Outreach workers can provide third party documentation of a current or prior episode of homelessness.
- To document that the applicant is currently homeless, the outreach worker must have physically observed the applicant's living situation.
- To document prior months/episodes of homelessness, the outreach worker can document that he/she physically observed the applicant's living situation OR document their encounters with the applicant in another setting (i.e. soup kitchen).
- The outreach worker can only provide documentation for those months when he/she personally encountered the applicant.
Example of an Outreach Worker Observation
Insufficient:
“Sarah Silva has been sleeping in a tent since August.”
Sufficient:
“I met with Sarah Silva at her campsite behind the Walmart on Coors on August 20th, September 2nd, October 24th, and November 6th, 2016. She has a tent with a sleeping bag, a duffel bag full of clothes, and there were dishes and packages full of food on the ground.”
“Sarah Silva has been sleeping in a tent since August.”
Sufficient:
“I met with Sarah Silva at her campsite behind the Walmart on Coors on August 20th, September 2nd, October 24th, and November 6th, 2016. She has a tent with a sleeping bag, a duffel bag full of clothes, and there were dishes and packages full of food on the ground.”