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.

Deployment Centers
The designated sites throughout Los Angeles County where volunteers will report to participate in the Unsheltered Street Count. Volunteers will work in assigned teams to canvass a specific area tallying observed homeless persons.

Emergency Shelter
Provisions of a safe and immediate alternative to the streets such as shelter facilities or motel vouchers. Emergency shelter is short-term, usually for 30 days of less.

Homeless Encampment
Temporary, makeshift housing created by homeless persons, such as tents and boxes on sidewalks or under bridges.

Extrapolation
A technique for estimating the total number of homeless persons in a community based on the number of unsheltered and sheltered homeless persons observed and/or interviewed during the Homeless Count.

Hidden Homeless
Term for homeless persons not captured or enumerated in the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. They are individuals who currently have a place where they can stay temporarily and are not in easily accessed locations. Hidden homeless are not found in shelters, but can be found at times doubled-up in their family's or friend's home.

Homeless (HUD McKinney-Vento Act definition)
An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is: a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill), or an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

Homeless Count
See Unsheltered Street Count

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
A computerized data collection system designed to capture client information over time on the characteristics, service needs and accomplishments of homeless persons served through Los Angeles Continuum of Care Systems (CoC).

HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
A federal department created in 1965 to increase homeownership, support community development and housing free from discrimination. Since 1987 HUD has been responsible for founding homeless programs, which today comprise the Continuum of Care.

Institutions
For the purposes of The 2007 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Jails, hospitals, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities that shelter persons who will become homeless upon discharge.

Point-In-Time Count
A one-day, statistically reliable, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in Los Angeles County. It is required that communities using HUD Continuum of Care funding to serve the homeless conduct a count every two years in the last week of January. However, because Los Angeles County is large in both size and population, the Point-In-Time Count will be conducted in a three-day period on the last week on January 2007. Note: The cities of Glendale, Long Beach and Pasadena will conduct homeless counts in their respective jurisdictions.

Shelters
See Emergency Shelters and Transitional Shelters.

Sheltered Homeless
Someone who is homeless and is being temporarily housed in shelters (emergency and transitional) and motels/hotels that accept vouchers.

Street Count
See Unsheltered Street Count

Service Planning Area (SPA)
Los Angeles County created eight geographical areas called Service Planning Areas (SPAs) for planning purposes. County departments use these boundaries for data collection and reporting purposes. The 2007 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count will utilize SPAs to more easily manage the canvassing for the Unsheltered Street Count.

Transitional Housing
Facilities created for homeless individuals and families to facilitate the movement to permanent housing. It is housing in which homeless persons may live up to 24 months and receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently.

Unsheltered Homeless
Someone who is either living on the streets, or in a vehicle, encampment, abandoned building, garage, or any other place not normally used or meant for human habitation.

Unsheltered Street Count
The point-in-time street count that will be conducted during a three-day period on the last week of January 2007 in the evening and early morning hours. Teams will canvass specific areas and tally observed homeless persons.