What is HMIS?
The Pinellas Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a local system used to collect client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to homeless individuals/families and persons at imminent risk of homelessness. It functions as a tool for service providers to track individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to ensure they have access to housing and supportive services that are appropriate to their housing, health, and human service needs.
Why is HMIS used & why is it important?
HMIS is used because it is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as its comprehensive data response to the congressional mandate to report annually on national homelessness. With the enactment of the HEARTH Act in 2009, HMIS participation became a statutory requirement for recipients and subrecipients of the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds.
It is important because HUD, federal partners, planners and policymakers use aggregate Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data to better inform homeless policy and decision making at the federal, state, and local levels. The Pinellas HMIS gives our CoC the ability to measure project performance and participate in benchmarking of the national effort to end homelessness.
Who requires the use of HMIS?
Certain funders require use of HMIS for all projects that target services to persons experiencing homelessness. These include:
- Federal
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
- State
- Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF)
- Local
- City
- County
How Do I Get Started With HMIS?
The attached article below walks you through each step in detail on becoming a member of the CoC and applying to enter data into the Pinellas Homeless Management Information System.