What is HUD’s definition of homelessness?
HUD’s final rule details the following four categories:
(1) Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes a subset for an individual who resided in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided;
(2) individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence;
(3) unaccompanied youth and families with children and youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition; and
(4) individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member.
What is HUD’s definition of Chronic Homelessness?
Chronically homeless means:
- A “homeless individual with a disability,” as defined in the Act, who:
- Lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; and
- Has been homeless (as described above) continuously for at least 12 months or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years where the combined occasions must total at least 12 months
- Occasions separated by a break of at least seven nights
Stays in institution of fewer than 90 days do not constitute a break
- An individual who has been residing in an institutional care facility for fewer than 90 days and met all of the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition, before entering that facility; or
A family with an adult head of household (or if there is no adult in the family, a minor head of household) who meets all of the criteria in paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition, including a family whose composition has fluctuated while the head of household has been homeless
What is HUD’s definition of an episode?
A separate, distinct, and sustained stay on the streets and/or in an emergency homeless shelter.
What is a disabling condition?
- Substance abuse problem (alcohol or other drugs)
- Serious mental health/illness problem (schizophrenia, bi-polar, depression, personality or conduct disorder, PTSD, ADHD)
- Developmental Disability
- Someone receiving a disability or pension check (ex SSI or VA disability)
The above information came from the following HUD website:
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