Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BfZ: Built for Zero

BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

BNL: By-name List

BRACH: Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless

CCR: Community Case Review; uses vulnerability assessments and length of time homeless to ensure that the Coordinated Entry System is prioritizing the most vulnerable and that they receive needed services as quickly as possible

CDBG: Community Development Block Grant

CES: Coordinated Entry System; a process to ensure that all people experiencing homeless or at risk of homelessness are quickly identified and have fair and equal access to services

CHERP: COVID Homeless Emergency Relief Program

Chronic Homelessness: Experiencing homelessness for at least a year, or repeatedly, with a disabling condition such as mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability

CoC: Continuum of Care

DHCD: Department of Housing and Community Development (state agency)

DV: Domestic Violence; behavior that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner, including physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or psychological abuse

ES: Emergency Shelter; temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness

Functional Zero – Chronic: When the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness in a community is zero, or if not zero, than either 3 or .1% of the total number of individuals reported in the most recent point-in-time count, whichever is greater (Community Solutions)

Functional Zero – Veterans: When the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in a community is less than the number of veterans a community has proven it can house in a month, with a minimum threshold of 3 (Community Solutions)

GPD: Grant Per Diem (veteran transitional housing program); funding offered by the VA for community agencies providing services to veterans experiencing homelessness

HMIS: Homeless Management Information System; a database used to confidentially record, store, and share with other service providers information on people experiencing homelessness in a community

Homeless Youth: Persons experiencing homelessness between the ages of 18 and 24

Housing First: A strategy that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life

HP: Homelessness Prevention; practices, policies, and interventions that reduce the chances of a person becoming homeless

HSNH: Homeless and Special Needs Housing (funding source)

HUD: Department of Housing and Urban Development (federal agency)

Literal Homelessness: Lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence

Low Barrier: An approach that eliminates obstacles to shelter and housing by limiting the requirements for entry

NCS: Non-congregate Shelter; shelter locations where each individual or household has living space that offers some level of privacy, such as hotels, motels, or dormitories

PH: Permanent Housing; community-based housing with no time limit for those who formerly experienced homelessness to live as self-sufficient as possible

PHA: Public Housing Authority (local agency)

POC: People of Color

PSH: Permanent Supportive Housing; combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness

RRH: Rapid Re-housing; provides short-term rental assistance and services to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and remain housed

SPC: Service Provider Council; a group of local homeless service providers, as well as other human service providers whose clients might also experience homelessness, that meet monthly to coordinate services, share pertinent information, and encourage collaboration

SO: Street Outreach; reaching out to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to connect them with shelter, housing, or other services

SSVF: Supportive Services for Veteran Families

Supportive Housing: Combines long-term affordable housing assistance with supportive services for people experiencing homelessness

Supportive Services: programs designed to assist those experiencing homelessness/at risk of homelessness with housing, health care, employment, and other needs

TH: Transitional Housing; temporary supportive housing designed to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing

VA: Department of Veterans Affairs (federal agency)

VASH: Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

VHSP: Virginia Homelessness Solutions Program (funding source)