SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX
DOMAIN 1 2 3 4 5
Shelter/Housing Homeless or threatened with In transitional, temporary In stable housing that is Household is in safe, Household is safe,
eviction. or substandard housing; safe but only marginally adequate subsidized adequate, unsubsidized
and/or current adequate. housing. housing.
rent/mortgage payment is
unaffordable (over 30% of
income).
Employment No job. Temporary, part-time or Employed full time; Employed full time with Maintains permanent
seasonal; inadequate pay, inadequate pay; few or no adequate pay and benefits. employment with adequate
no benefits. benefits. income and benefits.
Income No income. Inadequate income and/or Can meet basic needs with Can meet basic needs and Income is sufficient, well
spontaneous or subsidy; appropriate manage debt without managed; has discretionary
inappropriate spending. spending. assistance. income and is able to save.
Food and Nutrition No food or means to prepare it. Household is on food Can meet basic food needs, Can meet basic food needs Can choose to purchase
Relies to a significant degree stamps. but requires occasional without assistance. any food household
on other sources of free or assistance. desires.
low-cost food.
Childcare Needs childcare, but none is Childcare is unreliable or Affordable subsidized Reliable, affordable Able to select quality
(0=N/A) available/accessible and/or unaffordable, inadequate childcare is available, but childcare is available, no childcare of choice.
child is not eligible. supervision is a problem limited. need for subsidies.
for childcare that is
available.
Children’s One or more school-aged One or more school-aged Enrolled in school, but one Enrolled in school and All school-aged children
Education children not enrolled in school. children enrolled in school, or more children only attending classes most of enrolled and attending on a
(0=N/A) but not attending classes. occasionally attending the time. regular basis.
classes.
Adult Education Literacy problems and/or no Enrolled in literacy and/or Has high school Needs additional Has completed
high school diploma/GED are GED program and/or has diploma/GED. education/training to education/training needed
serious barriers to sufficient command of improve employment to become employable.
employment. English to where language situation and/or to resolve No literacy problems.
is not a barrier to literacy problems to where
employment. they are able to function
effectively in society.
Health Care No medical coverage with No medical coverage and Some members (e.g. All members can get All members are covered
immediate need. great difficulty accessing Children) on AHCCCS. medical care when needed, by affordable, adequate
medical care when needed. but may strain budget. health insurance.
Some household members
may be in poor health.
Life Skills Unable to meet basic needs Can meet a few but not all Can meet most but not all Able to meet all basic Able to provide beyond
such as hygiene, food, needs of daily living daily living needs without needs of daily living basic needs of daily living
activities of daily living. without assistance. assistance. without assistance. for self and family.
Family Relations Lack of necessary support Family/friends may be Some support from Strong support from family Has healthy/expanding
form family or friends; abuse supportive, but lack ability family/friends; family or friends. Household support network;
(DV, child) is present or there or resources to help; family members acknowledge and members support each household is stable and
is child neglect. members do not relate well seek to change negative other’s efforts. communication is
with one another; potential behaviors; are learning to consistently open.
for abuse or neglect. communicate and support.
Mobility No access to transportation, Transportation is available, Transportation is available Transportation is generally Transportation is readily
public or private; may have car but unreliable, and reliable, but limited accessible to meet basic available and affordable;
that is inoperable. unpredictable, and/or inconvenient; travel needs. car is adequately insured.
unaffordable; may have drivers are licensed and
care but no insurance, minimally insured.
license, etc.
Community Not applicable due to crisis Socially isolated and/or no Lacks knowledge of ways Some community Actively involved in
Involvement situation; in “survival” mode. social skills and/or lacks to become involved. involvement (advisory community.
motivation to become group, support group), but
involved. has barriers such as
transportation, childcare
issues.
Parenting Skills There are safety concerns Parenting skills are Parenting skills are Parenting skills are Parenting skills are well
(0=N/A) regarding parenting skills minimal apparent but not adequate adequate developed
Legal Current outstanding tickets or Current charges/trial Fully compliant with Has successfully No active criminal justice
warrants. pending, noncompliance probation/parole terms. completed involvement in more that
with probation/parole. probation/parole within 12 months and/or no
past 12 months, no new felony criminal history.
charges filed.
Mental Health Danger to self or others; Recurrent mental health Mild symptoms may be Minimal symptoms that Symptoms are absent or
recurring suicidal ideation; symptoms that may affect present but are transient; are expectable responses to rare; good or superior
experiencing severe difficulty behavior, but not a danger only moderate difficulty in life stressors; only slight functioning in wide range
in day-to-day life due to to self/others; persistent functioning due to mental impairment in functioning. of activities; no more than
psychological problems. problems with functioning health problems. every day problems or
due to mental health concerns.
symptoms.
Substance Abuse Meets criteria for severe Meets criteria for Use within last 6 months; Client has used during last No drug use/alcohol abuse
abuse/dependence; resulting dependence; preoccupation evidence of persistent or 6 months, but no evidence in last 6 months.
problems so severe that with use and/or obtaining recurrent social, of persistent or recurrent
institutional living or drugs/alcohol; withdrawal occupational, emotional or social, occupational,
hospitalization may be or withdrawal avoidance physical problems related emotional, or physical
necessary. behaviors evident; use to use (such as disruptive problems related to use; no
results in avoidance or behavior or housing evidence of recurrent
neglect of essential life problems); problems have dangerous use.
activities. persisted for at least one
month.
Safety Home or residence is not safe; Safety is Current level of safety is Environment is safe, Environment is apparently
immediate level of lethality is threatened/temporary minimally adequate; however, future of such is safe and stable
extremely high; possible CPS protection is available; ongoing safety planning is uncertain; safety planning
involvement level of lethality is high essential is important
Credit Bankruptcies, foreclosures, Outstanding judgments, Needs a Credit Repair Plan Moderate budgeting skills Manageable budget and
evictions garnishments ability to save