WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By Geoffrey Ruff. (Part II) (c) 2006, The White Plains CitizeNetReporter. All rights reserved.  January 26, 2006: Part II of Mr. Ruff’s report personally delivered to the Westchester County Department of Social Services Commissioner Monday, January 23, takes up after the applicant for DSS social services has been accepted for placement. (See Part I of Mr. Ruff’s Report, published January 25 in The CitizeNetReporter) Mr. Ruff’s report continues:

ASSESSMENT

Step II

The applicant waits for the VOA (Volunteers of America) van, that is said to arrive outside the DSS District Office (85 Court Street) at 5:00 P.M. for transport to the VOA Shelter for assessment. The assessment process can take anywhere from 1 day to 1 month.

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Once the applicant is chosen for assessment, he is screened for determination. This process takes usually 3 days. On day 1, he usually goes through a series of “doors.” These “doors” screen him for his Personal History, Personal Family History, Drug History (which is greatly emphasized), Mental Health History, and Physical Medical History.

Within the drug history, if there were any prior drug use, no matter when in his life, a determination is made for him to enter into drug treatment. If the applicant has a drug history, and has abstained for quite some time, a majority, but not all the time, it is mandatory that he attend drug treatment. Thus, creating the thought that one must not emphasize any drug use.

If the applicant has a Mental Health History, it is determined that he attend Mental Health treatment.

If the applicant has no Drug use history, or Mental Health history, it is determined, as long as the Physical Medical evaluation is in accordance, that he be deemed Employable.

With the “doors,” the Medical Evaluation happens to be very important. It will determine which category the applicant falls into. Usually that focus is on urinalysis.

On Day 3, (From entering the system), the applicant’s fate has been determined, and he is transferred to temporary permanent housing placement (a shelter), from 3 choices he has determined, in accordance with availability of beds.

(Mr. Ruff’s report continues tomorrow with Part 3, “Placement”. Mr. Ruff is a nitely client of the 85 Court Street Homeless Drop-In Shelter in White Plains. )