Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Webinar Series

1. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)Webinar Series SSVF Data Collection, Management and Reporting Under the 2014 HMIS Data Standards Audio can be accessed through the following conference line: Toll-free: 1-866-952-8437 Access Code: 757-689-133

2. Webinar Format • Webinar will last approximately 1.5 hours • Participants’ phone connections are “muted” due to the high number of callers • Questions can be submitted during the webinar using the chat function • Questions can also be submitted anytime to ssvfhmis@abtassoc.com

3. How to Submit Questions during the Webinar Your Participation • Open and hide your control panel • Submit questions and comments via the Questions panel • Note: Today’s presentation is being recorded and will be posted onto SSVF University.

4. Objectives • Give Background & Context for Changes • Provide overview of: • 2014 HMIS Data Standards • Associated Data Standards Documents & Resources • Implementation Timeline • Provide Overview of Key Changes: • Project Setup • Universal Data Elements • Program-Specific Data Elements

5. Background & Context for Standards Change

6. The 2014 HMIS Data Standards • Jointly published by HUD, VA, and HHS • The result of a collaborative process • HUD and VA have developed protocols for answering HUD Exchange AAQ questions related to VA programs • You can submit SSVF HMIS-related questions to the AAQ, but ssvfhmis@abtassoc.com will get a more prompt response

7. Implementation Day – 10/1/2014 • HMIS software updates went live • SSVF Projects collect and enter client data consistent with revised data standards and local policies/procedures for all clients active on 10/1 and later

8. Key Resources & Documents

9. Data Standards Publications • HMIS Data Dictionary Provides data element basics and instructions for HMIS software providers. https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/HMIS-Data-Dictionary.pdf • HMIS Data Manual Includes explanations and instructions for HMIS administrators, CoCs, and HMIS users. https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/HMIS-Data-Standards-Manual.pdf • VA Data Guide – FY2015 VA has issued guidance for the collection, management, and reporting of SSVF data. The Guide can be found at http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.asp?page=/program_requirements/hmis_and_data • Project Descriptor Data Elements Detailed guidance on project descriptor data elements for HMIS administrators, CoCs, and HMIS users. https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/HMIS-Project-Descriptor-Data-Elements-Manual.pdf

10. Overview of Key Changes & How it Impacts Your Work

11. Language: Program v. Project • Program Name and Program Entry Date are now Project Name and Project Entry Date • Category of Program-Specific Data Elements hasn’t changed; each element is relevant for one or more federal programs / funding streams Federal Programs Continuum Projects

12. HMIS Language ChangesHow this Impacts You! The national SSVF program office manages the SSVF Program, which funds 300+ local SSVF Projects. You work with an SSVF Project.

13. Structural ChangesHow this Impacts You! All SSVF projects must collect: • All Universal Data Elements • SSVF Program-Specific Data Elements (pg. 11 of VA Data Guide). You can opt to collect additional data elements listed in the Data Standards.

14. Project Descriptor Major Changes • New Federal Funding Source data element • Projects can be associated with more than one CoC to facilitate HMIS participation for projects that operate in multiple CoCs • New separate Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing project types; HPRP retired

15. Project Descriptor ChangesHow this Impacts You!

16. SSVF HP and RRH Projects • Households will be enrolled in your HP or RRH project based on the head of household / eligible veteran’s living situation at enrollment • If the head of household is homeless, enter the household into your RRH project. • If the head of household is in permanent housing, enter the household into your HP project. • SSVF grantees are no longer required to collect Housing Status

17. Project Set UpHow this Impacts You! *If your CoC has any need to report on HP / RRH clients served prior to October 1, it may be necessary to move these records into HP / RRH projects.

18. Universal Data Elements Changes

19. Relationship to Head of Household How this Impacts You! • One (and only one) HoH per enrollment • For SSVF, as a general rule, the eligible veteran should be identified as the HoH • If there are 2 or more veterans in the household, you may identify either one of them as the HoH – it doesn’t matter which • Will serve as the basis for a standardized method (APR, AHAR, SSVF reports) to count households over time • This data element is required for all participants served on or after October 1, including those who entered prior to October 1

20. Client LocationHow this Impacts You! • Identifies the location of the HoH by Continuum of Care code • Corresponds to CoC Codes associated with the project in the Project Descriptor data element • Will enable projects operating in multiple continuums to enter data into a single HMIS without compromising data integrity • This data element is required for all Heads of Household served on or after October 1, including those who entered prior to October 1

21. Name Data QualityHow this Impacts You! • You may select ‘Full name reported’ as long as you enter the client’s full legal first and last name • Collection and entry of middle names and suffixes, when relevant, is strongly encouraged but not required • Don’t enter nicknames • If the client’s legal name is Robert, enter Robert into HMIS – Bob, Rob, and Bert are nicknames that are fine for use in person (if that’s his preference) but bad for data quality • ‘Client doesn’t know’ ‘Client refused’ and ‘Data not collected are not valid options for SSVF participants

22. Length of Time on Street, in ES, or SHHow this Impacts You! • The information in this data element, in conjunction with other HMIS data, will be used to identify chronically homeless individuals and families • HUD has not finalized the logic for the chronic homelessness calculation • Work with clients to answer each question as accurately as possible • This data element is required for all adults served on or after October 1, including those who entered prior to October 1

23. Length of Time on Street, in ES, or SHHow this Impacts You! • Continuously Homeless for at Least One Year • If the client has been on the on the streets, in emergency shelter, and/or Safe Haven – and nowhere else -- for a year or more at enrollment, select ‘Yes’ • If the client has spent time in TH, PSH, living with family or friends, or other living situations in the past year, select ‘No.’

24. Length of Time on Street, in ES, or SHHow this Impacts You! • Number of Times the Client has been Homeless in the Past Three Years • How many continuous periods of time has the client spent on the streets, in emergency shelter, and/or Safe Haven? • Time spent in TH, PSH, staying with friends or family, etc., should not be included – for this question, these other living situations are a break in any continuous period

25. Length of Time on Street, in ES, or SHHow this Impacts You! • Total Number of Months Continuously Homeless Immediately Prior to Project Entry • How many months continuously has the client spent in emergency shelter, and/or Safe Haven – and nowhere else – immediately prior to project entry? • For any partial month, round UP to the next highest month.

26. Length of Time on Street, in ES, or SHHow this Impacts You! • Status Documented • If you have documentation of the client’s history of time in ES, SH, or on the street– or that they have NOT been in these living situations in the past 3 years – select ‘Yes.’ • Examples of documentation • Written confirmation from a street outreach worker, ES, or SH • HMIS records of ES and SH stays or Outreach contacts • A lease agreement that shows that the client has been in permanent housing for the past 3 years

27. Program-Specific Major Changes

28. Income and SourcesHow this Impacts You • Collected only for HoH and adults • Only income that is current should be entered • SSVF grantees should enter income information that is consistent with the income calculation instructions • In general, income for household members under 18 should be included in the record of the HoH • Earned income for minors should NOT be included • Household income is relevant to eligibility – ‘Client doesn’t know’ and ‘Client refused’ are NOT valid responses for any adult in the household

29. Residential Move-In DateHow this Impacts You • Collected for Head of Household for RRH • Project Entry Date – when you begin providing services to an eligible homeless veteran / household • Residential Move-In Date – when the veteran / household moves into permanent housing • Only one record of Residential Move-In Date per enrollment • Unless you get the veteran / household into housing on the first day of service, In Permanent Housing will be ‘No’ at project entry • If / when the veteran / household moves into housing, change the ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ and enter the Date of Move-In

30. Veteran’s InformationHow this Impacts You • Year Entered Military Service • Year Separated from Military Service • For veterans with multiple periods of service, use the year entered and separated for the longest continuous period of service • Theaters of Operation • Select ‘Yes’ for every theater of operations that the veteran served in.

31. Veteran’s InformationHow this Impacts You • Branch of the Military • For veterans who served in more than one branch, select the branch in which they served the longest • Discharge Status • For clients with more than one discharge and status, enter the most favorable discharge status in HMIS • This is also the discharge status that you should use in determining eligibility

32. Percent of AMIHow this Impacts You • Household Income as a Percentage of AMI • Less than 30% • 30% to 50% • Greater than 50% • Collected for HoH • Select the category that reflects the percentage you calculate in the eligibility screening process • You will no longer need to submit separate counts of Households Served with Less than 30% AMI

33. Last Permanent AddressHow this Impacts You • Collected for all participants • Street Address • City • State • ZIP Code • For HP (participants are in permanent housing at entry), this is their current address • For RRH, this is the address of their last permanent housing – it is not the address of wherever they are currently staying

34. Services / Financial AssistanceHow this Impacts You • Categories now align to the regulatory language that defines the SSVF Program and the specific services SSVF grantees are funded to provide • Enter a new record each time a service / financial assistance is provided • Enter service / FA records under the HoH • Date of Financial Assistance should be the date a check is cut • If a check is returned or not cashed, delete the record in HMIS

35. Roles During Transition

36. VA Repository Changes

37. November Upload – What to Expect • Repository opens November 3 • This is a new process all around – new data collection for grantees, new export processes for HMIS vendors, new validation for the Repository • The Repository will only be able to accept HMIS CSV 4.0 • The old XML-to-CSV parser does not generate CSV 4.0 – data will have to be exported from HMIS

38. November Upload – What to Expect • Repository program setup may need to change • You will need at least one program in the Repository for each grant • You will need more programs set up if it takes more than one export process to generate all of the data for your grant • If you can only export data for one project at a time, you will need a separate Repository program for HP and RRH • HMIS TA staff may need to revise the set-up of your Repository programs (respond to e-mail if you need to add or remove Repository programs for your grant) • Contact ssvfhmis@abtassoc.com

39. FAQs • What if my vendor isn’t ready to export in CSV 4.0 during the November upload cycle? • What is my responsibility with updating? • What if I have active clients on Oct. 1 and haven’t had the opportunity to update all of the records yet? • Do I also need to update service records? • Do you have revised SSVF data collection templates?

40. Questions? • HMIS Questions • E-mail: ssvfhmis@abtassoc.com • SSVF Program Questions Contact your Regional Coordinator

41. THANK YOU!