How must an individual or head of household’s qualifying disability be documented with regard to the recordkeeping requirements that were established in the final rule on the definition of chronically homeless?

To be considered chronically homeless, the individual or head of household must be a “homeless individual with a disability” as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act as amended by the HEARTH Act. An individual or head of household’s qualifying disability must be documented by one of the following:

• Written verification of the disability from a professional licensed by the state to diagnose and treat the disability and his or her certification that the disability is expected to be long-continuing or of indefinite duration and substantially impedes the individual’s ability to live independently;
• Written verification from the Social Security Administration;
• The receipt of a disability check (e.g., Social Security Disability Insurance check or Veteran Disability Compensation);
• Intake staff-recorded observation of disability that, no later than 45 days from the application for assistance, is confirmed and accompanied by evidence above; or
• Other documentation approved by HUD.

Further, acceptable evidence of a disability for an individual with HIV/AIDS would include written verification from a professional licensed by the state to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS. There would not be an expectation that the licensed professional would also certify that the condition is expected to be of long-continuing or indefinite duration and substantially impede the individual's ability to live independently.