Updates To The Universal Housing Application

We have updated three documents which you will be able to access through the blog under the section to the right called "DOCUMENTS."  They are:

1. Universal Referral Form
2. Waitlist Information for each supportive housing program
3. Provider Matrix

The Universal Referral Form serves as the application for the following programs: 

Fellowship

• Fellowship Commons
• Fellowship Commons Westville

The Connection, Inc.

• West Village
• Robert T.
• Ruppoulo Supportive Housing

Liberty Community Services

• Independent Living Program
• Next Step Initiative
• SSafe Havenupportive  Living Program

Dept. of Mental Health & Addiction Services

• New Haven Shelter Plus Care

New Haven Home Recovery

• New Haven Family Partnership
• Supportive Housing Program

Columbus House

• HUD Scattered Sites
• HUD VET Scattered Sites
• Sojourners
• Scattered Site HOPWA

Continuum of Care

• McQueeney Towers
• MHT Collaborative
• Housing First

 Changes to the Universal Referral Form include: 

• The Greater New Haven Regional Alliance to End Homelessness has changed its name to Greater New Haven Opening Doors (p. 1)
• The Release of Information has been changed to reflect programs that have been removed or consolidated.

The Waitlist Information document lists the contact information for each program and whether the program is accepting applications.

The Provider Matrix details eligibility criteria for each program.

Changes to the Provider Matrix include:

• Additional Agency & Program contact information
• Clearer eligibility guidelines related to homeless and disability verifications
• Some program names have been removed or consolidated

General Information about the Screening & Referral Form for Permanent Supportive Housing

Starting in March 2013, several New Haven housing providers began accepting the same referral form in order to reduce the number of individual referrals needed to access permanent supportive housing programs. 

Please refer to the attached Provider Housing Matrix to determine which Permanent Supported Housing Programs are using the application.  The matrix also will help you identify the eligibility requirements of a program, and the contact person for the program.  In order to be eligible for any of these programs, a person must be homeless or have a qualifying disability according to individual program guidelines.  However, you will need to refer to the specific eligibility criteria for each program.

You will need to submit an application to each individual agency/program to which you are interested in applying.  Agencies will continue to follow their own waitlist guidelines and procedures. Not all programs listed have open waitlists currently.  You will need to contact each individual program if you have any questions about the referral process or waitlist. 

As of January 4, 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “Homelessness” as:

• Literally homeless – An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, meaning the individual or family has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation or is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements.  This category also includes individuals who are exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entry into the institution.
• Imminent Risk of Homelessness – an individual or family who will imminently lose (within 14 days) their primary nighttime residence provided that no subsequent residence has been identified and the individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.
• Homeless under other Federal Statutes – unaccompanied youth (under 25) or families with children and youth who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition and are defined as homeless under another federal statute, have not had permanent housing during the past 60 days, have experience persistent instability, and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time.
• Fleeing/Attempting to Flee DV – any individual or family who is fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

As of January 19, 2011, the Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “Chronic Homelessness” as:

“A person is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition, or a family with at least one adult member who has a disabling condition, who has been either continuously homeless for a year or more OR has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years.  An episode of homelessness is a separate, distinct, and sustained stay in a place not meant for human habitation, on the streets, in an emergency homeless shelter and/or in a HUD-defined Safe Haven.  A chronically homeless person must be disabled during each episode.” 

-If you have already submitted an application, you do not need to resubmit an application to any of the programs-