Which projects require a CLS assessment?

• A. Street Outreach only
• B. Night by Night Emergency Shelter only
• C. Street Outreach, Supportive Services Only, and Night by Night Emergency Shelter
• D. Permanent Housing

Answer: (C)

A CLS assessment is a standardized intake used in HMIS to capture a client's needs and connect them to appropriate housing and services, helping to triage and prioritize access across the system. This assessment is required for projects that actively engage clients who are homeless or at risk and who may need services or temporary shelter as a step toward housing. Street Outreach uses it to document needs for unsheltered individuals; Night by Night Emergency Shelter uses it to screen shelter-seekers and link them to longer-term options when possible; and Supportive Services Only programs rely on the CLS to determine what services or housing resources to connect a client with. Permanent Housing focuses on providing housing itself and often uses its own intake mechanisms, so a CLS assessment isn’t mandatory for entering those programs. That’s why the correct choice includes Street Outreach, Supportive Services Only, and Night by Night Emergency Shelter.