The Colorado Interagency Council on Homelessness

A PDF version of the Statewide Homeless Survey Guide is available for download.

STATEWIDE HOMELESS SURVEY GUIDE

Goal of Survey The goal of the survey is to get an accurate count of the number of homeless persons in Colorado on January 29, 2007, and to describe the characteristics of the homeless population, including age, gender, family situation, reasons for homelessness and service needs. This information will help agencies identify the unmet needs of their homeless clients, raise awareness about the number of homeless and the problems they face, and successfully acquire funding for programs serving the homeless.

Participation

The homeless count will be based on returned surveys! Every homeless individual or, in the case of family groups and couples, one adult family member must participate in the survey.

Encouraging participation

It is very important that you encourage homeless persons to participate. You should tell clients that their participation will help increase awareness of homelessness in the state, understanding of the situations of homeless persons and their service needs, and funding for services for the homeless.

Refusals

If a homeless person is reluctant to participate, remember to assure the person that his/her participation in the survey will be completely confidential and will help homeless persons and those at-risk for homelessness get the services that they need. If they still refuse, politely thank them and move on.

Confidentiality

Assure respondents that their answers are private and that no one other than you, the interviewer, will know what they said. There is absolutely no chance that their responses will be tied to them individually. If possible, try to take respondent aside to a quiet location to conduct the interview.

Interviewing

While we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE agency staff and volunteers to conduct interviews, if someone says that he/she would prefer to self-administer the survey rather than be interviewed, respect their wishes and give them a copy of the survey to complete on their own. However, be sure to review the survey for completeness and consistency when it is returned.

Before you start the interview, ask the respondent if he/she would like a copy of the survey so he/she can look at it while you read the questions and responses.

Copies of Surveys

Most agencies will receive the survey electronically. It is critical that you write the agency name, program (if applicable) and the specific location where the survey is being conducted at the top of the survey! This should be done BEFORE copies are made of the survey to ensure that the agency, program (when appropriate), city/town/community and county are on EVERY survey. WE MUST HAVE THIS INFORMATION ON EVERY SURVEY. The “Logistics” document describes what to do with the completed surveys once the count has concluded.

Duplication

For the homeless count and homeless survey results to be credible, we have to be able to show that the count is unduplicated, that is, that each family group completed only one survey. If at any time during the survey, the respondent volunteers that s/he or another family member completed a survey earlier that day or yesterday, do not continue! Destroy the survey!

 Completed Surveys
Review each survey immediately after completing the interview or being handed a self-administered survey to verify that all items are complete, correct and legible. If possible, review for consistency while the respondent is present.

• Pay close attention to questions 8 and 11 through 13. Please check that responses to these questions are consistent.

• Question 10, Where will you/where did you spend the night of Monday, January 29 th?MUST be answered. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE QUESTION 10 BLANK.

Please refer to the “logistics” document for further instructions regarding what to do with completed surveys.

The following is a guide describing each question in the Statewide Homeless Survey, including some information on how to handle situations that may arise.

Specific Survey Instructions / Information

Agency: Enter the name of your agency

Training Issue:Most agencies will receive the survey electronically. It is critical that you write the agency name and specific location where the survey is being conducted at the top of the survey! This should be done BEFORE copies are made of the survey to ensure that the agency and program (when appropriate) names are on EVERY survey. WE MUST HAVE AGENCY INFORMATION ON EVERY SURVEY.

Program: Enter the specific program name within your agency

Training Issue: Numerous agencies have various programs within their agency. If a specific program(s) within your agency is administering the survey, please indicate the program name(s).

 City/Town/Community: Enter the name of the city, town or community

County: Enter the name of your county

Initials: Enter the respondent’s first and middle initial and the first 3 letters of their last name

Training Issue: Enter this information before you ask any questions so that you don’t forget. The initials are crucial as they are part of the identifying information used to prevent duplication. If the respondent refuses to give you their initials, politely move on to the next question.

Month you were born:

Circle the month in which the respondent was born

Training Issue: This question is asked as part of the identifying information used to prevent duplication.

Q1 What is your age?:

Training Issue: This question is asked as part of the identifying information used to prevent duplication. Age will be used in combination with initials, gender and birth month to create a personal identification number (PIN). It also provides a demographic picture of respondents.

Q2 Gender:

Training Issue: This question does NOT need to be asked by the interviewer. The interviewer can record this through observation. In the rare instance that the interviewer is unable to determine gender, ask the question. If an individual volunteers that he/she is transgender, write that on the survey. This question is asked as part of the identifying information used to prevent duplication. Gender will be used in combination with initials, age and birth month to create a personal identification number (PIN). It also provides a demographic picture of respondents.

 Q3 Have you served in the U.S. Military?:

Provides a demographic picture of respondents.

Q4 Are you a seasonal resort worker?:

This question identifies persons working in a resort area (e.g. ski area in winter or ranch in summer).

Q5 Do you have a current Colorado ID or Colorado driver’s license?:

This question identifies persons in need of Colorado identification.

Q6 Do you consider yourself to be Hispanic, Latino or Spanish?:

Training Issue: This question is independent of racial identification and is modeled after HUD’s question regarding race and ethnicity.

Q7 Which one category best describes your racial background?:

Training Issue: Hispanics can be white, black or mixed. We want respondents to give the single best answer. If it isn’t listed, they can put their race under “other.” However, this question is intended to get at race, not ethnicity; for example, “Italian” or “Mexican” are ethnicities, not races.

Q8 Are you (Check only ONE response):

This question refers to household situation.

Training Issue: This question should correspond with Questions 11-13 (where respondents indicate family members with them, also without a permanent place to live).

 This question offers five responses: single person (including separated or divorced), single parent with children under 18 (including separated or divorced), part of a couple with children under 18, part of a couple without children under 18, and other. The purpose of this question is to identify persons who fit into the first four categories. For that reason, the question is interpreted as follows: if someone fits any of the first four categories, even if there are extended family members in their group, you check the category where they fit. For example, if a woman identifies herself as a single parent with children under 18, but is staying temporarily with her sister, she is still a single parent with children. If a woman is separated or divorced from her spouse/partner and has no children under 18, she is a single person. If a couple without children under 18 is traveling with their extended family, who also are homeless, they are identified as a couple without children – HOWEVER, the person filling out the survey must still document the number of family members staying with them who also are homeless. If you are not sure which category to check, check “in another situation” and describe their situation.

Single person – A single person is someone who is living alone or living with anyone other than a spouse/partner or with his/her children under 18. This category includes any person who is alone, including a child, teenager, adult or senior; any person who is with one or more siblings; someone who is living with an extended family member/members such as aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. If a single person has children but is not living with his/her children under 18, then they are counted as a single person. Similarly, if a single person has a spouse but is not living with their spouse, then they are counted as a single person. If a single person is staying in a shelter with his/her adult child, they are counted as a single person; however, they must still document their adult child and any other family members who are homeless with them in questions 11-13.

 Single parent with children under 18 – This category includes anyone who is a single parent with children under 18, even if he/she is living with other family members as well. For example, if a woman is living with her two children and also with her parents, she is counted as a single parent with children.

 Part of a couple with children under 18 – This category includes any couple – married or otherwise – that is living with their children under 18, even if the couple is living with other family members as well. A couple includes a spouse or a same or opposite sex partner. A couple with children that is also living with siblings, aunts, uncles, or other relatives is counted as a couple with children. A person who is living with his/her stepchildren or partners’ children under 18 or, is counted as being part of a couple with children.

 Part of a couple without children under 18 – This category includes any couple – married or otherwise – who do not have children under 18. A couple includes a spouse or a same or opposite sex partner. A person who has children – or whose spouse or partner has children – is counted in this category if they have adult children or if their children usually stay somewhere else. A couple without children who is living with siblings, aunts, uncles, or other relatives is counted as a couple without children.

 In another situation – This category includes people who don’t fit into the first four categories. For example, it includes a grandparent or grandparents who are with their grandchild/grandchildren. If the grandparent were alone, he/she would be considered a “single person.” If the grandparent were with a spouse or partner, but without any grandchildren under 18, he/she would be considered “part of a couple without children.”

 Q9 Do you have a permanent place to live?:

Training Issue: Homeless individuals often do not consider themselves to be homeless, for example, respondents living in a shelter may say they have a permanent place to live. If that is their response, the interviewer must mark the survey exactly as the person has responded, even if they know it is incorrect. If someone doesn’t know if they are homeless and doesn’t say where he/she is living, then circle “don’t know.” We will determine whether or not they meet the definition of homelessness when the survey data are analyzed, so be sure that they answer Questions 10 and 14 through 16.

 Q10 Where will you / where did you spend the night, of Monday, January 29 th?

Training Issue: If the respondent can’t remember where they stayed Monday night, January 29 th, ask them where they stayed last night.

This question offers a number of options. Do not leave question 10 blank! Ask the question, then pause to give respondent some time to think. If the respondent volunteers a location, the interviewer should look for the response, confirm with the respondent that it is accurate, and check it. Only read the responses if the respondent does not volunteer a location. Since this question is critical to determining if someone is homeless, be sure that it is completed accurately. If you are not sure where to put someone’s response, check “something else” and write in their response in as much detail as possible. If the respondent is unsure where they spent last night – e.g., they don’t know if they were in prison or jail – check “somewhere else” and write in that they were either in prison or jail.

If the respondent indicates they were staying temporarily with family or friends, it is critical that they also answer the follow up question, “Do you have an arrangement to stay there permanently?” to document if the arrangement is permanent or temporary. This is an additional attempt at clarifying the homelessness of those people staying with family or friends or couch surfing – there are numerous issues around this, e.g. these individuals are hard to find and herefore count; this group of people often have their homelessness questioned.

Q11 How many family members are/were with you on Monday night, January 29 th, who ALSO are WITHOUT A PERMANENT PLACE TO LIVE? Do NOT include family members who you may have stayed with who HAVE a permanent place to live.

How many family members (NOT INCLUDING YOURSELF)?:

Training Issue: Q11 asks for total number of family members with respondent last night who are also without a permanent place to live. Do NOT include family members with a permanent place to live and do NOT include the respondent.

For respondents who are staying with friends and family, It is especially important to ONLY include persons who do not have a permanent place to live. DO NOT include family members who live in the house permanently and are letting the respondent (and his family) stay with them. This will give us valuable information about the number of homeless persons.

Q12-Q13Please complete the following table for FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE WITH YOU AND ALSO WITHOUT A PERMANENT PLACE TO LIVE.

This question asks for age and relationship to respondent for each of the OTHER persons in respondent’s family. DO NOT include family members who have a permanent place to live.

Training Issue: Spouse/partner includes opposite or same-sex partner – and it doesn’t matter if they are married or just living together. The “other relative” category includes any family member that isn’t listed – for example, uncle, aunt, sister, brother, sister’s husband, brother’s wife, stepparent, etc. – someone who is related to respondent in any way. For “other relative,” please specify how the person is related to the homeless respondent.

If someone says they are with their child in question 13, please be sure they fill in the child’s age in question 12 so we can distinguish if they are with a child under 18 or an adult child. Without this information, we may not be able to determine if respondent is part of a family with children under 18.

Often, single parents who are somewhere unsheltered try to find a temporary place for their children under 18 to spend the night. These children should be included in the family group as homeless, even if they were NOT WITH the respondent the night of January 29th.

Note that we are only asking about FAMILY MEMBERS, so there is no category for friends (as opposed to partners). Therefore, if someone lists a friend (or several friends) in questions 12-13, DO NOT enter the friend(s) in the table for these questions. GO BACK to Question 11 and make sure that the number listed for this question only includes family members; it should NOT include the respondent or any friends (other than same or opposite sex partners).

Q14 In the next week, are you being evicted or thrown out of the place you are staying?

Training Issue: This question is important because, even if someone is living in an apartment/house/trailer at this time, if they will be thrown out in the next week they are counted as homeless. It gives us another opportunity to learn if persons staying with family and friends are staying there temporarily. It also helps to define the newly homeless.

Q15 Including now, what is the total number of times you have been without a permanent place to live in the last three years?

Training Issue: This question is necessary to determine chronic homelessness.

If the respondent isn’t sure of the answer, help them review the past three years and try to come up with an accurate response. If respondent still isn’t sure, write in their best guess, e.g., 3-4 times.

 Q16 How long have you been without a permanent place to live this time?

We want to know the length of this spell of homelessness.

Training Issue: This question is part of the definition of chronic homelessness and also helps to define the newly homeless.

If someone does not define themselves as homeless, check “I am NOT homeless.” If they do define themselves as homeless, it is important that they think about this homeless spell and give the best estimate of the length of time they have been homeless.

 Q17 In what city/town will you/did you spend the night, Monday, January 29, 2007? Training Issue: If respondent does not know, leave blank. If the respondent can’t remember where they stayed Monday night, January 29 th, ask them the city/town where they stayed last night.

Q18 In what county will you/did you spend the night, Monday, January 29, 2007?

Training Issue: If respondent does not know, leave blank.

If the respondent can’t remember where they stayed Monday night, January 29 th, ask them the county where they stayed last night. It is important that respondents answer this question so that we can analyze the survey by continuum of care and county.

 Q19 What was the last County and State you considered your permanent place to live?

Training Issue: If they don’t know their county, and know a city or town name, enter that. If they weren’t in Colorado, put in the last state they considered their permanent place to live or, if they lived outside the United States, the last country.

Q20 As a child or youth, were you ever in foster care or another type of out-of-home placement?

Training Issue: This question may be valuable to service providers/policymakers. The answer is “yes” if the respondent was in foster care, a group home, or youth detention. The answer is also “yes” if respondent was removed from his home and placed by Social Services or another government agency in a relative’s home. However, if, as a youth, the respondent voluntarily left home to live with other family members (e.g., grandparents, aunt/uncle, etc.) or with a friend’s family, then the answer is “no.”

Q21 Do you think you have, or have you been told you have:

This question asks if respondent has various “conditions” or problems. The question applies to the respondent only, not to other family members he/she is with.

Training issue: Ask this question respectfully so that the homeless person does not feel his/her dignity is being violated. You can offer to let him/her nod “yes” or “no” in response to each question, or point to the applicable conditions on the survey so he/she doesn’t have to respond aloud.

Training Issue: This question is necessary to determine chronic homelessness.

Be sure to read each condition and check all that apply. If someone says “yes” to one condition, continue reading all the other conditions. If someone is not sure if they have a specific condition e.g., they don’t know if they have a serious mental illness, ask them to describe their illness/symptoms/problem. See below for how to categorize.

 Serious mental illness – if someone isn’t sure if they have a serious mental illness but they mention depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder (or say that they are anxious), or say they “hear voices,” then check “serious mental illness.”

Serious medical or physical condition – if someone isn’t sure if they have a serious medical or physical condition but they mention cancer, brain tumor, diabetes, blindness, vision problems, emphysema, severe asthma, etc., then check “serious medical or physical condition.” Also check “serious medical or physical condition” if the person mentions problems with mobility such as bad back, bad knees, loss of limb, broken limb, arthritis, rheumatism, inability to walk, etc. Do NOT check serious medical or physical condition” if someone has a problem that is not serious such as needing glasses or dental work, or if he/she has a temporary problem like a bad cold or other short-term illness. Also do NOT check “serious medical or physical condition” if someone has recovered from a major illness, such as being a cancer survivor.

 Alcohol or drug abuse – if someone isn’t sure if they abuse alcohol or drugs, but say that it has been a problem or that they stopped using in the last day/week/month, then check “alcohol or drug abuse.” Also check “alcohol or drug abuse” is someone mentions an addiction to any kind of prescription drugs such as painkillers.

Developmental disability –only check if someone says they have this.

HIV/AIDS – If someone is HIV positive but says he/she does not have AIDS, check “HIV/AIDS.”

If someone isn’t sure if they have one of the first five problems and, after describing their problem you don’t know how to categorize their situation, check “other” and describe the problem in as much detail as possible. In addition, if someone mentions a problem that we didn’t specifically ask about, check “other” and describe the problem in as much detail as possible. If someone says they don’t know what they have but are taking medications, check “other” and list the medications they are taking.

 Q22 In the past month, have you or anyone else in your family received any money from working?

This question asks if respondent or anyone else in his family received any money from working in the past month.

Training Issue: They should say “yes” even if the income is on the side/unreported/etc. For example, if they are getting money for temporary or day labor, including doing odd jobs, then they are working. The answer also is “yes” if whatever they are doing, they consider it to be working. Be sure to ask if anyone in their family is getting any money from working.

 Q23 Are you or anyone else in your family receiving ANY of the following government benefits?

Training Issue: Be sure to read each type of assistance and check all that apply. If someone says “yes” to one type of assistance, continue reading all the other types of assistance. If the respondent replies that they are not receiving any government benefits make sure you have read all the listed benefits before checking response 7 (receiving NO government benefits).

Q24 Why did you become homeless this time?

Training Issue: This question offers a number of options. If respondent says he/she is NOT homeless, check that response (response #1) and go to question 25. If the respondent volunteers a reason (or several reasons), the interviewer should look for the response, confirm with the respondent that it is accurate, and check it. Read all the possible responses even if the respondent volunteers one or several reasons. If you are not sure where to put someone’s response, check “other reason” and write in their response in as much detail as possible.

Q25 In the past month, what services did you or anyone in your family need but could not get?

Training Issue: Again, this question offers a number of options. Ask the question, then pause to give respondent some time to think. If the respondent volunteers a service (or several services), the interviewer should look for the response, confirm with the respondent that it is accurate, and check it. Read all the possible responses even if the respondent volunteers one or several responses. If you are not sure where to put someone’s response, check “other” and write in their response in as much detail as possible. The response category “Help finding Section 8 or other permanent housing” includes help getting vouchers or money to pay for eligible housing. If the respondent replies they didn’t need any services, make sure you have read all the possible services before checking response 15 (Needed NO services we couldn’t get).