More Information / References

Measures

Annual Enrollment:

The number of enrollments in the Homelessness Response System in the past 12 months. (People may be enrolled in more than one program.)

Beds:

The number of year-round beds in Homelessness Response System programs.
Currently, data on beds are based on the annual Housing Inventory Count (conducted in January).
This measure indicates the number of individuals the system has capacity for.

Move-ins:

The number of people who have moved into a housing unit while enrolled in a permanent housing program (either Rapid Re-Housing or Permanent Supportive Housing) in the Homelessness Response System. Move-ins are deduplicated by only counting one move-in per person per month.

Newly Enrolled in Past Year:

The number of enrollments of people who are new to the Homelessness Response System. (People may be enrolled in more than one program.)

Returns to Homelessness:

The proportion of people who return to the Homelessness Response System within 2 years of exiting a project to a Permanent Housing destination.

Sheltered Homelessness Snapshot:

A one day approximation of the number of people enrolled in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or Safe Haven at approximately the start of each month, as recorded in HMIS.

Unsheltered Homelessness Snapshot:

A one day approximation of the number of people likely to be experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This estimate comes from the by-name list (BNL) from HMIS at approximately the start of each month.

Definitions & Program Types

By-name list (BNL):

A list of all heads of household who have entered the Homelessness Response System, completed a Coordinated Assessment (CA), and are either on a prioritization or program referral list. The BNL is updated daily by ECHO and service provider staff. People come off the list when they have moved into housing, a staff member knows they have found permanent housing on their own, or ECHO and service providers think, with reasonable certainty, are no longer experiencing homelessness in Austin / Travis County (e.g., the client left the area, entered long-term medical institutionalization or incarceration, or has passed away).

Chronic:

The number of people experiencing the government’s definition of “chronic homelessness.” Chronicity, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), means a person with a disability has been living in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, and/or emergency shelter for at least 12 consecutive months, or on at least four separate occasions in the last 3 years where the combined occasions total a length of time of at least 12 months.

Coordinated Assessment (CA):

The vulnerability index tool used by the Homelessness Response System to prioritize individuals and families most in need of housing services. The assessment is administered by trained direct service staff across various community service providers. Once assessed, households are referred to the programs they qualify for.

Coordinated Entry:

The Homelessness Response System’s consolidated housing application process whereby anyone experiencing homelessness in Austin / Travis County can apply for all possible housing programs at the same time and get the same answer about all immediate and future program openings.

ES - Emergency Shelter:

Projects that offer temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Services and benefits are designed to orient and support people to connect to permanent housing.

Family:

The number of people living in a household with at least two members and at least one person under the age of 18.

Minimal Housing Assistance (MHA):

Support services designed to assist individuals with low housing barriers or persons likely to self-resolve their homelessness.

Prioritization List:

A list of heads of household who completed a CA and have expressed a need for a permanent housing (PH) program intervention—either Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) or Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)—but have not been connected to a specific program yet. Some people on this list are waiting for RRH, some for PSH, and others for either.

Program referral list:

A list of heads of household who have been referred to a PH program but who have not moved into housing yet.

PSH - Permanent Supportive Housing:

An evidence-based practice and permanent housing intervention for persons with a disability that includes ongoing rental subsidy and offers intensive support services throughout program participation.

RRH - Rapid Re-Housing:

A short-term permanent housing intervention that includes housing locations services, rental assistance not to exceed 24 months, and housing-focused case management.

SH - Safe Haven:

Projects that offer supportive housing to people experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness who are otherwise not accessing housing programs in the system.

TH - Transitional Housing:

Projects that provide temporary lodging and are designed to help those experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing within a specified period of time (no longer than 24 months).

Unsheltered at Entry:

The number of people who entered a Permanent Housing program from an unsheltered living situation.

Youth:

The number of people who live in households that are headed by someone under the age of 25.

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