Homeless Management Information Systems

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Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)' is the term used to describe a class of database applications used to confidentially aggregate data on Homeless populations served in the United States.

Homeless Management Information Systems were first developed in the late 1990s in response to a mandate by Congress requiring States to collect this data as a condition of receiving federal money from HUD to serve homeless populations. The impetus behind this mandate was to reduce and eventually solve homelessness, a problem which could never be solved if it was not understood and if progress toward that goal was not tracked.

Most HMIS applications also serve as outcome-based systems that facilitate timely, efficient, and effective access to needed services and supports for person's who are homeless.

According to strict standards mandated by HIPAA, names, birth dates, Social Security Numbers, and other identifying information are encrypted and can only be accessed by the agency that entered the data or agencies with whom the client agrees to share the information with.