Moving Up and On Policy
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness (CCPEH) and its partner providers are guided by the principles that:
Housing is a human right.
Families and individuals experiencing homelessness as defined by the HEARTH Act should receive housing first, regardless of any barriers to permanent housing stability.
Once housed, families and individuals exiting from homelessness should be provided supportive services to ensure their housing stability.
Housing resources (e.g., case management, housing location services, subsidies, and referrals to other services) should be flexible and customized to the unique needs, strengths, and living situations of a family or individual using a person-centered, progressive approach.
Consistent with these beliefs the CCPEH partnership has developed this Moving Up and On policy to ensure that all persons currently or formerly experiencing homelessness are provided the best opportunity to gain and retain permanent housing.
CCPEH and its partner providers understand that occasionally special circumstances may arise that are not explicitly covered by this policy. In such circumstances it is expected that a majority decision be made based on our guiding principles.
Moving On and Moving Up Eligibility
All Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program participants are eligible for Moving On. To access Moving On services, a program participant or their representative must submit a completed Chester County Moving Up and On Assessment form to appropriate provider agency. All final Moving On recommendations shall be decided by a council consisting of the participating housing program’s staff using the guidelines below.
This policy is primarily intended for use and application by housing provider agencies and the CCPEH Case Conferencing Group. Potential housing provider programs are as follows:
Human Services Inc. RRH-PH for CTI
Human Services Inc. RRH Families & Individuals
Human Services Inc. RRH Families and Individuals
Open Hearth Housing Options PSH & PSH for Chronically Homeless
Human Services Inc. Safe Haven PSH
Housing Authority of Chester County Homeless Preference Housing Choice Voucher
Program
Housing Authority of Chester County Mainstream Voucher Program
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program
Affordable housing developers
Moving Up Guidelines: RRH to PSH or PH
RRH program participants should be considered for PSH or other Permanent Housing (PH) programs based on program availability, eligibility, and as part of a progressive engagement approach. Generally speaking, candidates for this type of intervention have evidenced difficulty in gaining or maintaining housing with RRH resources due the need for more intensive supportive services, financial need, or any combination thereof. Candidates with a strictly financial need, such as those on fixed incomes like SSI, should be considered for permanent housing resources.
Candidates for this intervention will be evaluated using the “Move Up Assessment Form”.
Final recommendations on who will be offered this intervention will be decided by a council consisting of the participating housing program’s staff. In accordance with client choice, participants will be offered this option and must accept to move up from RRH to PSH or PH.
Moving On Guidelines: PSH to PH
Moving On is a voluntary process. Households enrolled in PSH projects have all the rights of tenancy and may remain in a program for as long as they desire. Moving On helps maximizes participant choice by and is intended to promote self- sufficiency for households currently living in PSH.
PSH participants should be considered for PH programs based on program availability, eligibility, and when the participant/s have evidenced insufficient need for formal supportive services through a PSH program. Generally speaking, candidates for this type of intervention have achieved a lengthy period of housing stability in a PSH Program.
Candidates for this intervention will be evaluated by using the CCPEH Moving On Assessment Form.
Final recommendations on who will be offered this intervention will be decided by a council consisting of the participating housing program’s staff. In accordance with client choice, participants will be offered this option and must accept the move from PSH to PH. All participants must sign a waiver indicating that they understand and accept this action.
PSH participants who Move On should be offered case management support as needed.
Training Opportunities
The following training opportunities are available to CCPEH partner providers:
General Overview
For PSH and RRH Providers
For Public Housing Authorities
Supportive Services
Assessment and Preparation
HMIS Workflow
Templates and Forms
The following templates and forms are available from the CCPEH website at https://endhomelessnesschesco.org:
Moving On MOU template
HACC Intake Interview Letter
Move On Assessment Form
Move Up Assessment Form