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Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
Search our of glossary of terms and acronyms including coordinated entry system programs, local terminology, external agencies providing homeless services, and general acronyms and terms.
Coordinated Entry System Programs
Coordinated Entry System (CES)
The Coordinated Entry System is a systematic process developed to ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis. In addition, to ensure all people have fair and equal access and are quickly identified, assessed for, referred and connected to housing and assistance based on their needs.
Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program (CoC PSH)
HUD CoC Homeless Assistance Program that provides funding for rental assistance. The program serves homeless persons with disabilities and requires appropriate supportive services to be provided.
Extreme Weather Emergency Shelter (Code Blue and Code Red)
The Extreme Weather Emergency Shelter Program is a seasonal program that provides overnight shelter. The goal of the program is to provide shelter and basic services to homeless persons during the most inclement weather. Shelter is provided free of charge.
Permanent Housing (PH)
Permanent housing for persons with disabilities is long-term housing that is commonly community-based with supportive services designed to enable homeless persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible in a permanent setting. Permanent housing can be provided in one structure or several structures at one site or in multiple structures at scattered sites.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
Permanent Supportive Housing programs provide permanent housing and supportive services for homeless persons with physical and/or mental health disabilities.
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH)
Rapid re-housing is an intervention designed to help individuals and families to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing. Rapid re-housing assistance is offered without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of criminal record, or sobriety) and the resources and services provided are typically tailored to the unique needs of the household. The core components of a rapid re-housing program are: housing identification; rent and move-in assistance (financial); and, case management and services.
Street Outreach Services (SO)
The goal of Street Outreach services is to assist clients to get off the streets or out of places not meant for human habitation and into any form of emergency or permanent housing. DCD acts as Chester County’s countywide Street Outreach program and gets most of their referrals from the 211 Call Center.
Transitional Housing (TH)
Transitional housing is housing that facilitates the movement of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing. It is housing is which homeless persons live up to 24 months and receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently. This temporary housing is combined with supportive services to enable homeless individuals and families to live as independently as possible. Transitional housing can be provided in one structure or several structures at one site or in multiple structures at scattered sites.
Local Terminology
Built for Zero (BFZ)
Built for Zero is a movement of more than 80 cities and counties using data to radically change how they work and the impact they can achieve — and proving that it is possible to make homelessness rare and brief. A growing number of communities across the country are proving this is an achievable reality by reaching a milestone known as functional zero.
In order to propel this movement to end homelessness up and over a tipping point, we are working with communities to solve the most persistent challenges that stand in the way. With rigor and data-driven solutions, we are working with communities to prevent inflow into homelessness from happening in the first place, build and sustain homeless response systems that can continuously end, rather than manage, homelessness for populations across a geography, and quickly deliver affordable housing that can close the housing gap.
Chester county is a participating community in the Built for Zero movement.
Brandywine Health Foundation (BHF)
The Brandywine Health Foundation’s mission is to initiate and support programs to improve and sustain the health and well-being of the community. The Brandywine Health Foundation pursues its mission through funding and running programs and services to improve the health and development of children, teens, and families in the Coatesville Area School District.
Consumer Advisory Board (CAB)
A group of individuals with lived experience of homelessness that create a board to provide feedback, advisement, and play a decision making role in Continuum of Care (CoC) governance, policy, and procedure development. Other roles that the CAB plays are recruitment of CAB members and raising public awareness.
Case Conferencing (CC)
Case conferencing is used to connect eligible participants to housing opportunities by conversation among various housing providers. Case conferencing is a more formal, planned, and structured event separate from regular one-on-one meetings between case managers/agencies on behalf of the client. The goal of case conferencing is to provide holistic, coordinated, integrated services across providers, and to reduce duplication of services.
Chester County Community Foundation (CCCF)
The Community Foundation brings together donors and beneficiaries of charitable funds to create a foundation that financially supports various community initiatives. Currently, CCCG manages over 400 different charitable funds in the form of family foundations, nonprofit endowments, field of interest funds, and scholarships. CCCF acts as the fiscal agent for the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessess.
Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness (CCPTEH, aka “The Partnership”)
Formerly known as Decade to Doorways (D2D), a community based collaborative that strives to end homelessness in Chester County by actively promoting access to safe housing without discriminatory prerequisites or conditions. The Partnership views housing as a foundation for progress and success.
Coordinated Entry System (CES)
The Coordinated Entry System is a systematic process developed to ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis. In addition, to ensure all people have fair and equal access and are quickly identified, assessed for, referred and connected to housing and assistance based on their needs.
Capacity for Change, LLC (CFC)
Capacity for Change, LLC is a public interest consulting firm based in West Chester, PA, that works with public, philanthropic, and nonprofit organizations to create positive and lasting social impact through strategy, culture, and partnership design. Capacity for Change LLC is the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ contracted strategy and systems change consultant.
Drop in/Day Center
An agency program that provides a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to stay during the day. A drop-in/day center may provide a range of services that may include: free meals, food pantry, access to internet/technology, assistance with applying for social benefits, assistance with job searches, and other support services.
Governance Board (GB)
Elected members of the Partnership that provides the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) eir guidance and recommendations for the homeless crisis response system policies, procedures, funding, data, and equity. The GB manages volunteer, cross-sector and community Action Teams that focus on specific ongoing issues of concern.
Housing Authority of Chester County (HACC)
HACC is a State-chartered public agency that administers various housing subsidy programs and housing location services. HACC receives the majority of its funding through HUD. HACC also has partnerships with county agencies, nonprofit foundations, community-based organizations, as well as private developers.
Landlord (LL)
Property owners who lease their property to tenants.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
National Low Income Housing Coalition educates, organizes and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. Goals of NLIHC are to preserve existing federally assisted homes and housing resources, expand the supply of low income housing, and establish housing stability as the primary purpose of federal low income housing policy.
Open Hearth Inc (OH)
Open Hearth facilitates Case Conferencing in Chester county. Open Hearth was originally formed in 1989 as a local grassroots committee to assure equal housing opportunities for people who are traditionally isolated and systematically denied opportunities due to mental, emotional or physical disabilities. Open Hearth has grown and evolved to serve members of our community who are the most vulnerable, including single parents, displaced families, those dealing with drug and alcohol dependency, and all income eligible populations, who come from diverse racial, cultural and geographic backgrounds. Open Hearth provides prevention, emergency shelter, housing location, permanent housing, and housing stability services in Chester county.
Phoenixville Community Health Foundation (PCHF)
The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation works to improve the health and quality of life for people in the greater Phoenixville region by increasing access to quality healthcare services and promoting healthy communities through grantmaking and collaboration with health, civic, business and community partners.
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental apartment options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. PHFA also promotes economic development across the state through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, as well as funding provided for community development projects.
Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Grant (PHARE)
Pennsylvania state funding available through PHFA. PHARE was established by Act 105 of 2010 (the "PHARE Act") to provide the mechanism by which certain allocated state or federal funds, as well as funds from other outside sources, would be used to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout Pennsylvania. The PHARE Act did not allocate any funding but did outline specific requirements that include preferences, considerations, match funding options and obligations to utilize a percentage of the funds to assist households below 50% of the median area income. PHARE is Pennsylvania state housing trust funding available through PHFA.
Resources for Human Development (RHD)
Resources for Human Development is a national human services nonprofit with the broadest possible service mission, and specializes in creating innovative, quality services that support people of all abilities wherever the need exists. Founded in 1970, RHD supports more than 160 human service programs across the country, serving tens of thousands of people every year with caring and effective programs addressing intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health, homelessness, addiction recovery and more. In Chester county RHD is working to create a non-congregate housing program.
Pennsylvania Housing Alliance
The Housing Alliance is a statewide coalition working to provide leadership and a common voice for policies, practices, and resources to ensure that all Pennsylvanians, especially those with low incomes, have access to safe, decent and affordable homes.
Safe Harbor of Chester County (SH)
Safe Harbor of Chester County, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, operates a 40 bed, emergency housing shelter in West Chester for single men and women.
Voice and Vision, Inc. (V+V)
A Southeastern Pennsylvania nonprofit that strives to inform the community about available services, connection to appropriate resources, and create opportunities for people to voice their experiences and provide recommendations to improve services. Voice and Vision, Inc. views speaking out as empowering and as a right. They help people speak out through participating in surveys, focus groups and interviews; sharing recovery and resiliency stories; disseminating reports developed from surveys/focus groups to providers, managed care agencies, counties and communities to promote change.
External Agencies that provide Homelessness Services
City Gate Shelter
A faith-based emergency shelter for single men located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
Orion Communities
A social service agency located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Their mission is to offer hope for individuals and families experiencing hardships due to poverty, disability or illness by building bridges that lead to self-reliance. Orion provides case management and other support services.
Oxford Neighborhood Services (ONS)
A social service agency located in Oxford, Pennsylvania. ONS provides food, information and referral, and basic needs assistance.
Southern Chester County Opportunity Network (SCCON)
Located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, SCCON is a collective impact initiative, made up of a growing group of people who want to see poverty addressed in comprehensive, collaborative ways in our community. SCCON’s work is based on the Bridges Out of Poverty framework, and involves bringing people together from every sector and socioeconomic class to solve problems together that none of us can take on alone.
SILO (Serving, Inspiring, Loving Others)
A social service agency located in Oxford, Pennsylvania. SILO provides meals and connection to community services, in addition to building a welcome community of support.
St. Agnes Day Room
A faith-based drop-in/day center located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Provide breakfast and lunch, clothing, non-perishable foods, basic nursing services, health & wellness support, education, referrals outreach, bilingual outreach, life skills for families, children’s programs, job search assistance, and holiday programs.
St Mary’s Shelter
A faith-based emergency shelter and case management for families located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
General Acronyms & Terms
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is federal legislation that was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability.
Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR)
Yearly HUD report estimating the extent and nature of homelessness in the U.S. using Homeless Management Information System data.
Area Median Income (AMI)
HUD calculations of the median income in an area that are presented by household size and adjusted each year. Many housing programs use percentages of AMI as the guidelines for income eligibility.
Annual Performance Report (APR)
HUD required annual progress report for all homeless projects.
County Assistance Office (CAO)
Local office that provides assistance and application processing for public benefit programs offered by the state of Pennsylvania. Benefit programs include: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cas Assistance, Medicaid, Medicare, Home Heating Assistance (LIHEAP), Family Planning Services, Child Care Assistance, School Meals, & Long-term Living Services.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The CDBG is a HUD program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.
Chronically Homeless (CH)
A chronically homeless person is defined by HUD as an homeless individual or household with a disabling condition who has either been continually homeless for a year or more or has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years totalling 12 or more months of homelessness.
Continuum of Care (CoC)
The Continuum of Care refers to a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. It includes action steps to end homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness. It also refers to the system of services that help people move from homelessness to housing.
Department of Children, Youth, & Families (CYF)
CYF views the care of dependent and/or neglected children as a shared responsibility. The family is seen as the primary source for the care and nurturing of children by providing for the physical, emotional, and economic support needed. This agency intervenes to provide those services which cannot be provided by families, neighbors, friends, and the community.
Drug & Alcohol (D&A)
Programs that are tailored for individuals with substance abuse issues are programs that serve individuals who have acknowledged addiction problems related to alcohol and drug use and who seek services or housing to support their sobriety.
Department of Community Development (DCD)
Also referenced as Chester County Department of Community Development (CCDCD). The mission of the Department of Community Development for Chester County is to provide housing, neighborhood improvement, workforce development, and social services to citizens so that they can have the opportunity to live and work in a safe, stable, and diverse community.
Department of Human Services (DHS)
Provides oversight and coordination of the county departments of Aging, Children Youth & Families, Drug & Alcohol, Managed Behavioral Healthcare, Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Veterans Affairs, and the Youth Center.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
The mission of the U.S. Department of Transportation is to ensure a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests, and enhances the quality of life of the American people.
Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence (DV/IPV)
Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.
Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)
Emergency Solutions Grants provide funding for programs that focus on addressing the needs of homeless people in emergency or transitional housing to assist people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.
Fair Market Rent (FMR)
Under HUD, FMRs are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
Rental subsidy program (also known as Section 8).
Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH)
A federal act which amended and reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The legislation increased priority on homeless families with children, significantly increased resources to prevent homelessness, continued to provide incentives for developing permanent supportive housing, and granted rural communities greater flexibility.
Housing First (HF)
Housing First is an approach to ending homelessness that centers on the concept that a homeless individual or household's first and primary need is to obtain stable housing, and that other issues that may affect the household can and should be addressed once housing is obtained.
Housing Inventory Chart (HIC)
Document submitted to HUD that lists all of the housing available in the CoC dedicated for homeless persons and families.
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
HMIS is a computerized data collection system designed to capture client information over time on the characteristics, service needs and accomplishments of homeless persons. HUD requires all CoC applicants to demonstrate progress in implementing HMIS.
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
The HOPWA Program was established by HUD to address the specific needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. HOPWA makes grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)
HUD program created in 2009 under the Recovery Act that ended in August 2011. It focused on preventing homelessness and rapidly re-housing persons who were living on the streets or in emergency shelter.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD is a federal department created in 1965 to increase homeownership, support community development and housing free from discrimination. Since 1987, HUD has been responsible for funding homeless programs, which today comprise the CoC.
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
A part of the IRS code which grants tax credits to equity investors in low-income housing projects. Helps create affordable housing.
Mental Health (MH)
Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional health. How people think, feel, and behave. Often used as reference to someone who has mental health challenges or formal diagnosis.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
An MOU is a document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of two or more organizations that are collaborating on a project. It is generally broader than a contract and often meant to retain its status over multiple contracts.
National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
A nationally-recognized leader on the issues of homelessness. NAEH studies and tracks public policies, data, and research, and best practices in the field of homelessness. www.endhomelessness.org
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)
The term “NIMBY” describes the opposition of residents to the nearby location of something they consider undesirable.
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
A NOFA is issued by a governmental body, foundation, etc. which is looking for organizations or individuals to submit proposals in response to a funding opportunity, generally a grant.
Point-In-Time Count (PIT)
A HUD-mandated biennial count of persons experiencing homelessness on a specified day of the year intended to provide a snapshot report on the extent of homelessness.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
DCD program funding is distributed through a competitive bid process. In response to RFPs, released by DCD, agencies may submit an application for funding to operate the specified program(s). Awards are made based upon the review and scoring criteria stated in the RFP.
Release of Information (ROI)
Consumer/patient consent to release private or protected information.
Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the agency is to be responsible for improving the accountability, capacity, and effectiveness of the Nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.
Senate Bill (SB)
SB is a reference to bills originating from the Senate.
Section 8 (Informal name of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program)
Under Section 8, a tenant pays 30-40% of their monthly income for rent and the government pays the remainder, up to a set maximum Fair Market Rent. Section 8 subsidies can be tenant-based (awarded to a tenant household that can take them to any private landlord) or site-based/project-based (awarded to an owner who uses it on the same unit over time). Section 8 vouchers in Chester County are administered by the Housing Authority of Chester County
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Advocacy, and Recovery (SOAR)
A technical assistance initiative that assists people who are homeless to successfully apply for Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Incomes (SSDI). The purpose of the initiative is to help people who are eligible for such benefits to receive them sooner, thereby more quickly facilitating that person’s ability to move into housing.
Single Room Occupancy (SRO)
SROs are private rooms that contain either food preparation or sanitary facilities, or both, that are designed for occupancy by a single individual.
Shelter Plus Care (SPC/S+C)
A HUD homeless program that was once a program under the McKinney-Vento Act. SPC provided rent subsidies to households that are homeless and in which at least one adult has a disability that prevents the person/household from being able to live independently. SPC projects are now part of the CoC program.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is an insurance program for disabled people who have paid FICA taxes for a certain number of calendar quarters. SSDI pays a variable monthly benefit amount, which depends on your work history. Payments begin after a 5-month waiting period from the time of disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers SSDI.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues and not Social Security taxes. SSI is designed to help aged and disabled people who have little or no income and provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Supportive Services Only (SSO)
HUD Homeless Assistance Program term for projects which provide support services only (no housing provided).
Technical Assistance (TA)
Refers to the provision of support training to organizations that is intended to help the organization strengthen its ability to perform key tasks in the future.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
The major welfare program that provides income support to poor families.
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
The mission of the USICH is to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and to constellate a national partnership at every level of government and every element of the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation. www.usich.gov
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The mission of the VA is to provide excellence in patient care, veterans’ benefits and customer satisfaction.
Workforce Development Board (WDB)
Pennsylvania's local workforce development boards are part of our public workforce system – a network of state and local providers and programs that support local and regional economic development, and the education and training of Pennsylvania's workforce. Pennsylvania's LWDBs connect the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, or L&I, with PA Careerlink services for job seekers, workers, training providers and employers. LWDBs develop strategic plans for their region and set funding priorities for their areas.
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
WIC is a federal grant program for which Congress authorizes a specific amount of funds each year for low-income, nutritionally at risk pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends), breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday), non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends), infants (up to 1st birthday), and children up to their 5th birthday.