Appendix C - Data Definitions

HUD Definition of Homeless

In general, a person is considered homeless if, without HUD assistance, he or she would have to spend the night in a homeless shelter or in a place not meant for human habitation. More specifically, an individual is considered homeless if he or she is:

• sleeping in an emergency shelter;
• sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, or abandoned or condemned buildings;
• spending a short time (30 consecutive days or less) in a hospital or other institution, but ordinarily sleeping in the types of places mentioned above;
• living in transitional/supportive housing but having come from streets or emergency shelters;
• being evicted within a week from a private dwelling unit and having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing; or
• being discharged from an institution and having no subsequent residence identified and lacking the resources and support networks needed to obtain access to housing.

Other Definitions Related to People

Adult: person 18 or older.

Youth: an unaccompanied person less than 18 years of age. Children in families do not qualify as youth.

Family: one or more adults accompanied by one or more children under the age of 18.

Chronic Homeless: refers to an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more OR has had at least four (4) episodes* of homeless in the past three (3) years. To be considered chronically homeless, persons must have been sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation and/or in an emergency shelter during that time.
* Episode is an event that is distinct and separate, though part of a larger series.

Victims of domestic violence are persons who have fled housing or might flee housing as a result of emotional or physical abuse at the hands of a spouse, minor child or parent (if minor child).

Definition of Disability

Federal laws define a person with a disability as "Any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as having such impairment."

In general, a physical or mental impairment includes hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, and mental retardation that substantially limit one or more major life activities. Major life activities include walking, talking, hearing, seeing, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, and caring for oneself.

Details on Disability

1) A person shall be considered to have a disability if such person has a physical, mental, or emotional impairment, which is expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration; substantially impedes his or her ability to live independently; and is of such nature that such ability could be improved by more suitable housing conditions.

2) A person will also be considered to have a disability if he or she has a developmental disability, which is a severe, chronic disability that is:

2a) attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;

2b) manifested before the person attains age 22;

2c) likely to continue indefinitely; and

2d) results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:

• self-care;
• receptive and expressive language;
• learning;
• mobility;
• self-direction;
• capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency; and
• reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated .

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