Research-Based
Research shows what
solutions will prevent and end homelessness: diversion services (that help
persons address their needs, while remaining housed), rapid rehousing and
permanent supportive housing. Research further indicates that the availability
of these solutions alone is not enough; communities need systems to coordinate
delivery. This is why the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) mandates that each community have a Coordinated Access system.
Person-Centered
In an uncoordinated
environment, every service provider, "Will this person be successful in our
program?" Assessment is diverse as service providers are, and persons with
less severe needs/at less severe risk are often served first. Those with the
greatest needs/at most risk, are turned away, and may fall through the cracks.
In Coordinated Access, the
system asks, “What solutions best match the needs of this person?"
Assessment is uniform, and person-centered data is collected. Coordinated
Access scores, ranks and prioritizes persons for service, based on their levels
of need/risk. It matches each person with the solutions that are the best fit
for that person’s needs, and electronically refers them to service providers
that deliver those solutions. It follows up to ensure that those solutions are
delivered, and that persons with the greatest needs/at most risk, are served
first.
How It Works in Dallas
Persons in need of
assistance approach any system service provider. An Intake professional
interviews the person using the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization
Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT), which is built into the system. The system
itself scores (the higher the score the greater the need/risk), ranks and
matches the person with real-time available and appropriate resources, that can
deliver the most appropriate solutions for that person. The intake
professional, in consultation with the person, electronically refers him/her to
service providers, who deliver those solutions. All collected data, scoring,
matching and referrals are available to service providers on the system. Coordinated
Access staff follows up to ensure that those solutions are delivered, and that
those with the highest scores are served first, whenever possible.
Coordinated Access staff
offers ongoing support and training, and monitors compliance and report generation.
They pay close attention to patterns of need arising across the system, as well
as provider–specific patterns. These create feedback loops for learning and
improvement. Coordinated Access serves service providers in the homelessness
arena, and will help the community meet HUD targets to end veteran, chronic and
family homelessness in 2015, 2016, and 2020. The Dallas area CoC and MDHA
envision a day, when many more service providers will be part of Coordinated
Access, functioning as one, in the homelessness arena and beyond, delivering
solutions that match each person’s needs.
No comments:
Post a Comment