April
23, 2013
Greater
New Haven Opening Doors
Re:
New Haven Shelter Plus Care Family Openings
Dear
Steering Committee:
New Haven Shelter
Plus Care currently has two openings for Chronically Homeless families only.
There is a 2-bedroom unit and a 3-bedroom certificate available. To be
eligible, a family must currently be staying in a place not meant for human
habitation, on the streets, or in an emergency shelter only.
Priority for these
certificates will be based on the time and date the application is
received. A waitlist will not be kept for these certificates.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
To be eligible:
1)
The head of household must have a diagnosis of mental health and/or substance
abuse and/or HIV. Verification is required by a licensed mental health,
substance abuse, or medical professional.
2)
Applicants will need to provide a detailed homeless history identifying that
they meet the definition of chronic homelessness. 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.”
The
Greater New Haven Screening and Referral Form for Permanent Supportive Housing
Programs can be found on the following websites:
or
A
complete application should have:
·
Original, signed
Screening and Referral Form (revised date 3/15/2012)
·
Disability Verification
form signed by licensed mental health or substance abuse professional (psychiatrist,
psychologist, nurse, social worker, etc.) or medical doctor. The
form must be completed even if additional clinical information is
provided. The form must include the provider’s license number.
·
Homeless Verification
form with an accompanying letter from shelter or outreach staff
describing the applicant’s homeless history and currently living situation.
Complete
applications can be faxed to: 203-764-6337 or mailed to
New Haven Shelter Plus Care
319 Peck Street
Building #1
New Haven, CT 06513
The
referring provider will be notified by fax if an application is accepted,
ineligible, or incomplete. Since the applications will be accepted on a
first-come, first-serve basis, it is exceptionally important to ensure that
applications are fully complete.
Please
disseminate this information to those in your organization who work with
families experiencing homelessness and have a qualifying disability (chronic
substance abuse, serious mental illness and/or AIDS/HIV). Please contact
Lauren Castiglioni at 203-764-6334 if you have questions or to make a referral.
Sincerely
Leigh
Shields-Church, LCSW
Director
New
Haven Shelter Plus Care
cc:
S. DiLella, DMHAS
