Universal Certifications Enhance Housing Placement Efforts

Los Angeles, CA (January 30, 2019)—The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) announced the implementation of homeless certifications, which were first developed in 2017. The certifications, a collaboration between LAHSA and both city and county housing agencies, streamline access to housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.

“By establishing a common set of forms,” said Peter Lynn, LAHSA’s executive director, “participants and providers will be able to more swiftly and efficiently certify a client’s homeless status, whether it is through an application to agencies of the city or county.”

“This will enable us to more quickly move people from homelessness to permanent housing,” added Lynn.

The following is a list of the universal verification forms:

• Observation of Homeless Status Form (2199): Used to document that a person is experiencing homelessness in a place not meant for human habitation (street, car, abandoned building).
• Third-Party Verification of Homeless Status Form (1444): Used to document that a person is experiencing homelessness while in a program.
• Self-Certification of Homeless Status Form (1448): Used when providers cannot obtain any of the above documents. It allows individuals to self-certify their homelessness.
• Verification of Disability Form (2833): Used to document a person’s disability, if applicable.

The new certifications will replace various versions of these forms used by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA), the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS).

Providers should use the new homeless certifications to document a person’s history of homelessness for any homeless programs contracted or administered by LAHSA, DMH, DHS, HACLA, and HACoLA.

Starting in 2017 operating year, all LA CoC funded PSH program were converted to DedicatedPLUS. By serving DedicatedPLUS eligible individuals, LA CoC is able to:

• serve a broader group of households that are considered eligible for CoC PSH;
• serve people with long-term histories of homelessness and still meet the spirit of chronic homelessness; and
• make it easier to document a person’s history of homelessness.

The below DedicatedPlus forms are also available and will be utilized by LAHSA, DMH, DHS, HACLA, and HACoLA as of February 1:

DedicatedPLUS Verification Packet: Used to document a person’s eligibility under DedicatedPLUS.
DedicatedPLUS Verification Training Guide: Example on how to complete the DedicatedPLUS Verification Packet.

You can watch our Universal Homeless Certification Training Webinar here and our DedicatedPLUS Training Webinar here.

LAHSA is a joint powers authority of the city and county of Los Angeles, created in 1993 to address the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles County. LAHSA is the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages over $300 million annually in federal, state, county, and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing, and services to people experiencing homelessness. For more information visit www.lahsa.org.