Disclaimer: The content below contains information maintained by the local community. It has not been reviewed or endorsed by HUD.
VERMONT HMIS IMPLEMENTATION 3-15-06
Welcome to the State of Vermont HMIS information
page
This page is intended to provide up-to-date
information about the HMIS in the Balance of State.
It also shares information about the ongoing efforts
for training(s) meetings and the efforts underway
for the statewide HMIS implementation. Please check
back frequently for new information and to share
HMIS news in your area.
HMIS
– WHAT IS IT?
A computerized data collection tool specifically
designed to capture system-wide information over
time about the characteristics and service needs of
persons experiencing homelessness.
WHY
NOW?
Congress established a national goal that all
communities should be collecting an array of data on
the homeless, including unduplicated counts of the
homeless, their use of services and the
effectiveness of local assistance systems. In order
to achieve this objective, HUD has encouraged
communities to develop a Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS). Specifically, by
October 1, 2004
each continuum of care jurisdiction must use
client-level data to provide HUD with an
unduplicated count of all clients served, not just
those in HUD-funded projects.
HMIS is the tool that local continuum of care(s)
areas use to comply with the Congressional
directive.
HMIS can also be a critical means for enhancing
service coordination, increasing provider
understanding of clients’ needs, and speeding
clients’ access to needed services.
WHAT
ARE THE BENEFITS?
In addition to complying with HUD’s requirement,
HMIS can benefit the community in the following
ways:
• Provide electronic storage of complete client
records
• Facilitate continuity of care and ease of
referrals among providers
• Speed homeless person’s access to needed resources
• Simplify reporting to funders
• Enhance service delivery
• Provide information for policy making
• Make it easier to learn about available services
WHAT
CAN HMIS DO?
Information & Referral
• Organize available community resources into an
electronic database
• Make online referrals
• Submit electronic applications for mainstream
benefits
Intake & Assessment
• Automate the client intake process
• Collect demographic and basic assessment
information
Case
Management
• Manage client-specific data
• Capture change in clients’ needs and outcomes over
time
• Set client goals and monitor progress on outcomes
• Service Tracking & Policy Monitoring
• Track services delivered by providers
• Track services received by clients
• Track grants for programs with multiple funding
sources
• Plan, schedule, and follow-up on delivery of
services
• Assess service gaps across the continuum of care
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
The
State of Vermont Balance of State CoC may receive TA
assistance as requested from HUD to assist in the
implementation of the statewide HMIS
Visit the
HUD website
for additional TA resources
• HMIS Implementation Guide – provides framework for
implementation strategies
• Sample Implementation Plans
• Sample Policy & Procedure Manuals
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Balance of State Continuum of Care meetings will be
a vital source of information for updates regarding
the implementation process of HMIS. Contact
Kim
Woolaver of VSHA for additional information or
for information regarding that meeting schedule.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
PowerPoint Presentations have been developed for
general information as well as tools you may use for
presentations within your organization or for other
informational presentation opportunities you may
wish to share this information.