Task A. Establishing and Maintaining the Referral List Unlike HCV, potential applicants to HAVPP must be referred by the county Department of Social Services (“DSS”) in the county where the applicant resides or is most commonly, currently sheltering. The referring entity shall designate a Point of Contact (“POC”), who shall enter a Referral and Initial Eligibility Form (“RIEF”) using the designated on-line Referral Portal during the specified referral period only. No RIEFs will be accepted unless entered by the POC or other designated entity unless otherwise stipulated by HCR. HCR shall inform the LA via written guidance as to when the referral period will commence and close for each County. HCR reserves the right to open the referral list either for each preference category individually, or for two or all three preferences simultaneously (see the Administrative Plan for draft preferences). Once the referral period closes, the LA shall not accept RIEFs unless instructed by HCR to re-open the referral list. No paper applications will be accepted; all RIEFs shall be entered in the HCR Referral Portal. It is anticipated that the referral list will be opened at least twice during the four-year pilot, for four weeks at a time. However, HCR may authorize the LA, in consultation with OTDA, to open the referral list more often, extend the open period, or to leave the portal open on an ongoing basis where insufficient referrals exist to fully utilize the voucher allocate for that county. The LA shall notify the POC in writing whenever the referral list is being opened or closed. If the LA does not receive sufficient RIEFs from the POC, then HCR may designate other entities serving that County to provide referrals. These other entities may include the local Continuum of Care or another government or nonprofit entity recommended by either the LA, HCR or the Office Temporary Disability Assistance (“OTDA”). Task B. Maintaining the Referral List Duties 1. Accept referrals from the POC and review for completeness using the Emphasys Elite Referral Portal. 2. Maintain all aspects of the referral list for the region assigned, including opening, closing, purging, denial and acceptance. 3. Conduct the lottery for the Referral List in accordance with the preferences and requirements in the HAVPP Administrative Plan and establish the order of applicants. 4. Project utilization and recommend a date to open/re-open a waiting list. 5. Provide staff to accept applications and enter data into the agency database in a timely and accurate manner. 6. Provide staff to accept information changes submitted by applicants and enter those changes in the HTFC database solution in a timely and accurate manner. 1. Purge the waiting list per HAVPP Administrative Plan requirements. 7. Allow for HTFC staff to be present at the wait list opening upon written or email request. 8. Select families from the waiting list as vouchers become available, recognizing the applicable preferences.
