Download the housing toolkit (PDF)

Toolkit resources are listed below.

This toolkit is designed to provide resources to organizations to increase access to stable and permanent housing for people who are homeless or unstably housed, living with HIV, and who may have persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders. It is primarily intended for Ryan White providers, medical case managers, peers/community health workers, and other “front-line staff” who provide direct services to individuals living with HIV who are experiencing homelessness.

The purpose of this housing toolkit is two-fold:

1. To provide clinics with resources to help them develop, implement, and maintain effective housing services for their chosen client population.
2. To provide clinical staff working with homeless or unstably housed clients with a “one-stop shop” guide for resources and tools to assist in locating housing and developing essential household skills.

To use this toolkit, download the PDF of the toolkit and then check out the resources below. If you have any resources you would like to see added to this list, please contact us at [email protected].

Resources

Quick Links: Getting the Organization Ready | Navigating the Housing Search | Staying Housed

Getting the Organization Ready

• Med-HEART Project: Models of Care Implementation Manuals (Website)

• Tools for Structuring a Housing Program:
  • Organizational Change: Adopting a Housing First Approach (Website, National Alliance to End Homelessness)
  • Housing Process for PATH Clients (DOC, UF CARES)
  • Advocacy Toolkit (PDF, National Health Care for the Homeless Program)
  • Overview of Harm Reduction (Website, Harm Reduction Coalition)
  • Housing Search Assistance Toolkit (Website, Housing and Urban Development)
    • Program Start-Up Tips
    • Landlord Outreach and Recruitment Tips

• Sample Frontline Staff Job Descriptions:
  • Care coordinator (DOC, Prism Health)
  • Care navigator (DOC, FHCSD)
  • Case manager (DOC, FHCSD)
  • Case manager (PDF, SFDPH)
  • Case manager II (DOC, Prism Health)
  • Comprehensive case manager (DOC, UF CARES)
  • Medical Social Worker Checklist (PDF, SFDPH)
  • Network peer navigator (DOC, UF CARES)
  • Peer navigator (DOC, UF CARES)
  • Peer navigator (PDF, SFDPH)
  • SPNS navigator and housing case manager (DOC, Multnomah)

• Tools for Creating Partnerships with Local Organizations:
  • Example Memorandum of Understanding (PDF, Multnomah)
  • Example Memorandum of Understanding, (DOC, Pasadena)
  • Description of Community Partners (DOC, Multnomah)

• Recorded Med-HEART Webinar Trainings:
  • Basic Approaches to Housing (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • The Shared Housing Model (Webinar Recording, Slides)

Navigating the Housing Search – Before and During

• Sample Acuity Tools to Identify Client Level of Need:

• Acuity Tool (DOC, FHCSD)
• Acuity Tool (DOC, SF DPH)
• Transitional System Acuity Tool (DOC, Prism Health North Texas)
• Initial Risk Assessment (PDF, SF DPH)
• Mental Health Assessment (DOC, SF DPH)
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Website)
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PDF, SF DPH)

• Tools for Creating a Housing Application Packet for Your Client:
  • Building a Housing Application Packet (DOC, Multnomah)
  • Sample Rental Application (DOC, Multnomah)
  • Template Letter: Confirmation of Disability and Need for Animal Companion (DOC, Multnomah)
  • Template Letter: Request for Disability Verification from Health Care Provider (DOC, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program)
  • Sample Housing Checklist (DOC, UF CARES)
  • Housing Search Assistance Toolkit (Website, Housing and Urban Development):
    • Client Intake and Case Management Tips
    • Conducting the Housing Search Tips 

• Recorded Med-HEART Webinar Trainings:
  • Pre-Housing Considerations for Navigators (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • Delivering Bad News to Challenging Patients While Maintaining Positive Relationships (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • An Introduction to Using Motivational Interviewing Skills: Helping Clients Identify and Set Goals (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • Harm Reduction and Life Skills Education for Housed Individuals (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • Safety During Client Outreach (Webinar Recording, Slides)

Staying Housed

• Guides to Help Clients Maintain Housing:
  • Housing Guide: Tips and Tools for a Successful Housing Experience (DOC, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program)
  • Sample Tenant Responsibilities Handbook (DOC, Liberty Community Services)

• Tools to Help Clients Maintain Daily Living Tasks:
  • Social Security Representative Payment Program (Website, Social Security Administration)
  • Free Credit Report Request (Website, AnnualCreditReport.com)
  • Grocery List Template (PDF, NotQuiteSusie.com)
  • Bill Pay Checklist Template (PDF, MyFrugalHome.com)
  • Personal Health Tracking Charts for People Living with HIV (PDF, ProjectINFORM.com)
  • Tips for addressing disclosure of HIV status with people (PDF, AIDSInfoNet.org)
  • Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers – Cell Phone Access (Website, fcc.gov)
  • Housing Search Assistance Toolkit (Website, Housing and Urban Development)
    • Client Retention and Stabilization Tips

• Recorded Med-HEART Webinar Trainings:
  • You’re Housed! Now What? Keeping Clients on Track Once They are Housed (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • What to Do When Housing is in Jeopardy (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • Case Management Resources at Your Fingertips: Using Mobile Apps in the Field (Webinar Recording, Slides)
  • The Lifeline Program for Low-Income Clients (Webinar Recording, Slides)