Approximate Date of Homelessness

Approximate Date of Homelessness

To determine the approximate date a client became homeless, look for the last time they had a stable place to sleep, such as a house, apartment, or staying with friends/family. Consider any breaks in homelessness. If a break was less than 7 nights, it's not considered a break in the current episode of homelessness.

1. Identify the Current Homeless Situation:
      Determine if the client is currently in a homeless situation (e.g., place not meant from habitation, in an emergency shelter, or safe haven). 

2. Find the Last Stable Housing:
      Ask the client when they last had a stable living situation, such as a house, apartment, or staying with friends or family. 

3. Consider Breaks in Homelessness:
      A break in homelessness is a period where the client was not in a homeless situation. Breaks of 7 nights or more in permanent or transitional housing, or 90 days or more in an institution( hospital, jail, etc.), are considered significant breaks. If the break is less than 7 nights, it's not considered a separate episode of homelessness. 

4. Determine the Approximate Start Date:
      The approximate date of homelessness is the day the client last left stable housing before the start of their current episode. 

Example:
If a client reports they were in their car for two weeks, but two days ago a friend let them stay on their couch, the approximate date of homelessness would be the day they started sleeping in their car.

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