Self Sufficiency Matrix

Housing:

1. Homeless or threatened with

   eviction.

2. In transitional, temporary or

   substandard housing; and/or

   current rent/mortgage

   payment is unaffordable

   (over 30% of income).

3. In stable housing that is

   safe but only marginally

   adequate.

4. Household is in safe,

   adequate subsidized

   housing.

5. Household is safe,

   adequate, unsubsidized

   housing.

Employment:

1. No job.

2. Temporary, part-time or

   seasonal; inadequate pay, no

   benefits.

3. Employed full time;

   inadequate pay; few or no

   benefits.

4. Employed full time with

   adequate pay and

   benefits.

5. Maintains permanent

   employment with

   adequate income and

   benefits

Income:

1. No income.

2. Inadequate income and/or

   spontaneous or inappropriate

   spending.

3. Can meet basic needs with

   subsidy; appropriate

   spending.

4. Can meet basic needs and

   manage debt without

   assistance.

5. Income is sufficient, well

   managed; has

   discretionary income

   and is able to save.

   
   

Food:

1. No food or means to prepare it.

   Relies to a significant degree on

   other sources of free or low-cost

   food.

2. Household is on food stamps.

3. Can meet basic food needs,

   but requires occasional

   assistance.

4. Can meet basic food needs

   without assistance.

5. Can choose to purchase

   any food household

   desires.

   
   

Child Care:

1. Needs childcare, but none is

   available/accessible and/or

   child is not eligible.

2. Childcare is unreliable or

   unaffordable, inadequate

   supervision is a problem for

   childcare that is available.

3. Affordable subsidized

   childcare is available, but

   limited.

4. Reliable, affordable

   childcare is available, no

   need for subsidies.

5. Able to select quality

   childcare of choice.

   
   

Children's Education:

1. One or more school-aged

   children not enrolled in school.

2. One or more school-aged

   children enrolled in school,

   but not attending classes.

3. Enrolled in school, but one

   or more children only

   occasionally attending

   classes.

4. Enrolled in school and

   attending classes most of

   the time.

5. All school-aged children

   enrolled and attending

   on a regular basis.

   
   

Adult Education:

1. Literacy problems and/or no

   high school diploma/GED are

   serious barriers to employment.

2. Enrolled in literacy and/or

   GED program and/or has

   sufficient command of

   English to where language is

   not a barrier to employment

3. Has high school

   diploma/GED.

4. Needs additional

   education/training to

   improve employment

   situation and/or to

   resolve literacy problems

   to where they are able to

   function effectively in

   society.

5. Has completed

   education/training

   needed to become

   employable. No literacy

   problems.

Health Care Coverage:

1. No medical coverage with

   immediate need.

2. No medical coverage and

   great difficulty accessing

   medical care when needed.

   Some household members

   may be in poor health.

3. Some members (e.g.

   Children) have medical

   coverage.

4. All members can get

   medical care when

   needed, but may strain

   budget.

5. All members are

   covered by affordable,

   adequate health

   insurance

   
   

Life Skills:

1. Unable to meet basic needs

   such as hygiene, food, activities

   of daily living.

2. Can meet a few but not all

   needs of daily living without

   assistance.

3. Can meet most but not all

   daily living needs without

   assistance.

4. Able to meet all basic

   needs of daily living

   without assistance.

5. Able to provide beyond

   basic needs of daily

   living for self and

   family.

Family/Social Relationships:

1. Lack of necessary support from

   family or friends; abuse (DV,

   child) is present or there is

   child neglect.

2. Family/friends may be

   supportive, but lack ability or

   resources to help; family

   members do not relate well

   with one another; potential

   for abuse or neglect.

3. Some support from

   family/friends; family

   members acknowledge and

   seek to change negative

   behaviors; are learning to

   communicate and support.

4. Strong support from

   family or friends.

   Household members

   support each other’s

   efforts.

5. Has healthy/expanding

   support network;

   household is stable and

   communication is

   consistently open.

Mobility:

1. No access to transportation,

   public or private; may have car

   that is inoperable.

2. Transportation is available,

   but unreliable, unpredictable,

   unaffordable; may have care

   but no insurance, license, etc

3. Transportation is available

   and reliable, but limited

   and/or inconvenient; drivers

   are licensed and minimally

   insured.

4. Transportation is

   generally accessible to

   meet basic travel needs.

5. Transportation is readily

   available and affordable;

   car is adequately

   insured.

Community Involvement:

1. Not applicable due to crisis situation; in “survival” mode.

2. Socially isolated and/or no

   social skills and/or lacks

   motivation to become

   involved.

3. Lacks knowledge of ways to

   become involved.

4. Some community

   involvement (advisory

   group, support group),

   but has barriers such as

   transportation, childcare

   issues.

5. Actively involved in

   community.

   
   

Parenting Skills:

1. There are safety concerns

   regarding parenting skills.

2. Parenting skills are minimal

3. Parenting skills are apparent

   but not adequate.

4. Parenting skills are

   adequate.

5. Parenting skills are well

   developed.

Legal:

1. Current outstanding tickets or

   warrants.

2. Current charges/trial

   pending, noncompliance with

   probation/parole.

3. Fully compliant with

   probation/parole terms.

4. Has successfully

   completed

   probation/parole within

   past 12 months, no new

   charges filed.

5. No active criminal

   justice involvement in

   more that 12 months a

   nd/or no felony

   criminal history.

Mental Health:

1. Danger to self or others;

   recurring suicidal ideation;

   experiencing severe difficulty in

   day-to-day life due to

   psychological problems.

2. Recurrent mental health

   symptoms that may affect

   behavior, but not a danger to

   self/others; persistent

   problems with functioning

   due to mental health

   symptoms.

3. Mild symptoms may be

   present but are transient;

   only moderate difficulty in

   functioning due to mental

   health problems.

4. Minimal symptoms that

   are expectable responses

   to life stressors; only

   slight impairment in

   functioning.

5. Symptoms are absent or

   rare; good or superior

   functioning in wide

   range of activities; no

   more than every day

   problems or concerns.

Substance Abuse:

1. Meets criteria for severe

   abuse/dependence; resulting

   problems so severe that

   institutional living or

   hospitalization may be

   necessary.

2. Meets criteria for

   dependence; preoccupation

   with use and/or obtaining

   drugs/alcohol; withdrawal or

   withdrawal avoidance

   behaviors evident; use results

   in avoidance or neglect of

   essential life activities.

3. Use within last 6 months;

   evidence of persistent or

   recurrent social,

   occupational, emotional or

   physical problems related to

   use (such as disruptive

   behavior or housing

   problems); problems have

   persisted for at least one

   month.

4. Client has used during

   last 6 months, but no

   evidence of persistent or

   recurrent social,

   occupational, emotional,

   or physical problems

   related to use; no

   evidence of recurrent

   dangerous use.

5. No drug use/alcohol

   abuse in last 6 months.

Safety:

1. Home or residence is not safe;

   immediate level of lethality is

   extremely high; possible CPS

   involvement.

2. Safety is

   threatened/temporary

   protection is available; level

   of lethality is high.

3. Current level of safety is

   minimally adequate; ongoing

   safety planning is essential.

4. Environment is safe,

   however, future of such

   is uncertain; safety

   planning is important.

5. Environment is

   apparently safe and

   stable.

Disabilities:

1. In crisis – acute or chronic

   symptoms affecting housing,

   employment, social interactions,

   etc.

2. Vulnerable – sometimes or

   periodically has acute or

   chronic symptoms affecting

   housing, employment, social

   interactions, etc.

3. Safe – rarely has acute or

   chronic symptoms affecting

   housing, employment, social

   interactions, etc.

4. Building Capacity –

   asymptomatic –

   condition controlled by

   services or medication

5. Thriving – no identified

   disability.