§ 42-160-4. Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter:
(1) "Coordinated entry system (CES)� means the partnership of all homeless service providers
in the state through this initiative of the Rhode Island continuum of care. CES manages
all diversion/entry to the shelter system through the coordinated entry hotline and
manages the permanent housing placement part of the program, once persons are in a
shelter or are living on the street.
(2) "Executive office� means the Rhode Island executive office of health and human services.
(3) "Homeless management information system (HMIS)� means the database used to collect
information in order to track and report on the scope of homelessness prevention/assistance
and human service needs across the Rhode Island continuum of care (COC) as well as
individually at each organization. The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness
is the current HMIS state lead.
(4) "Homelessness� means the category 1 and category 4 definitions outlined by HUD:
(i) Category 1 — Literally homeless: the situation of an individual or family lacking
a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
(A) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for
human habitation;
(B) Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary
living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels
and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government
programs); or
(C) Is exiting an institution where he or she has resided for ninety (90) days or less
and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately
before entering that institution.
(ii) Category 4 — Fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence: Any individual or family
who:
(A) Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence;
(B) Has no other residence; and
(C) Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
(5) "Independent evaluator� means an independent entity selected by the state whose role
includes assessing and reporting on the achievement of performance targets at the
frequency required in the pay for success contract.
(6) "Nonprofit organization� means a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal
taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3).
(7) "Outcome payor� means the the Rhode Island state government.
(8) "Pay for success contracts� are contracts designed to improve outcomes and lower costs
for contracted government services that are subject to the following requirements:
(i) A determination that the contract will result in significant performance improvements
and budgetary savings across all impacted agencies if the performance targets are
achieved;
(ii) A requirement that a substantial portion of any payment be conditioned on the achievement
of specific outcomes based on defined performance targets;
(iii) An objective process by which an independent evaluator will determine whether the
performance targets have been achieved;
(iv) A calculation of the amount and timing of payments that would be earned by the service
provider during each year of the agreement if performance targets are achieved as
determined by the independent evaluator; and
(v) Payments shall only be made if performance targets are achieved. Additionally, the
success payment made pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed ten percent (10%) more
than actual costs incurred by the program intermediary.
(9) "Performance targets� means the level of performance, as measured by an independent
evaluator, that represents success. Success is defined in the pay-for-success contract.
(10) "Permanent supportive housing (PSH)� means a permanent deeply subsidized unit, tenant
or project based subsidy, with supportive services, generally for persons experiencing
homelessness for long periods of time who also have other significant challenges such
as disability or mental illness.
(11) "Program intermediary� means a firm that contracts with a state agency to establish
and deliver a service or program intervention by doing any of the following:
(i) Delivering or contracting for relevant services or outcomes;
(ii) Raising capital to finance the delivery of services or outcomes;
(iii) Providing ongoing project management and investor relations for the social impact
funding instrument.
(12) "Social impact bond,� "pay-for-success bond� or "bond� means a contract between the
public and private sectors in which a commitment is made to pay for improved financial
and social outcomes that result in public sector savings. These contract agreements
are funded by appropriation.
(13) "Success payments� refer to the payments that the state will make only if contractual
performance targets are achieved as determined by the independent evaluator and approved
by the office of management and budget.
(14) "Target population� means highly vulnerable persons who experience long-term homelessness
and incur significant costs within the criminal justice, shelter, and/or healthcare
systems, likely related to their housing instability, with an estimated average per
person cost of Medicaid claims for adults in shelter, top twenty-five (25) clients,
totaling two hundred twenty-nine thousand, six hundred ninety-five dollars and forty-four
cents ($229,695.44), as per the Rhode Island Medicaid and HMIS data match for adults
in shelter. Eligibility will be confirmed by data matching, case conferencing, and
coordination with healthcare providers and the coordinated entry system (CES); data
sources will be provided by the department of corrections, executive office of health
and human services, and the Rhode Island homeless management information system.