To get a comprehensive understanding of your agency's use of KYHMIS and its effectiveness for your agency, we are requesting participation from the following:

• KYHMIS Enrolled Agency Executive Directors
• KYHMIS Participating Project Supervisors
• All KYHMIS End Users

Please complete the survey by Thursday, December 31, 2015. ICA takes your privacy and anonymity seriously. All answers will be aggregated and reworded to maintain confidentiality before sharing the information with KHC.

The Final Rule on Defining Chronically Homeless is now available in the Federal Register on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website, with an effective date of Friday, January 15, 2016.

The most significant changes between the definitions of chronically homeless currently in effect and the definition included in the final rule relate to how to define an occasion of homelessness and time frames included in the definition.

Additionally, the final rule establishes recordkeeping requirements for documenting chronic homelessness.

HUD understands that implementing this new definition will have a significant impact in communities. When the new definition goes into effect on Friday, January 15, 2016, any permanent supportive housing (PSH) agency required to serve persons that are chronically homeless, either dedicated or prioritized, may only accept new participants that meet this definition. Program participants already residing in these programs will not be affected.

For more information, please read the SNAPS In Focus: Final Rule on Defining Chronically Homeless Part I:  How We Got Here and the SNAPS In Focus: Final Rule on Defining Chronically Homeless Part II:  Policy and Practical Implications of the New Definition.

In November, the Kentucky Balance of State (BoS) Continuum of Care (CoC) Board adopted a timeline for the BoS's Coordinated Entry/Assessment System (CE/CA) to be operational in all six CoC regions by the end of 2016. A phased-in approach will be used to fully implement the system.

The Kentucky BoS CE/CA consists of two primary components:

1. Common assessment of clients using a standard screening tool.
2. Local prioritization processes, typically through local committees, to quickly connect clients with the highest need with available permanent housing.  

The Vulnerability Index and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) is the common assessment (pre-screen) tool that was selected by the Board in 2015.  

When a local prioritization process is ultimately formed in an area, clients will be prioritized for available resources based on VI-SPDAT vulnerability scores. While most regions have not yet formed prioritization committees, use of the VI-SPDAT at this time will allow agencies to familiarize themselves with the assessment process, allow them to begin using the tool to prioritize clients within their own programs, and to make referrals to their existing partners.
 
As a first step in the CE/CA statewide implementation, all BoS emergency shelters receiving CoC and/or ESG funding are required to begin using the VI-SPDAT starting in January 2016.

Please note, this does not mean that shelters must complete a VI-SPDAT on every individual and family that present for service. Individuals/families that are identified as lacking the ability of being diverted to less intensive interventions should be given the VI-SPDAT to ensure their inclusion in the prioritization process for limited federal permanent housing assistance.   

It is also important to note, as part of the 2016 K-Count, these emergency shelters will be asked to conduct a VI-SPDAT on the night of Wednesday, January 27, 2016, for all appropriate clients who have not already been assessed using this specific tool. Therefore, agencies should use the first three weeks of January to familiarize themselves with the assessment process.

During December, KHC will issue specific guidance to agencies regarding how to incorporate the VI-SPDAT into agency processes, including basic information, such as when to conduct the VI-SPDAT on appropriate clients, how to enter the data into the KYHMIS, and instructions on how to assess and refer victims of domestic violence.  

KHC will continue to provide technical support and general guidance to agencies.

The VI-SPDAT can be found on KHC's HCA Help Desk, under Coordinated Assessment.

Stay tuned to KHC eGrams for further VI-SPDAT guidance. If you have any questions, please email Terry Helton at thelton@kyhousing.org.

KHC has scheduled a KYHMIS training for January 2016. The training will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, in KHC's computer training room in the west annex, located at 1231 Louisville Road, Frankfort. Seating is limited and available to registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

To attend a KYHMIS training session, users must submit a Training Request Form no later than three days prior to the session to ensure space is available.  

Stay tuned to KHC eGrams for other training opportunities!