Resident Application and Move-In Evaluation: Items to Avoid

Items to Avoid During Your Application Process

Avoid asking for any information that is not relevant, like race or mental health status, when deciding whether to allow a person to move into the home.

For example, it is not recommended to ask for a person’s race on the application form, as this information is not needed for you to decide if the person is eligible to move into the home. If you need this information for grant reporting or other funding reporting purposes, you should wait to collect it after the resident has been accepted into the program.

Similarly, avoid asking questions about a person’s mental health history. You do not want to inadvertently discriminate against someone who has a mental health disability. You can require that individuals are able to care for themselves and others, but assuming that individuals with specific diagnoses are automatically ineligible for your program may be considered discriminatory.