Documents

A Homeless Certification is a written document that verifies an individual or family’s current housing status, including whether they are experiencing homelessness. This certification is often required to determine eligibility for housing programs, services, and supports provided through the Coordinated Entry System (CES).

Who Completes It?
The certification can be completed by:

• A service provider or outreach worker who has direct knowledge of the individual's living situation.

Why Is It Important?
This certification helps ensure that individuals and families receive access to appropriate housing and support services based on their current situation. It also helps our system prioritize those with the most urgent needs.

Common Situations That May Require Certification:

• Living in a place not meant for human habitation (e.g., a tent, a car, an abandoned building)

• Staying in an emergency shelter

How to Get Certified:
If you are currently unhoused or in need of services, please visit one of our Coordinated Entry Access Sites or contact our team. A staff member will help assess

A Disability Certification is a written document that verifies an individual has a qualifying disability. This certification is often required to access certain housing programs and services, especially those that prioritize or serve individuals with disabling conditions such as the Coordinated Entry System (RCS).

Who Completes It?
The certification must be completed and signed by:

• A licensed professional qualified to diagnose or confirm a disability (e.g., physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed mental health professional).

• A service provider if the participant receives SSI, SSDI, or a Veterans Disability Check. Those documents verify a diagnosed disability per HUD.

Why Is It Important?
This certification helps ensure individuals with disabilities are matched with housing and services that best support their needs. For some permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs, a documented disability is required for eligibility.

Common Conditions That May Qualify as a Disability:

• Serious mental illness (SMI)

• Chronic physical illness or impairment

• Intellectual or developmental disabilities

• Substance use disorders

• HIV/AIDS

• Other long-term conditions that limit major life activities

How to Get Certified:
If you believe you may have a qualifying disability and are seeking housing support, please speak with your healthcare provider or case manager. You may also visit a Coordinated Entry Access Site for help in getting connected to a professional who can complete the form.

This Third-Party Certification form is used to document the duration and history of a person’s homelessness. It helps verify whether a person meets the HUD definition of Chronic Homelessness, which includes both length of time unhoused and disabling condition.

Who Completes It?
This form must be completed by a service provider, outreach worker, case manager, community partners and business who has direct and documented knowledge of the participant’s living situation for any amount of time.

Why Is It Important?
This certification helps confirm if someone is chronically homeless and eligible for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and other resources targeted toward individuals with the longest histories of homelessness. It allows persons who have worked closely with the person to formally document their observations and engagement.

Common Situations That May Require This Form:

• The participant has experienced homelessness for 12 months continuously, or for 12 months over 4 episodes within the past 3 years.

• Shelter data or HMIS records are missing or incomplete.

• The participant has only been engaged through outreach or unsheltered encounters, without formal entries in a system.

How to Complete the Form:
The certifying provider must:

• Describe the timeline and settings of homelessness they have directly observed or recorded.

• Indicate whether the homelessness was continuous or episodic.

• Include specific dates or estimated durations, when known.

• Sign and date the form, including their role and contact information.​

A Chronic Homelessness Certification is a formal document used to verify that an individual meets HUD’s definition of chronically homeless. This includes documenting both the duration of homelessness and the presence of a disabling condition. The certification is typically required for eligibility in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and other housing programs that prioritize individuals with the most significant housing needs.

Who Completes It?
This certification is usually completed by:

• Coordinated Entry staff

• Outreach workers

• Case managers

• Other service providers who have documentation of the individual's homelessness history and disabling condition

Why Is It Important?
This certification helps ensure that those who have been unhoused the longest and face the greatest barriers receive access to long-term, supportive housing. It also helps communities comply with HUD eligibility documentation standards.

Key Criteria for Chronic Homelessness:
To be considered chronically homeless, an individual must:

• Have a disabling condition, and

• Have been continuously homeless for at least 12 months, or

• Have experienced four or more episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years totaling 12 months or more

How to Complete the Form:
To complete a Chronic Homelessness Certification, providers must:

• Verify homelessness episodes using HMIS records, shelter logs, or third-party certifications

• Confirm the presence of a disabling condition through a disability certification or medical documentation