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About HMIS
What is the Homeless Management Information System?
HMIS is a secure online database that enables organizations to collect client-level, system-wide information on the services they provide to people experiencing homelessness and those who are at risk of homelessness. We serve the largest Continuum of Care in the country, in which Los Angeles County uses this data to improve the ability of governing agencies, service providers, volunteers, and external stakeholders to provide access to resources and housing which aides in the effort to end homelessness.
Client Benefits
- Unduplicated intake – no need to continuously repeat your story
- Coordinated case management
- Streamlined referrals
- Improved coordination of care
- Protection and confidentiality of personal information
Provider Benefits
- Improved ability to serve and track client outcomes
- Measure and evaluate program effectiveness
- Automated reporting
- Compliance with HUD reporting requirements
Community Benefits
- Accurate info regarding people experiencing homelessness
- Better understanding of the causes, trends and future needs of homelessness
- Allows for better informed system design and policy decisions
The Los Angeles HMIS Collaborative
Homelessness is not limited to any single county or city, and neither is our approach. The Los Angeles Continuum of Care, also referred to as the LACoC, is part of a larger collaborative composed of three Continuums of Care (CoC): Los Angeles, Glendale, and Pasadena. Coordinating efforts across broader regions allows for a more complete snapshot of the entire system at any given time.
Taking a regional approach offers a multitude of benefits for everyone involved, including:
- Seamless transfer of information for service providers operating in multiple continuums of care.
- Those experiencing homelessness can travel between CoCs and receive the services they need without delays due to loss of information.
- Enables the LACoC to analyze and adapt strategies to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- Provides Los Angeles County with a greater understanding of the current state of homelessness across the entire system.
- Improves communication between agencies across LA County, reducing delay in services and ensuring resources are provided to those with the greatest need.
See HMIS in Action
New to HMIS? Watch this overview to see how the system works and how it supports your organization.
Who Should Participate & Why?
LAHSA provides set-up, training, and help desk support. We want to collect information from all homeless service providers throughout the LACoC. If you receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, you are required to use HMIS. If you are not, we encourage you to participate whether you have or will ever receive government funding.
Increased participation in HMIS will help all of us gain an understanding of homelessness, evaluate programs, garner more funding, and strengthen our collective efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
How Does HMIS Work?
Participating agencies collect and input standardized client-level and demographic data into the system. Services and target achievements are entered to capture client-level activities depending on the agency, program, or program type. The data is compiled into reports that allow us to understand the demographic, geographic, or cultural scope of homelessness and the needs.
How is Data Used?
- For Clients: Reduces the wait time for services
- For Funders: Evaluates return on investment
- For Providers: Measures and evaluates program effectiveness and reports to Board and Funders
- For HUD: Provides an understanding of homelessness and service use patterns
How to Secure Good Data Quality?
- Client data should be input into HMIS on a daily basis
- Review HUD's data standards
- Assign an employee with a basic level of computer literacy for data entry and moderate-to-highly skilled for reporting
- Attend training and user forums
HMIS Capabilities
The LACoC HMIS includes:
- Client demographic data collection
- Real-time data collection and reporting
- Comprehensive client case management
- Group activities management
- Employment, education, and housing history tracking
- Group case note management
- Savings tracking
- Information and referral capabilities
- Bed maintenance, tracking and assignment module
- Advanced security features
- Customized assessment capability
- Outcome management
- Customized reporting capability
Ready to Join HMIS?
We're excited to have you. Contact the HMIS team to get started with set-up, training, and ongoing support.
Join HMIS (opens in a new tab)Contact & Support
Have questions about HMIS or need technical assistance? Submit a ticket through the LAHSA Enterprise Ticketing System for the fastest response.