the CHRONIC

THE “CHRONIC”

According to the Homeless Task Force’s HSU consulting team, anybody who has been homeless for “longer periods” (whatever that is) is “chronically homeless,” which, defined by HUD (federal department of Housing and Urban Development), means that they have a “disabling condition.” If that “disabling condition” isn’t physical, then it is presumed to be mental, and so HSU seems to suggest that anybody who has been homeless for more than a short while is mentally ill, unless that person has a physical disability that causes homelessness.
Using this rationale, HSU then interjects the insidious idea of mandatory case management...


from the Humboldt State University’s
Homeless Services Plan draft:

“Research shows us that most people who experience homelessness (80%) are homeless for only a short period and can be housed either through assistance in locating suitable housing or with a rent subsidy. Other people are homeless for longer periods or cycle in and out of homelessness. These chronically homeless people may need permanent supportive housing and more extensive support services to remain housed.”
http://cdc.humboldt.edu/ahtf/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=2&pid=28&fid=file1
The draft of the plan starts on page 24 of the Homeless Task Force Agenda for 8.4.05
http://cdc.humboldt.edu/ahtf/

also see the survey results, page 45 of the draft plan: “By strong majorities, often more than 2 to 1, respondents in both samples reported that case management should be required to receive basic services including overnight shelter and that there should be time limits on receiving these services.”




DEFINITION: “CHRONIC HOMELESS”

Ending Chronic Homelessness Strategies for Action
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Report fromthe Secretary’s Work Groupon Ending Chronic Homelessness
March 2003
This report is available on the Internet at:http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/strategies03/

“HHS, HUD, and VA have agreed on the characteristics of persons experiencing chronic homelessness and use the following definition in their collaborations:

An unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years.”
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/strategies03/ch.htm#ch2