IF A CLIENT LEAVES SHELTER FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AND LATER RETURNS, DO WE GIVE HER A SHELTER END DATE WHEN SHE LEAVES AND OPEN A NEW SHELTER RECORD WHEN SHE RETURNS?

Sometimes. If you have a client in shelter and the client leaves for 1-3 nights with plans to return, AND you are holding space for this client, do not close the shelter service record. If your client leaves shelter for more than 3 nights in a row, OR their space was NOT held during absent nights, close the shelter record and enter a new shelter record if the client returns. Always document when the client leaves shelter in your paper log sheet and client files. If your agency receives HUD funding, follow policies of HUD and/or your local continuum of care’s (COC) policy instead of the above.