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About
HMIS
Homeless
Management Information Systems (HMIS)
are client-level databases that combine
information from different homeless
service providers. In Dallas the
software we are using for HMIS is called
MetSYS.
MetSYS
is a powerful information management
system that provides client tracking and
case management, service and referral
management, and reporting. This secure
system allows a number of different
agencies and users to continuously enter
their clients' data while being assured
that the information is protected.
HMIS Dallas is overseen by "CCGD" that
includes representatives from various
organizations, advocacy organizations,
and providers serving specific
populations such as youth and veterans.
Who benefits?
Benefits for men, women, and
children who experience homelessness
include:
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A
decrease in duplicative intakes
and assessments |
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Streamlined referrals |
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Coordinated case management |
Benefits for agency directors
and program managers include:
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Tracking client outcomes |
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Coordinating services,
internally among agency
programs, and externally with
other providers |
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Preparing financial and
programmatic reports for
funders, boards, and other
stakeholders |
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Information for program design
decisions |
Benefits for public policy
makers and advocates include:
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Understanding the extent and
scope of homelessness
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Unduplicated count |
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Identifying service gaps |
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Informing systems design and
policy decisions |
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Development of a forum for
addressing community-wide issues |
Finally, HMIS meets a federal mandate,
thus improving Dallas's chances of
continuing to receive at least its
current level of HUD funding.
Potential risks of HMIS, like any system
for managing data about individuals,
include risks to personal privacy. Data
privacy has been emphasized at every
step in developing and implementing
Dallas's HMIS, from choosing software,
to designing client notices, and
crafting system-wide policies and
procedures. MetSYS' data security model
is extremely effective, and only allows
people to see client information that
they have permission to see.
Additionally, before being able to use
the system, agencies and end-users
within agencies must sign agreements
indicating that they will uphold quality
data privacy standards.
Agencies required to participate in HMIS
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) is requiring its
grantees under the following programs to
participate in HMIS:
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Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
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Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
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Section 8 Moderate Rehab for
Single Room Occupancy (SRO)
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Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) |
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Housing Opportunities for
Persons With AIDS (HOPWA;
grantees that specifically
target home
lessness are required; others
are encouraged to participate) |
In Dallas, service providers that
receive funding under the following
programs are required to participate in
HMIS:
Department
of Human Services / Office of Economic
Opportunity
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Transitional Housing Program
(THP) |
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Emergency Services Program (ESP)
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Emergency Shelter Grant Program
(ESGP) |
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Rural Housing Assistance and
Stability Program (RHASP)
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Family Homeless Prevention and
Assistance (FHPAP) |
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Ending Long-Term Homelessness
Initiative Fund (ELHIF) and
other program funds designated
for long-term homelessness
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In order to gain as comprehensive a
picture of homelessness as possible,
many other agencies are strongly
encouraged to use HMIS but are not
required to do so. These include
agencies that provide faith based
housing services of (transitional
housing, supportive housing, emergency
shelters, for instance), as well as
auxiliary services (such as food shelves
and outreach programs). The system has
the potential of being a powerful tool
to track what is happening with
individuals who are experiencing
homelessness, as well as tracking people
who are in danger of losing their
housing. So all agencies who provide
services related in one way or another
to persons experiencing homelessness are
encouraged to use HMIS.
HMIS
Dallas Working Group
Martha Blaine, Executive Director of the Community Council of
Greater Dallas
Debby Thornton,
211 Information & Referral
Technology Director
Hope
Wiley, Homeless Management
Information System Manager
Toran
Lacy, HMIS Dallas Systems IT
Manager
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