THE VULNERABILITY INDEX
INTRODUCING
Linda Kaufman
Eastern US Field Organizer, 100,000 Homes
Campaign
Linda has worked in homeless services in DC
since the mid-1980s, most recently leading
Pathways to Housing DC. In addition to her
work to end homelessness in DC, she is also
involved in other issues of social justice in the
City. She was deeply involved in the District’s
Housing First initiative: overseeing street
outreach, administering the Vulnerability
Index, and providing one Permanent
Supportive Housing team at Pathways for
150 tenants.
INTRODUCING
Robin Gahan
Program Manager, Virginia Coaliton to End Homelessness
Robin has been gaining expertise in homeless services
and policy over the past ten years. She has worked with
the Daily Planet, the Multiple Family Retreat Program for
homeless families (a collaborative effort between by
VCU and Communities in Schools), and most recently
with Virginia Supportive Housing where she engaged in
policy development, program management and
evaluation, and researched the health and mortality of
the formerly homeless persons living in supportive
housing. She is passionate about using her social work
skills to change the way Virginia responds to persons
experiencing homelessness through this initiative.
PURPOSE OF CALL / AGENDA
• To provide an initial peek and conversation about how to use
the Vulnerability Index for the 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians
initiative
• To collectively better understand the parameters of the use of
this tool.
• To review other data collection methods that you may want to
consider using to collect additional data (optional and for you to
decide)
• To announce upcoming events, including the Virginia Boot
Camp which will provide a more thorough review of the use of
the Vulnerability Index.
WHAT IS 100K HOMES?
• Community of National and Local Change Agents working
toward a shared goal
– House 100,000 most long-term and vulnerable people
– In doing so, restore community
• Powerful Quality Improvement effort
THE MODEL
• Build local campaign team and political will
• Clarify demand
• Line-up supply
• Move people into housing
• Help people stay housed
VULNERABILITY INDEX
• Based on research done by Dr. Jim O’Connell and
Dr. Stephen Hwang out of Boston’s Health Care for
the Homeless
• Vulnerability defined as: more than 6 months
homeless (street or shelter) AND at least one of the
following:
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End Stage Renal Disease
History of Cold Weather Injuries
HIV+/AIDS
Liver Disease or Cirrhosis
Over 60 years old
Three of more emergency room visits in prior three months
Three or more ER or hospitalizations in prior year
Tri-morbid (mentally ill+ abusing substances+ medical
problem)
VULNERABILITY INDEX
Survey Review
Scoring Methodology
• Consent
• At Risk Qualifiers
• Identifying information
• Tri-Morbidity
• Housing
• Mental Health Qualifiers
• Health
• Serious Medical Condition Qualifiers
• Demographic information
• Substance Abuse Qualifiers
• Outreach
• Photograph
VIRGINIA’S VULNERABILITY DATA
Tailoring the Vulnerability Index Survey
• Each community can add 5 questions to the VI survey
• VCEH will recommend 2-3 questions that will be used across the
state
• Each community will determine the remaining questions
• Goal is to have statewide data that is also specific to participating
communities
VIRGINIA’S VULNERABILITY DATA
Database and Data Analysis
• VI data will be entered in database that is created for each
participating community by Common Ground
• Each community will only be able to access their own data
• A total of 5 users can access database.
• Request that VCEH be one of the designated users in order to have a
statewide picture.
• If you want to collect additional data, consider using HMIS or create
own local database.
NEXT STEPS
Contact
• Identify one person in your community that would be contact for
data analysis
Registry Week Boot Camp, Richmond July 29 – August 1
• 3 day intensive training concurrent with Richmond Registry week
• Toolkit with everything you will need to conduct a Registry week
in your community
• Send 2 or more people from your local campaign team
• $75/person for participating communities
• $125/person for interested communities
Supportive Housing Tours
• Beginning June 24
QUESTIONS
Additional Questions?
Robin Gahan
Program Manager
Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
804.938.1982
robin@vceh.org
Linda Kaufman
Eastern US Field Organizer
100,000 Homes Campaign
Common Ground
202.425.0611
lkaufman@commonground.org