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What is HMIS?
Homeless
Management Information System (HMIS), is a digital computerized
system used to collect information from programs funded with NYC
CCoC HUD dollars that serve the homeless. It will be used by
agencies to complete their Annual Progress Report (APR), and for the
NYC CCoC to generate their AHAR report and Housing Inventory Report.
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Why
have HMIS?
HMIS
is a congressionally mandated system of digitally collecting data to
better serve the homeless who receive services paid for through HUD
McKinney
dollars. The Federal register states,
Funded through Congress has indicated that jurisdictions should be
collecting an array of data on homelessness, including unduplicated
counts, use of services and the effectiveness of the local homeless
assistance system. HUD has been directed by Congress to collect
homeless data by 2004.
Please
click on this
link for more information regarding the federal register.
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Who will provide HMIS services?
The New York City
Coalition on the Continuum of Care and the New York City Department
of Homeless Services have awarded the contract of developing HMIS to
Softscape,
Inc. Softscape will implement their Case 1
software, which will be used by providers to capture HMIS data
elements.
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Do I
have an option to use HMIS?
All agencies receiving
HUD funds through NYC CCoC must report the HMIS data using this
system.
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What
is the target date for implementation?
The NYC CCoC plans to
have the HMIS Report Server operational by January 2007.
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What
if my agency already collects HMIS data digitally?
As
a part of the contract, Softscape will be contacting you to assist
you in reporting your data to the HMIS system.
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What
if I do not have a system?
You will be required to
use Case 1 to collect HMIS data elements.
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What
is the cost to my agency?
Every agency is expected
to incur the cost of an Internet connection.
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I noticed that
Case 1 has many more features than simply collecting HMIS data
elements.
Every agency who is
mandated to report on HMIS data elements will receive a specific
number of licenses to Case 1. They will have the option to
use all the features of Case 1 as their agency desires.
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I am concerned about
what happens to my client’s data after it is entered.
All data that is entered
is collected in a distinct repository under the Authority of the
HMIS Governance Committee.
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Who
controls and oversees this process?
Authority for this
process resides with the HMIS Governance Committee. This committee
is composed of three (3) representatives from the New York City
Coalition on the Continuum of Care, three (3) representatives from
New York City Department of Homeless Services and one (1) individual who is agreed upon by both parties.
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I
have heard that Case 1 is an off-the-shelf product. How will
this fit into New York City's delivery
of
homeless services?
Even though HUD has
mandated that Continuum of Cares must purchase a preexistent system,
much work will be done to tailor Case 1 to New York City’s
particular needs.
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How
can I have input into this process?
All interested parties
are encouraged to participate in this process. Please contact:
Paul Loheide at nychmis@dhs.nyc.gov
or
Anthony Butler at abutller@breadandlife.org
