100K Homes Registry Week Training

Loren Seeger – Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County – Program Coordinator

Teri Curran – West Suburban PADS – Director of Programs

What is 100,000 Homes?

National movement to help permanently house 100,000 of the most vulnerable and chronically homeless individuals and families in the country

183 participating communities

28,385 people have been housed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db-72KUuwpA&lr=1

What is Registry Week?

Helps identify the needs of communities What can communities do better? What can we do as individuals to help end homelessness?

Identify needs of the homeless population in suburban Cook County

Identify and connect with vulnerable and chronic homeless individuals on a personal level

Why is this Important?

Point-in-Time Count is required by HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development)

Classifies those who are most likely to die in the streets

Creates new ways of helping communities

Helps us become better advocates

VOLUNTEERS!

Consent Form for Volunteers

Required to sign before participating in the count Submit to your Team Leader when you arrive at site

Volunteer Teams

You will find out the morning of Day 1

Team Team Leader (agency staff) Consumer 1-2 Volunteers

Maps and “Hot Spots”

Lists of locations and maps will be provided for each

team

“Hot Spots” are places where you are more likely to

find homeless individuals

Tips

Go behind buildings- don’t just drive past the fronts

Go into 24-hour businesses & ask if they see homeless people

Ask police officers if they know of unsheltered homeless people in the area

Ask homeless people if they know others

Interview Process

General Introduction to Individuals

Who are you? “Hello, my name is ____________ and I am a volunteer for

suburban Cook County. We are asking everyone a few questions about their housing situation. Your answers are entirely confidential. Would you be willing to participate?”

STRESS CONFIDENTIALITY!

Explain they may skip or end the survey at any time

Gift Bags

Every unsheltered person will receive a gift bag, even if they refuse to participate

DO NOT USE AS A BARGAINING TOOL

Information and Referral Cards Will be in gift bags Information about shelters, food pantries, etc.

Participant Consent Form

FIRST STEP BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS!

VULNERABILITY INDEX CONSENT FORM We are here to talk to you about your housing and service needs. With your permission, we will ask you some questions about your health and housing, and take your picture so we may identify you at a later date.

By participating in the interview, you give permission to Community Solutions and the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County to provide your information to authorized agencies for the purpose of furthering services and housing.

The information shared during the interview will be stored in Homeless Management

Information Systems (HMIS) database. For additional information regarding HMIS, you have the right to request a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices. Information related to health and housing will be shared with outreach workers and case managers through HMIS, who may follow up with you for services.

All of your information is confidential and will be kept secure.

You can skip any questions that you do not want to answer, end the interview at any

point, or choose to not have your picture taken.

Your signature below indicates that you have read (or been read) the information provided above, have received answers to your questions, and have freely chosen to be interviewed. By agreeing to be interviewed, you are not giving up any legal rights. Date: ______________ Signature of Participant

______________________________________

Printed Name of Participant _______________________________________ I will have my picture taken. Agree Disagree

Vulnerability Index (VI)

One is to be completed for each individual – including family members present

Front Point-in-Time questions

Back VI/health-related questions

Team Leaders are responsible for collecting and returning the Vulnerability Indexes at the end of each morning

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County Registry Week 2013

Interviewer’s Name: Team # Date: Time: Location:

“Hello, my name is ____________ and I am a volunteer for suburban Cook County. We are asking everyone a few questions about their housing situation. Your answers are entirely confidential. Would you be willing to participate?”

OBTAIN SIGNATURE ON CONSENT FORM!

Have you recently completed a Homeless Count survey? Yes (IF YES, STOP SURVEY) No

1. First Name: ____________________________ 11. Where did you sleep on Wednesday, January 23, 2013?

Shelter—Shelter Name: ______________________ Streets Car/Van/RV Train/Bus Forest Preserve With Friends/Family Hospital Jail/Prison Other—Specify:_______________

2. Last Name: ____________________________

3. Nickname: ____________________________

4. Date of Birth: ________ / _______ / __________

5. SSN: ________ - ______ - ___________

6. Gender:

Male Female Transgender Male to Female Transgender Female to Male

12. Where is the name of the town you were living in prior to becoming homeless? Name of Town: ______________________________ Zip Code: ______________________________

7. What is your Ethnicity?

Hispanic Non-Hispanic

8. What is your Race? (choose as many as apply)

African American/Black White American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian Refused

13. Where did you spend the night prior to becoming homeless?

Home/Apartment Family Friends Hospital Nursing Home Substance Treatment Center Jail, Prison, or Detention Center Foster Home or Group Home Other (specify)________________

9. How long have you been homeless during this current episode?

Less than 30 days 30-90 days 3-6 months 6 months up to 1 year 1 year or longer

10. How many times have you had to stay in shelters or on the streets in the past three (3) years?

Less than 4 4 or more Refused/Unknown

14. Do you have a family with you now? Spouse/Partner Children—Number of Children under 18? __________ Please fill out a separate survey for each family member, including children.

Identifier:

15. Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or were you ever called into active duty as a member of the National Guard or as a Reservist? (Full-time: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, or Coast Guard)

Yes No Refused

23. Do you have or have you ever had, or has a doctor ever told you that you had any of the following medical conditions?

Yes No Refused

a. Kidney disease/End Stage Renal Disease or Dialysis

b. Heart disease, Arrhythmia, or Irregular Heartbeat

c. Liver disease, Cirrhosis, or End Stage Liver Disease

d. History of frostbite or Hypothermia e. History of Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion f. HIV/AIDS g. Emphysema h. Diabetes i. Asthma j. Cancer k. Hepatitis C l. Tuberculosis

If Yes, what was your discharge? Honorable Other than Honorable Dishonorable Refused

16. Have you or your family experienced domestic violence? Yes No Refused

17. Do you have a disabling condition? (including physical, mental, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, cognitive or developmental disabilities)

Yes No Refused 18. Are you currently or have you ever received treatment for mental health issues? Yes No Refused

19. Have you ever been takento the hospital for mental health reasons? Yes No Refused 20. Do you use drugs and/or alcohol? Yes No Refused

How many times have you used alcohol in the last 30 days? __________

How many times have you used drugs in the last 30 days? __________ Have you ever been treated for drug and/or alcohol abuse? Yes No Refused

21. How many times have you been to the emergency room in the past three (3) months? ______________

22. How many times have you been hospitalized as an inpatient (spent the night in the hospital) in the past year? ___________

24. Have you ever been to prison and/or jail? Yes No Refused

25. Have you received any income in the last 30 days? Yes No Refused

26. Do you have a case manager and/or outreach worker that you stay in touch with?

Name: ____________________________

Organization: ____________________________

Contact #: ____________________________

27. Do you have an emergency contact?

Name: ____________________________

Relation: ____________________________

Contact #: ____________________________

28. Where do you spend you day? _______________________ 29. Do you have a phone number? _______________________

Comments:

TAKE PHOTOGRAPH

“Thank you for your time. Again, all the information you have given us tonight is confidential. Have a good day.”

Photographs

Why do we need a picture? We want to be able to put a face to a name Connect individuals to services

How to take the photo Use a smartphone Take the picture Use the ID number at the top of the VI and use that as the

subject in the email Then email to Loren@suburbancook.org

Types of Photographs Accepted

Photo of the person

Drivers License

State ID

Passport

Taking a picture with the participant

IF PARTICIPANTS DO NOT WANT THEIR PICTURE TAKEN, MOVE ON.

Participants Refusing the Survey

Tally Sheet Record individuals you are unable to speak with Record individuals who do not want to participate Do not add people to the Tally Sheet if you interview them

The Team Leader will hand in the sheet at the end of the night

TALLY SHEET TEAM: ___________ MAP AREA: _________

YOUR NAME: ___________________________________

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

DATE: STREET / LOCATION: GENDER:

M F

ESTIMATED AGE: ETHNICITY: REFUSED

UNABLE TO WAKE

OTHER USEFUL INFO RE: LOCATION / PERSON:

COME BACK!

Teams will return to deployment sites at 7 a.m.

Breakfast will be provided for all volunteers

Share what you saw!

STREET OUTREACH

Approaching a Participant

No more than 2 people should approach a participant Could scare them away Could feel intimidated and become resistant

Be aware of your verbal/nonverbal cues Language Body language

Could portray a different message

Be respectful You are in their living space

Approaching a Participant

Approach participants like you are in their home

DO NOT PROMISE HOUSING OR HINT THAT HOUSING IS AVAILABLE IF THEY PARTICIPATE!

Explaining the Survey

Use simple terminology

Set time limits Listen carefully for information

Do not rush participants – they may become frustrated and agitated

Give people time to answer, or re-word the question

Mental Health

Common symptoms Participants may hear voices and/or see things that are

not really there Schizophrenia Delusions (government, etc.)

Frustration and agitation for no apparent reason Trauma

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Safety

Be aware of changing tensions in participants

If a participant gets louder, adjust your tone

Consider personal space

Stay with your team

If you feel uncomfortable at any time, END THE SURVEY! Know when to stop and remove

yourself

Creates baseline to track progress

Agencies can become better advocates for participants and issues

Learn more about community homelessness & increase public awareness

Required by HUD to preserve over $9 million in current federal funding for homeless services in suburban Cook County

THANK YOU!

Contact: XXX XXXXXXX,

Program Coordinator