THE VULNERABILITY INDEX

INTRODUCING

Linda KaufmanEastern US Field Organizer, 100,000 Homes Campaign

Linda has worked in homeless services in DC since the mid-1980s, most recently leading Pathways to Housing DC. In addition to her work to end homelessness in DC, she is also involved in other issues of social justice in the City. She was deeply involved in the District’s Housing First initiative: overseeing street outreach, administering the Vulnerability Index, and providing one Permanent Supportive Housing team at Pathways for 150 tenants.

INTRODUCING

Robin GahanProgram Manager, Virginia Coaliton to End Homelessness

Robin has been gaining expertise in homeless services and policy over the past ten years. She has worked with the Daily Planet, the Multiple Family Retreat Program for homeless families (a collaborative effort between by VCU and Communities in Schools), and most recently with Virginia Supportive Housing where she engaged in policy development, program management and evaluation, and researched the health and mortality of the formerly homeless persons living in supportive housing. She is passionate about using her social work skills to change the way Virginia responds to persons experiencing homelessness through this initiative.

• To provide an initial peek and conversation about how to use the Vulnerability Index for the 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians initiative

• To collectively better understand the parameters of the use of this tool.

• To review other data collection methods that you may want to consider using to collect additional data (optional and for you to decide)

• To announce upcoming events, including the Virginia Boot Camp which will provide a more thorough review of the use of the Vulnerability Index.

PURPOSE OF CALL / AGENDA

WHAT IS 100K HOMES?

• Community of National and Local Change Agents working toward a shared goal– House 100,000 most long-term and vulnerable people– In doing so, restore community

• Powerful Quality Improvement effort

THE MODEL

• Build local campaign team and political will

• Clarify demand

• Line-up supply

• Move people into housing

• Help people stay housed

VULNERABILITY INDEX

• Based on research done by Dr. Jim O’Connell and Dr. Stephen Hwang out of Boston’s Health Care for the Homeless

• Vulnerability defined as: more than 6 months homeless (street or shelter) AND at least one of the following:– End Stage Renal Disease – History of Cold Weather Injuries– HIV+/AIDS– Liver Disease or Cirrhosis– Over 60 years old – Three of more emergency room visits in prior three

months– Three or more ER or hospitalizations in prior year– Tri-morbid (mentally ill+ abusing substances+

medical problem)

VULNERABILITY INDEX

Package

Survey Review• Consent

• Identifying information

• Housing

• Health

• Demographic information

• Outreach

• Photograph

Scoring Methodology• At Risk Qualifiers

• Tri-Morbidity

• Mental Health Qualifiers

• Serious Medical Condition Qualifiers

• Substance Abuse Qualifiers

VIRGINIA’S VULNERABILITY DATA

Tailoring the Vulnerability Index Survey• Each community can add 5 questions to the VI survey

• VCEH will recommend 2-3 questions that will be used across the state

• Each community will determine the remaining questions

• Goal is to have statewide data that is also specific to participating communities

Database and Data Analysis• VI data will be entered in database that is created for each participating community by Common Ground

• Each community will only be able to access their own data

• A total of 5 users can access database.

• Request that VCEH be one of the designated users in order to have a

statewide picture.

• If you want to collect additional data, consider using HMIS or create

own local database.

VIRGINIA’S VULNERABILITY DATA

Contact • Identify one person in your community that would be

contact for data analysis

Registry Week Boot Camp, Richmond July 29 – August 1• 3 day intensive training concurrent with Richmond

Registry week • Toolkit with everything you will need to conduct a

Registry week in your community • Send 2 or more people from your local campaign team• $75/person for participating communities• $125/person for interested communities

Supportive Housing Tours • Beginning June 24

NEXT STEPS

Additional Questions?

Robin GahanProgram ManagerVirginia Coalition to End Homelessness804.938.1982robin@vceh.org

Linda KaufmanEastern US Field Organizer100,000 Homes CampaignCommon Ground202.425.0611lkaufman@commonground.org

QUESTIONS