Chicago Central Referral System (CRS)

The Source forHousing Solutions

Chicago Central Referral System (CRS)

May 2, 2014

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions2. Background on CSH and Catholic

Charities3. CRS Overview4. Outreach Coordination5. Marketing6. System Enhancements7. Questions

CSH and Catholic Charities

CSH Mission

Improve lives of vulnerable

people

Maximize public

resources

Build strong, healthy

communities

Advancing housing solutions that:

Catholic Charities – CRS Managing Entity

Overview of CRS

CRS Purpose

Creation of single point of access for Permanent Supportive Housing

(PSH) and Permanent Housing with Short Term (PHwSS) Supports to improve efficiency of the current housing system through which individuals and families access

housing

Federal Strategic Plan: 2010

4 Key Goals:

1. End chronic homelessness by 2015

2. Prevent and end veteran homelessness by 2015

3. Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth and children by 2020

4. Set path to end all types of homelessness by 2020

Coordinated AssessmentHEARTH Act: CoC Interim Rule,

Section 578.3“Centralized or coordinated assessment system is defined to mean a centralized or coordinated process designed to coordinate program participant intake, assessment, and provision of referrals. A centralized or coordinated assessment system covers the geographic area, is easily accessed by individuals and families seeking housing or services, is well advertised, and includes a comprehensive and standardized assessment tool.”

Plan 2.0: A Home for Everyone

7 Strategic Priorities:

1.Crisis Response System

2.Access to Stable and Affordable Housing

3.Youth Homelessness

4.Employment5.Advocacy and Civic

Engagement6.Cross –System

Integration7.Capacity Building

CRS Task Group Assumptions

Lessons learned locally and nationally from 100K Homes Campaign

Connect the most vulnerable households with the appropriate housing and services

Screen in, not out and remove systematic barriers

Outreach is essential Supportive service is critical PSH may not be permanent for everyone Evolutionary process

Who is Eligible for CRS?

Target Population and Prioritization

Target Population: Meet HUD definition of homeless (Category

1 and 4) Income below 60% Area Median Income

Households will be prioritized by: Vulnerability Index Score Days homeless Date of application

Vulnerability Index – Singles

More than 6 months street homeless AND at least one of the following: End Stage Renal Disease History of Cold Weather Injuries Liver Disease or Cirrhosis HIV+/AIDS Over 60 years old 3 or more emergency room visits in prior

three months 3 or more ER or hospitalizations in prior

year Tri-morbid (mentally ill+ abusing

substances+ chronic medical problem)

Vulnerability Index - Families

Developed in Chicago by CSH in partnership with supportive housing and family outreach providers Identifying and prioritizing families based

on: Homelessness history:

length of literal homelessness and residential instability

Involvement with child protective services

Number of children Parental risk factors Child risk factors

Essential Elements of CRS

Coordinated Outreach: An approach to the system-management that includes coordination of street outreach teams and staff to personally follow up with applicants to ensure collection of documents needed for housing interview

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Tool:• An on-line application for PSH,• Connected with database that orders people by

vulnerability,• Is searchable for PSH agencies,• Is confidential, and• Has ability to connect to or warehouse client

documents needed for the housing application and interview process.

Administrator: A Managing Entity to manage the database, handle data quality and clean-up, manage conflicts of interest

Using CRS

Authorized User Agencies

There will be three levels of access for the interim-CRS: General Authorized User, Restricted Access Users, and Administrator.

Administrator: allows access to all information, delete records, export information, update CHA waiting list status, and generate reports.

General Authorized Users (PSH & PHwSS): will run filtered referral reports on all Applicant types except for the HIV/AIDS filter.

Restricted Access Users: allows access to filtered searches for people with HIV/AIDS.

Timeline For Implementation

Timeline for system wide implementation of the CRS: 50% of all scattered-site and site-

based supportive housing will pull applicants from the CRS by 12/31/13

100% of all scattered-site and site-based supportive housing will pull applicants form the CRS by 06/30/14

Login Page

Each User in Authorized User Agency has own login details

Do not share login details with anyone else!!

Search Filters

Median Income Household

Composition Gender (Female, Male,

Transgender) Age (only sub-category

is Youth 18-25) HIV/AIDS Military/Veteran

Disabling Condition (presence of, not specific condition)

CHA Waiting List (if cross referenced for CHA list, will be marked)

Current Zip Code (agencies have the option to specify from a list)

As unit(s) become available, Housing Providers can search CRS for Applicants meeting unit requirements based on the following criteria:

Contacting Applicants

Housing Providers must notify Applicants of available unit through the following (where available):1. Applicant: telephone, email or

address where they can be found

2. Case worker/outreach worker: telephone, email or agency address

3. Family/friend: telephone or email

Outreach Requirements

Authorized User Agencies must use the interim-CRS for 30 days (20 business days)

Authorized User Agencies are asked to make contact attempts for 10 business days before returning an Applicant back to the interim-CRS.

Authorized User Agencies are asked to pull referrals from the interim-CRS up to two “rounds” before going to the site-based list.

A minimum of 3 referrals will be generated for each vacant unit.

Eligibility Documentation & Program Criteria

It is for the housing provider to ensure they have all the correct eligibility documentation from the applicant

CRS pre-screens; housing providers are responsible for their own tenant selection criteria and funder requirement compliance

Confidentiality Protocols

CRS Agency MOU Authorized User

Confidentiality Agreement Includes

adherence to HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Act and IL Domestic Violence Act

HIV/AIDS funded Housing Providers provided access to filter for HIV/AIDS only

Domestic Violence not filter criteria

Domestic Violence Confidentiality Breach

Executive Director reports breaches of confidentiality to the Managing Entity

“If I notice or suspect a security breach, I must immediately notify the Executive Director of the Agency and the Managing Entity”

“I understand that any violation of this Agreement may also be considered a violation of my employment relationship with this Agency, and could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of my employment or affiliation with Agency, as well as potential personal civil and criminal legal fines and penalties.”

Outreach Coordination

Outreach Coordination

Ellen Ryan Outreach Coordinator

Center for Housing and Healtheryan@housingforhealth.org

(312) 784-9099

Marketing CRS

System Enhancements

Questions

Today’s Presenters

Lindsey Bishop GilmoreSenior Program Manager, CSHLindsey.bishop@csh.org

Sandra MurrayDirector – Homeless Prevention Call Center, Catholic Charitiesslmurray@catholiccharities.net

The Source forHousing Solutions

www.ChicagoCRS.org Thank You!

CRS Questions: ChicagoCRS@catholiccharities.net