💰 Homelessness Cost Calculator
The Economic Case for Ending Homelessness
Research consistently shows that housing homeless individuals costs less than leaving them on the street. Emergency services, hospitalizations, incarceration, and crisis interventions create a public cost of $30,000–$50,000 per person per year for unsheltered individuals. Permanent supportive housing costs $12,000–$20,000 per year — a fraction of crisis costs. Use this tool to estimate ROI for advocacy and grant applications.
🏚️ Unsheltered / Crisis System Cost
🏠 Housed (PSH/RRH) Cost
(savings ÷ housing cost)
(per person)
(100 people housed)
Research Basis
Culhane, Metraux & Hadley (2002): Study of NYC homeless shelter users found those placed in PSH reduced shelter use by 71%, reduced inpatient days by 29%, and achieved net savings of $16,282/person/year after housing costs. Published in Housing Policy Debate.
Larimer et al. (2009): Seattle Housing First study: 95 chronically homeless heavy drinkers housed — median monthly government expenditure fell from $4,066 to $1,492 after 6 months. Net savings of $4M over 2 years for 95 people. JAMA, 301(13), 1349–1357.
Sadowski et al. (2009): Chicago study: housed homeless adults had 29% fewer hospital admissions, 29% fewer hospital days, and 24% fewer ER visits than those receiving usual care. JAMA, 301(17), 1771–1778.
Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH, 2012): Estimated average cost of homelessness at $30,000–$50,000 per person annually in crisis services when including ER, hospital, jail, shelter, and other costs.
National Alliance to End Homelessness (2023): RRH costs average $4,000–$8,000/year vs. $35,000+/year for unsheltered status. PSH costs $15,000–$25,000/year including subsidy and services.
Default values reflect research consensus ranges. Adjust sliders to reflect local data. Not a substitute for program-specific financial modeling.
📊 Housing Gap Visualizer
Affordable Housing Gap: 8 Metro Areas
| Metro | PIT Count | Affordable Units Available | Shortage | Vacancy Rate (low income) | Median Rent (1BR) |
|---|
Shortage Comparison (Visual)
FL507 Housing System at a Glance
System Capacity vs. Need
The Gap: In 2023, there were approximately 28 affordable units available for every 100 extremely low-income renters in the Orlando MSA (NLIHC Out of Reach 2023). Orange County's median rent of $1,650/month for a 1-bedroom requires an annual income of $66,000 to meet the 30% affordability standard — roughly 4× the income of most housing program participants at program exit.
PSH Waitlist: FL507 maintains a CE waitlist for PSH. As of early 2024, PSH waitlist times exceeded 18 months for many chronically homeless individuals. RRH placements average 45 days from enrollment to move-in when units are available.
Rent Burden: What It Takes to Afford a 1BR in FL507
Myth vs. Reality
Evidence-based responses to common misconceptions about homelessness. Click any card to reveal the reality.
Understanding the facts about homelessness matters. Misconceptions drive bad policy and harmful attitudes. Each card below presents a common myth — click to flip it and see what research and data actually show. Sources include HUD, NAEH, Urban Institute, and peer-reviewed research.
Cardboard Stories Digital Archive
First-person accounts from people who've experienced homelessness
🔍 Search & Filter Stories
About This Archive
The Cardboard Stories Digital Archive extends our Rethink Homelessness campaign by preserving and sharing first-person narratives from individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. These stories humanize the crisis, challenge stereotypes, and demonstrate the diversity of experiences that lead to housing instability.
Each story is shared with consent and permission. Names and identifying details may be modified to protect privacy. These accounts represent hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness — each with unique circumstances, dignity, and agency in their own lives.
How to use this archive: Share individual stories in presentations, training, media outreach, and community education. Use filters to find stories relevant to your audience. Every story is an opportunity to shift perspective and drive policy change.
Right now, — people
have no place to call home.
This counter estimates the number of people experiencing homelessness in the FL507 Continuum of Care at this moment, based on HUD Point-in-Time Count data and annualized system flow rates.
Including unsheltered, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and safe haven
▸ Methodology & data sources
The primary counter uses FL507's 2023 HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count as its baseline population estimate (2,341). The PIT Count is conducted on a single night each January and captures sheltered and unsheltered homelessness across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
The counter adds a slow drift using annualized system flow data: approximately 8,500–9,200 individuals enter and exit homelessness in FL507 each year, producing an estimated net flux of roughly 1 person every 58 minutes. The counter is seeded with the PIT baseline and increments slowly to simulate ongoing flow — it is an educational estimate, not a live database query.
Population breakdowns derive from FL507 PIT 2023 subpopulation data and HSN HMIS annual reporting. Location data reflects the HUD Housing Inventory Count (HIC) 2023 for FL507. Sources: FL507 PIT Count 2023 · HUD HIC 2023 · HSN HMIS Annual Report 2023 · HUD AHAR 2023.
What does $1 do
when it fights homelessness?
Every dollar invested in the FL507 Continuum of Care gets put to work. Here's exactly how CoC funding is allocated — and what it buys for people experiencing homelessness in Central Florida.
▸ Methodology & data sources
Allocation percentages are derived from FL507's HUD CoC Program grant portfolio and HSN's consolidated budget reporting. The FL507 CoC receives approximately $8.2M annually in HUD CoC Program funding, supplemented by ESG, state, and local match. Allocation categories reflect how CoC Program dollars are distributed across project types per HUD grant requirements.
Unit and caseload figures use HUD-reported per-unit cost benchmarks: PSH ~$12,000/yr, RRH ~$8,500/yr (rental assistance + services), case management ~$2,800/person/yr, outreach ~$1,100/contact. These are national benchmarks adjusted for Central Florida market conditions. Admin cap reflects HUD's 10% administrative cost limit on CoC Program grants.
Sources: FL507 CoC Application FY2023 · HUD CoC Program NOFA 2023 · HSN Annual Budget Summary 2023 · HUD Cost Studies: PSH, RRH, and CE Programs.
A Day in the Life
What does it actually feel like to navigate homelessness in Central Florida? Walk through a single day in someone else's shoes — and see firsthand how the system works, where it helps, and where it fails.
The Path to Housing
in Central Florida
From street to stable housing, the FL507 system involves dozens of steps, multiple agencies, and real barriers at every stage. This interactive map shows the full journey — click any step to see what it involves, who does it, and what gets in the way.
What does homelessness
actually cost you?
Every taxpayer in Central Florida is already paying for homelessness — through emergency rooms, jails, and crisis response. Here's your personal share of the cost, and what housing would cost instead.
▸ Methodology & data sources
Crisis response costs are estimated from published research on the per-person annual cost of unsheltered homelessness: ER visits (~$2,500/yr average), jail/incarceration (~$6,800/yr), hospitalization (~$4,200/yr), and other emergency services (~$1,800/yr), totaling approximately $40,000 per unsheltered person per year (Larimer et al., JAMA 2009; CSH Cost Offset Study 2012; NAEH 2023). These costs are distributed across Orange County's estimated 420,000 tax-paying households and weighted by income and property tax contribution.
Housing solution costs use FL507's actual per-unit program costs: Permanent Supportive Housing (~$12,000/year), Rapid Rehousing (~$8,500/year), and CoC administrative and outreach costs. Total FL507 CoC Program budget: ~$8.2M annually from HUD, matched by state and local funds. Taxpayer share is calculated using each county's property tax millage rate (Orange: 6.4483 mills, Osceola: 6.9 mills, Seminole: 5.4 mills) applied to assessed value, plus estimated federal tax contribution to HUD CoC Program allocation.
Property taxes: Florida homestead exemption of $50,000 applied to owner-occupied homes. Federal contribution calculated as estimated income tax liability × HUD's share of federal discretionary spending (~0.31%). All figures are estimates for illustrative purposes.
Sources: Larimer et al., JAMA 2009 · CSH Cost Offset Study 2012 · NAEH Annual Report 2023 · HUD FY2023 Budget · Orange/Osceola/Seminole County Property Appraiser · FL507 CoC Application FY2023.
What does housing actually
cost here?
Rent in Central Florida has surged past what most working people can afford. Explore the real rent burden by neighborhood — and see exactly how far wages fall short.
▸ Methodology & data sources
Rent data is sourced from NLIHC Out of Reach 2024, Zillow Rent Index Q1 2024, and Orange County Housing Authority fair market rent schedules. Neighborhood-level data represents median asking rents for the ZIP code cluster associated with each area.
Income-to-rent affordability uses the standard HUD definition: housing is affordable when total housing costs (rent + utilities) do not exceed 30% of gross household income. "Severely cost-burdened" is defined as 50%+ of gross income spent on housing. Income needed for affordability is calculated as: (monthly rent + estimated utilities) / 0.30 × 12.
Wage data is from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2023, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA. Housing inventory figures use Orange County property appraiser data, HUD LIHTC database, and Orange County Housing Authority Section 8 inventory as of 2024.
Sources: NLIHC Out of Reach 2024 · Zillow Rent Index Q1 2024 · BLS OEWS 2023 · HUD FMR 2024 · Orange County Housing Authority · HUD LIHTC Database.
The Community Impact Map
Where is homelessness concentrated in Central Florida? Where are services located? Where are the gaps? This map shows the geography of need and response across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
The business case
for solving homelessness
Housing instability costs employers, chambers, healthcare systems, and local government more than solutions do. Here's how to make that case — tailored to your audience.
▸ Methodology & data sources
Workforce and productivity figures use Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) research on housing instability and employee performance. Turnover cost estimate (33% of annual salary) from SHRM 2022. Absenteeism premium for housing-unstable employees: 4.3 additional days/year (Urban Institute 2021). Presenteeism productivity loss: 18% reduction on affected days (Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 2020).
Healthcare cost offsets: JAMA 2009 (Larimer et al.) — 60% reduction in inpatient hospital days; CSH Cost Offset Study 2012 — $2,449/person/year reduction in ER costs after PSH placement. Emergency response costs from NAEH 2023 system cost analysis. Property value impact: 2–4% within 500 feet of visible encampments; foot traffic reduction estimate 12–18% (Urban Land Institute 2022). Tourism data: Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau 2023 annual report.
Retail & small business track: Shrinkage and homelessness priority data from NRF 2023 National Retail Security Survey (177 major retailers, $1.6T in annual sales, conducted in partnership with Loss Prevention Research Council). External theft share of shrinkage: NRF 2023. Private security cost examples: BusinessDen investigative report, Denver, March 2023 (on-record business owners citing $160K and $500K annual private security costs attributable to visible homelessness).
Sources: SHRM Workforce Housing Report 2022 · Urban Institute 2021 · JAMA 2009 · CSH 2012 · NAEH 2023 · Urban Land Institute 2022 · OCVB 2023 · BLS JOLTS 2023 · NRF National Retail Security Survey 2023 · BusinessDen 2023.
Search First.
Create Never — Until You're Sure.
Before entering a new client record in ClientTrack, you must search the system. Creating a duplicate record wastes time, corrupts data quality scores, and makes it impossible to track a client's real history across the CoC.
you create.
| Method | When to use | How to search in ClientTrack | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SSN (last 4 digits)
Most reliable unique identifier
|
Whenever client can provide their SSN or last 4 digits | Clients → Search → Enter last 4 SSN in "SSN" field → Search All Agencies | Best |
|
Full Name + Date of Birth
Second most reliable combination
|
When SSN is unavailable or client doesn't know it | Clients → Search → Enter Last Name, First Name, DOB → Search All Agencies | Best |
|
Last Name + DOB only
Use when first name may have changed or is uncertain
|
Name change, nickname, goes by middle name, or name is uncertain | Clients → Search → Last Name + DOB only, leave First Name blank → Search All Agencies | Good |
|
First Name + DOB only
For common last names or name uncertainty
|
Client only knows first name, or last name is very common (Smith, Johnson) | Clients → Search → First Name + DOB only → Search All Agencies | Good |
|
Soundex / Approximate Name
Catches spelling variations
|
Name may be spelled differently across records (Jonson / Johnson, Maria / Marya) | Clients → Search → Check "Soundex" box → Enter name → Search All Agencies | Good |
|
Name only (broad)
Last resort — returns many results
|
Only when all other methods return nothing and you have no DOB or SSN | Clients → Search → Last Name only → Search All Agencies → Review results carefully | Last resort |
From the ClientTrack home screen: Clients → Search Clients. Do NOT click "Add Client" first. Always search before you add.
Enter as much as you know. Always check "Search All Agencies" — clients may have records at other FL507 partner agencies you wouldn't otherwise see.
Start with SSN (last 4) + DOB if available. If not, use Last Name + First Name + DOB.
Review ALL results, not just the first one. Look for: same or similar name, same or close DOB, same SSN last 4, same agency history.
A possible match is not a definite match. Verify with the client before linking records.
Click the existing client record to open it. Verify the identity with the client (confirm name, DOB, last 4 SSN). If confirmed: use this record. Add your program enrollment to the existing client — do not create a new one.
Update any outdated fields (phone number, address, emergency contact) while you're in the record.
If you see two records that appear to be the same person (same name, same DOB, same SSN), do not merge them yourself unless you have been trained and authorized to do so.
Contact your HMIS lead or the HSN HMIS team at hmis@hsncfl.org. Note both client IDs in your message. Use the existing record for your enrollment while the merge is processed.
Only after exhausting at least two search methods with no results should you create a new client record. Before creating, try one more search with a name variation or alternative spelling.
When creating: enter as complete a record as possible. SSN (or "Client Doesn't Know" / "Client Refused"), full DOB, full legal name. Incomplete records at creation become data quality problems later.
The golden rule of HMIS data entry
One real person = one client record. Every time a worker creates a duplicate instead of searching, they make it harder to see that person's real history, harder to track their outcomes, and harder for the CoC to report accurately to HUD. Data quality isn't paperwork — it's the foundation of every funding decision FL507 makes.
Exit Destination Quick Reference
Every exit from a program requires a destination code. This is one of the most important fields in HMIS — it tells HUD whether the program worked. Use this reference to find the right code, understand what counts as permanent housing, and avoid the most common exit destination mistakes.
Missing or "Unknown" exit destinations cost FL507 real money
HUD's System Performance Measure 7 (SPM7) measures the percentage of exits to permanent housing destinations. Every "Unknown," blank, or incorrect exit destination lowers FL507's score — which affects CoC grant renewal. One missing destination = one person who "disappeared" from the data. It takes 30 seconds to enter correctly. It takes months to fix in a HUD report.
🌳 Follow the branches to find the right code
Exit Destination Training Simulator
Read each scenario, choose the correct exit destination code, and get immediate feedback. 12 real-world scenarios covering the codes case managers get wrong most often.
Your data entry matters more
than you think
Every field you fill in — or skip — in ClientTrack shows up in FL507's monthly data quality report and HUD's annual System Performance Measures. Here's the direct line between what you type and what FL507 gets funded to do.
Find Your Committee Match
The FL507 Continuum of Care depends on advocates, service providers, community members, and people with lived experience serving on its committees and workgroups.
Answer 10 questions about your background and interests to find which CoC committee is the best fit for your involvement.
Your Committee Matches
Based on your answers, here are the FL507 committees best aligned with your skills and interests.
📚 HUD Data Reference
✅ Program Compliance Checker
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
HUD CPD Program · Funds street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing · Administered through HUD and state/local grantees
- REQHMIS Participation: All ESG-funded activities must be entered in HMIS. Street outreach, ES, homelessness prevention, and RRH components all require separate project setups.
- REQIncome Eligibility: Prevention and RRH components require income documentation. Household must be at or below 30% AMI for prevention; "at risk" status must be documented.
- REQHabitability Standards: All units assisted with ESG rental assistance must meet HUD habitability inspection standards before move-in. Keep inspection records on file.
- CHKCAPER Reporting: Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report due within 90 days of program year end. Requires HMIS data exports. Low data quality will show in CAPER.
- CHKMatching Requirements: ESG requires 100% match on all grant funds. Document sources of match (in-kind, cash, volunteers). Maintain match ledger throughout the year.
- CHKCoordinated Entry: ESG-funded projects in FL507 must participate in and use the Coordinated Entry system for client referrals and placements.
- INFOHMIS Participation Rate: All projects must achieve 80%+ HMIS participation rate among unduplicated clients served. This is tracked in the APR and CAPER.
- INFOWritten Standards: Grantees must adopt written standards for providing ESG assistance. These must align with FL507 CoC policies and HUD minimum standards.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | Drawdown from HUD (IDIS) | Ongoing |
| 90 days after PY end | CAPER submission | Annual |
| Annual | APR via HUD HMIS extracts | Annual |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days of service | Always |
| Annual | Subrecipient monitoring visits | Varies |
| Annual | Written standards review/update | Annual |
- KEYRequired UDEs: Name, SSN, DOB, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Veteran Status, Disabling Condition, Entry/Exit Date, Destination, Relationship to HoH, Prior Living Situation, Housing Move-In Date (RRH).
- KEYIncome (4.02): Required at entry AND exit. Must capture all sources. Used in CAPER economic self-sufficiency tables.
- CHKDestination Coding: Exit destination must be recorded within 30 days of exit. Unknown/missing destinations count against the program in SPM Measure 1.
- CHKHMIS Participation Rate: Track monthly. If below 80%, identify which clients are missing and correct before quarter-end reporting.
- INFODV Data: Domestic violence status (4.06) should be collected but cannot be shared with other programs without consent. Store according to VAWA data standards.
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH)
CoC Program / ESG Component · Short-term rental assistance + housing stability services · Focus: move-in quickly, taper services toward self-sufficiency
- REQHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Must be entered in HMIS. Entry Date ≠ Move-In Date. Client may be enrolled for weeks/months before moving in. Missing move-in dates cause major SPM errors.
- REQClient Choice: RRH must be voluntary. Client must be offered freedom to choose housing location and unit. Document this in case notes.
- REQHabitability: All units must pass HUD habitability inspection before move-in. Complete Unit Inspection Checklist (HUD-52580) and retain on file.
- REQCoordinated Entry: In FL507, RRH placements must come through the CE system. Document CE referral and match in the CE Event record.
- CHKLease Requirements: Client must have a lease in their name (or joint lease). Program cannot be on the lease. Subtenancy agreements are not permitted under CoC RRH.
- CHKIncome at Exit: RRH goal is income growth. Document income at entry AND exit. Track progress toward self-sufficiency. APR income tables are reviewed by HUD.
- INFOSubsidy Limit: CoC RRH generally limited to 24 months of rental assistance in a 3-year period, though project-specific limits may apply. ESG RRH limited to 24 months.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Within 30 days of exit | Exit destination recorded in HMIS | Critical |
| Annual (program year end) | APR submission via HMIS extracts | Annual |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days | Always |
| At move-in + annually | Habitability inspection | Annual |
| Monthly | Rental assistance disbursement documentation | Monthly |
- KEYHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Required. Must be entered when client moves into housing — not at enrollment. This is the most commonly missing element for RRH in FL507.
- KEYIncome at Entry AND Exit (4.02): Both required. Exit income is used to calculate income growth (SPM Measure 4). Must specify all sources.
- CHKDestination (3.12): Must reflect actual housing situation at exit, not "best guess." Destination 329 (rental, voucher) or 332 (rental, no subsidy) are most common RRH exits.
- INFOAnnual Assessment: If enrolled 365+ days, an Annual Assessment must be completed with updated income, benefits, health insurance, and living situation data.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
CoC Program · Long-term housing + services for chronically homeless individuals and families with disabilities · Highest-intensity CoC program type
- REQChronic Homeless Priority: PSH projects funded through CoC must prioritize chronically homeless individuals. Document CH status at enrollment using HMIS criteria: literally homeless + disabling condition + 12+ months (or 4+ episodes).
- REQDisabling Condition (3.08): ALL PSH clients must have a confirmed disabling condition documented. This is a program eligibility requirement, not optional.
- REQHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Must be entered when client moves into housing. Required for SPM. Commonly missing in FL507 audits.
- REQAnnual Assessment: PSH clients must receive an annual assessment update (income, benefits, health insurance, living situation) within 30 days of their anniversary date in the program.
- CHKCE Referral: FL507 PSH placements must come through Coordinated Entry. CE Event record required showing referral, match, and move-in.
- CHKLease in Client Name: PSH clients must hold their own lease. Program may not be on the lease. Master leasing arrangements have specific HUD documentation requirements.
- INFOPermanent Housing Goal: PSH is "permanent" — there is no planned exit date. Involuntary exits must be documented with reason codes. Returns to homelessness are tracked in SPM Measure 2.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual (anniversary) | Annual Assessment in HMIS | Critical |
| Annual (PY end) | APR submission | Annual |
| At move-in + annually | Habitability inspection | Annual |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days | Always |
| As incurred | Financial draws from HUD | Ongoing |
- KEYDisabling Condition (3.08): Must be "Yes" for all PSH enrollments. If not documented, client may not be eligible. Verify before enrollment.
- KEYHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Must not be blank for any enrolled PSH client who has moved in. Check monthly in ClientTrack for missing dates.
- KEYAnnual Assessment (Annual Update): Must be within 30 days of enrollment anniversary. Late or missing annuals are a data quality issue flagged in APR.
- CHKPrior Living Situation (3.917): Must document prior living situation, duration, and times homeless at entry. These drive CH classification in the HMIS.
VA Supportive Housing (VASH)
HUD-VASH Program · VA case management + HUD Housing Choice Voucher · For homeless veterans with significant service needs
- REQVeteran Status Confirmed: Client must be a verified veteran (VA-confirmed). One day of active military service qualifies. VA verification is required — not self-report alone.
- REQVA Case Management: VASH requires enrollment in VA case management services. The VA case manager and HUD voucher are linked — one cannot be provided without the other.
- REQDisabling Condition (3.08): All VASH clients must have a documented disabling condition. Clinical documentation from VA is preferred.
- CHKDischarge Status: Dishonorable discharge may disqualify client from VA services. Verify discharge status (V1 element). "Other than honorable" is a gray area — escalate to VA.
- CHKHMIS Participation: HUD-VASH projects must enter data in HMIS. The VA case management component is entered separately from the housing component.
- INFOHCV Administration: The housing voucher is administered by the local PHA (Public Housing Authority). In Central Florida, this is typically Orange County Housing.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | VASH Performance Report (VA) | Annual |
| Annual | APR (HMIS extract) | Annual |
| Quarterly | VA case management documentation | Quarterly |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days | Always |
- KEYVeteran Status (3.07): Must be Yes for all VASH clients. VA-verified, not self-reported only.
- KEYV1 Veteran Information: Branch of service, discharge status required. Dishonorable discharge = potential ineligibility.
- KEYDisabling Condition (3.08): Must be documented as "Yes" for all VASH clients.
- CHKHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Required when client is housed with VASH voucher. Missing dates cause SPM errors.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
SAMHSA-funded · Outreach and services for adults with serious mental illness who are homeless · Formula grant to states, subgranted to local providers
- REQSMI Documentation: PATH serves adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Mental health diagnosis must be documented in client file. ICD-10 code required for enrolled clients.
- REQPATH Status (4.14): Must record whether client was enrolled in PATH and if not, why (refused, not eligible, could not locate, etc.). Required HMIS element unique to PATH.
- REQHMIS Data Entry: All PATH contacts and enrollments must be entered in HMIS. PATH-funded agencies in FL507 must enter data in ClientTrack.
- CHKAnnual PATH Report (APR): Not the same as HUD APR. SAMHSA's PATH APR covers contacts, enrollments, services, housing, and outcomes. Due annually to SAMHSA via eGrants.
- INFOServices Covered: PATH funds outreach, case management, mental health services, substance abuse referrals, housing services, and benefits enrollment — not direct housing subsidies.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual (Oct 1) | SAMHSA PATH APR submission | Critical |
| Quarterly | SAMHSA eGrants progress reports | Quarterly |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days | Always |
- KEYPATH Status (4.14): Unique to PATH. Must record enrollment reason or reason for non-enrollment. Do not leave blank for any contact.
- KEYMental Health Disability (4.05E): Must be "Yes" for enrolled PATH clients. SMI is an eligibility requirement.
- CHKCurrent Living Situation (4.07): Must be documented at each contact. Used to verify literally homeless eligibility.
Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
Legacy HUD Program (now subsumed into CoC Program) · TH and PSH components · Existing grants continue under original terms; new grants awarded as CoC Program
- INFOLegacy Program: SHP was consolidated into the CoC Program by the HEARTH Act (2009). Existing SHP grants continue under original grant agreements. New projects are awarded under CoC Program rules.
- REQHMIS Participation: All SHP-funded projects must participate in HMIS. Annual Performance Report (APR) required using HMIS extracts.
- REQGrant-Specific Terms: SHP grants have specific terms set in the grant agreement. Review your original grant documents. Renewals now follow CoC Program regulations.
- CHKTransitional Housing Rules: SHP TH limited to 24 months. Client must have a housing plan with exit to permanent housing as the goal.
- KEYAll UDEs: Same as CoC Program requirements. APR pulls same data as modern CoC APR.
- CHKHousing Move-In Date: Required for all housed clients (TH and PSH).
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
HUD CPD Program · Housing assistance and supportive services for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families
- REQHIV/AIDS Documentation: Client must have documented HIV-positive status or AIDS diagnosis. Medical documentation required. Client may self-certify in certain circumstances — check your grant agreement.
- REQIncome Eligibility: Household income must be at or below 80% AMI. Document income at enrollment and annually.
- REQCAPER (HOPWA): HOPWA CAPER is separate from ESG CAPER. Due 90 days after program year end. Includes specific HOPWA housing stability and viral suppression outcome measures.
- REQHMIS Participation: HOPWA-funded projects must enter data in HMIS. HIV/AIDS status (4.05D) is a required element but has heightened confidentiality requirements.
- CHKHousing Stability Plan: Each client must have a housing stability plan updated at least annually. Plan documents housing goal and services supporting stability.
- INFOConfidentiality: HIV/AIDS status is protected health information. HOPWA data in HMIS has additional access controls. Review data sharing agreements and HIPAA compliance.
| Deadline | Report/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days after PY end | HOPWA CAPER submission | Critical |
| Annual | Housing stability plan update | Annual |
| Annual | Income re-certification | Annual |
| Ongoing | HMIS entry within 3 days | Always |
- KEYHIV/AIDS (4.05D): Required for all HOPWA clients. Heightened confidentiality — access controls in ClientTrack must be configured correctly.
- KEYIncome (4.02): Required at entry, annually, and at exit. 80% AMI limit applies. Track all sources.
- CHKHousing Move-In Date (3.20): Required for all housed HOPWA clients.
