How to Administer an Assessment for the Coordinated Entry Process
MDHI is happy to announce our new training, “How to Administer as Assessment for the Coordinated Entry Process”. We created this training with the intention of providing our partners with more in-depth guidance on how to administer the VISPDAT. We feel it is important to go through the questions and explain how to interpret and deliver each one. Because current research and the homelessness services community widely agree that the VI-SPDAT is racially inequitable, we feel obligated to acknowledge the racial inequities that are present throughout the assessment and provide trauma-informed practices to help reduce these inequities. Since the VI-SPDAT is the intellectual property of OrgCode, we cannot change the questions. However, we can change how we deliver the questions and administer the overall assessment to people experiencing homelessness while our community creates a more equitable alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Anyone who is or will administer VI-SPDATs. This training does not replace the HMIS training required to administer VISPDATs. This training is meant to be an auxiliary training in support of the HMIS OneHome training curriculum. Please join OneHome Office Hours if you have questions on special exceptions to bypass HMIS training (your agency must have a signed Agency Partnership Agreement for HMIS to be considered for special exceptions). Exceptions to this rule can be made by the OneHome staff in special circumstances.
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Since OrgCode (the creator of the VI-SPDAT) is no longer providing consulting services for the VI-SPDAT, MDHI instead collaborated internally and externally to decide how to best interpret the questions on the VI-SPDAT and speak to the inequities of the assessment. The training was piloted separately with two service providers before its official implementation.
We acknowledge that the person presenting this training rooted in recognizing racial inequities is a white woman. This was an intentional decision so that the emotional labor of teaching DEI does not continue to fall on our BIPOC staff. This training was made in collaboration with MDHI BIPOC staff, the BIPOC community and those with lived expertise.
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HUD requires that each CoC has an assessment form, tool or approach for it’s Coordinated Entry Process.
There are not enough housing resources. The assessment assists with the referral and matching process to house the most vulnerable.
Data is collected from these assessments to help inform better housing strategies.
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VI-SPDAT: Vulnerability Index- Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool
The VI-SPDAT is a triage tool. It highlights areas of higher acuity, thereby helping to inform the type of support and housing intervention that may be most beneficial to improving long-term housing outcomes. It also helps inform the order - or priority - in which people should be served.
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According to VI-SPDAT data white individuals are prioritized for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) intervention at a higher rate than Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, though this is not true for families
On average, BIPOC clients receive statistically significantly lower prioritization scores on the VI-SPDAT than their white counterparts
VI-SPDAT subscales do not equitably capture vulnerabilities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) compared to white individuals: race is a predictor of 11/16 subscales, and most subscales are tilted towards capturing vulnerabilities that whites are more likely to endorse.
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While the VI-SPDAT can be traumatizing and is inequitable, it is necessary for current use while we explore how to implement a more equitable assessment. This is process that requires a lot of community input, testing, and time.
MDHI is working with C4 Innovations, a consulting agency dedicated to building racially equitable systems through process improvement, to look deeply at the racial inequities in our coordinated entry system. The Results Academy is a group that consists of community leaders and partners, direct care providers who interact with the Coordinated Entry system, and individuals with lived expertise and experience of the Coordinated Entry system. The Results Academy will examine data collected from a community survey provided by C4.
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Household is experiencing literal homelessness, as defined by HUD.
Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
(i) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation
(ii) Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or
(iii) Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution
Household has been homeless for at least 14 days if first time experiencing homelessness.
Look up household in HMIS to ensure VI-SPDAT has not already been completed. Complete the OneHome Intake Form and OneHome Initial Screener.
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18-24 years old
Household is at risk of homelessness, as defined by HUD
Household is experiencing literal homelessness, as defined by HUD.
Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation;
Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or
Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution
Been in foster care at least one day on or after 16th birthday. Can include young people in institutional placement or department of youth services.
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Households experiencing literal homelessness with at least 50 percent custody of a minor child(ren). Household is experiencing literal homelessness, as defined by HUD:
Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
(i) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation
(ii) Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or
(iii) Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution
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Client Empowerment – everyone administering the assessment is in a position of power. We want to work toward breaking down these barriers and show clients that they are deserving of housing.
Choice – We want to take an individualized approach. Everyone is different and has diverse needs. Everyone is the expert in their own lives.
Collaboration – with people in agencies across Metro Denver so clients get comprehensive care.
Safety – This assessment often brings up a lot of emotions. Make sure you provide that safety aspect when going through this assessment.
Trustworthiness – It is encouraged to not conduct the assessment the first time you meet someone. We want to make sure we have a connection or trust built with the client before we are asking them these very invasive questions.
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It’s very important that we read the same script at every agency. We want to give the same message to every household and client that is taking this assessment.
“My name is _________________ and I work for _______________________________. I have a short survey that I would like to complete with you. The answers will help us to determine how we can go about supporting and housing you. Most questions only require a “yes” or “no”. Some questions require a one-word answer. I’ll be honest, some questions are personal in nature, but you can skip or refuse any questions. If you are unclear about what I am asking, just let me know, and I will try to clarify. Also, if I’m unsure about any of your answers, I will ask for clarifications. The information collected in this survey will be stored in a secure database, the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), with your consent, so that you will only have to fill out this paperwork one time. Many of the agencies in the Metro Denver region are part of this system. If you choose to not give consent, you will still be eligible for Coordinated Entry.
One last thing before we begin. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that some people will tell me what they want me to hear, rather than telling me or even themselves, the truth. It is up to you, but the more honest you are the better we can figure out how to support you. So please answer as honestly as you are able and feel comfortable.
You should still work with a case manager to help you apply for housing once you have finished this survey, as completing this is not a guarantee of housing.”