Every question HEAT asks
Published so anyone — practitioners, researchers, and people who have lived this — can review the questions themselves: the wording, the choices, and what is deliberately not asked. Instrument version 0.4.0-pilot (placeholder wording, before cognitive testing).
Every question accepts “I do not know” and “I prefer not to answer,” with no penalty. HEAT never asks for diagnoses, criminal history details, or anything self-incriminating, and collects no names or identifying information.
See something confusing, missing, or wrong? Use the Feedback button, bottom left. That is exactly what this page is for.
Questions everyone gets
Are you in danger right now, or is someone hurting or threatening you?
When answering for someone not present: “Is the person in danger right now, or is someone hurting or threatening them?”
Do you need medical help right now for something serious?
When answering for someone not present: “Do they need medical help right now for something serious?”
For example, an injury, chest pain, or anything that cannot wait.
Are you currently leaving a situation where someone was violent toward you or your family?
When answering for someone not present: “Are they currently leaving a situation where someone was violent toward them or their family?”
Where are you staying tonight?
When answering for someone not present: “Where are they staying tonight?”
Just before this, where were you living?
When answering for someone not present: “Just before this, where were they living?”
About how many months has it been since you had a permanent place of your own?
When answering for someone not present: “About how many months has it been since they had a permanent place of their own?”
About when did this current period of staying on the streets, in a shelter, or somewhere not meant for living start?
When answering for someone not present: “About when did this current period of them staying on the streets, in a shelter, or somewhere not meant for living start?”
An estimate is fine. Short stays housed (under 7 nights) or in a facility (under 90 days) do not restart this period.
In the past three years, how many separate times have you stayed on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living, including now?
When answering for someone not present: “In the past three years, how many separate times have they stayed on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living, including now?”
Time staying with family or friends does not count here. A time apart is separated by 7 or more nights somewhere housed.
Adding it all together, about how many months in the past three years have you stayed on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living?
When answering for someone not present: “Adding it all together, about how many months in the past three years have they stayed on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living?”
A partial month counts as a whole month. Time staying with family or friends does not count here.
How many adults, including you, are in your household right now?
When answering for someone not present: “How many adults, including them, are in their household right now?”
How many children under 18 are with you right now?
When answering for someone not present: “How many children under 18 are with them right now?”
Do you have children under 18 who are not staying with you right now?
When answering for someone not present: “Do they have children under 18 who are not staying with them right now?”
Which age group are you in?
When answering for someone not present: “Which age group are they in?”
Have you ever served in the United States military?
When answering for someone not present: “Have they ever served in the United States military?”
Do you have any money coming in right now, from any source?
When answering for someone not present: “Do they have any money coming in right now, from any source?”
Are you working right now, in any kind of job?
When answering for someone not present: “Are they working right now, in any kind of job?”
Is there anyone you could safely stay with tonight if the right help were available?
When answering for someone not present: “Is there anyone they could safely stay with tonight if the right help were available?”
If you had housing tomorrow, would you need regular help from another person to keep it, with things like bills, medications, or daily tasks?
When answering for someone not present: “If they had housing tomorrow, would they need regular help from another person to keep it, with things like bills, medications, or daily tasks?”
In the past six months, about how many times have you been to an emergency room or had another crisis visit?
When answering for someone not present: “In the past six months, about how many times have they been to an emergency room or had another crisis visit?”
Is there an eviction case against you in court right now?
When answering for someone not present: “Is there an eviction case against them in court right now?”
Do you have an ID card or other identity documents with you or somewhere you can get them?
When answering for someone not present: “Do they have an ID card or other identity documents with them or somewhere they can get them?”
Are you about to lose the place you are staying within the next two weeks?
When answering for someone not present: “Are they about to lose the place they are staying within the next two weeks?”
Chronicity documentation (asked only when relevant)
Do you have a condition that is expected to be long-lasting and makes it harder to live on your own? You do not need to say what it is.
When answering for someone not present: “Do they have a condition that is expected to be long-lasting and makes it harder to live on their own? There is no need to say what it is.”
About the facility stay (asked only when relevant)
How long have you been in the facility so far?
When answering for someone not present: “How long have they been in the facility so far?”
Just before entering, were you staying on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living?
When answering for someone not present: “Just before entering, were they staying on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or somewhere not meant for living?”