be involved in the determination of "community-defined length of time".
Night-by-Night shelters should only record a Current Living Situation if the interaction between the shelter personnel and client goes beyond a basic provision of shelter services.
Data Collection requirements for PATH-funded components are limited to the following fields from the Living Situation Options List:
- Place not meant for habitation (e.g., a vehicle, an abandoned building, bus/train/subway station/airport or anywhere outside)
- Emergency shelter, including hotel or motel paid for with emergency shelter voucher, or Host Home shelter
- Safe Haven
- Other
- Worker unable to determine
Data Element Type
4.12 Current Living Situation is a Common Program Specific Data Element.
Collection Point
4.12 Current Living Situation is collected at each contact with the client.
Why It Matters
This element provides information on the number of contacts required to engage the client and to document the client’s current living situation at each contact. By knowing where a client has been living, it is easier for providers to connect with the client.
Data Quality
The CLS Without Enrollment Report reflects Current Living Situations records that do not have a corresponding project enrollment active on the CLS information date.
The Street Outreach Status Report identifies clients who do not have a valid CLS.
How to correct: Enter value, if known on Project Start, Interim or Project Exit Assessment.