Bimonthly Case Manager Newsletter

… Reporting on Homelessness December 21, 2023 Data collection is crucial to understanding, addressing, and alleviating homelessness. (NAEH) Documenting the number, characteristics, and needs of homeless persons in American communities, as well as the number of people receiving services and the capacity of these services, is essential to identifying the proper strategies to tackle the problem. (HUD) HUD continues to rely on data to learn about and address the homeless crisis in America. The core data sets that HUD uses for its current evaluation are PIT, HIC, and HMIS. Each data set has its own strengths and limitations, and HUD leverages each of these data sets to form a more complete picture of homelessness in the United States. Each of these three major data sources plays a unique role in informing HUD and the public about the nation’s homelessness.  Point-in-Time (PIT) data provide a snapshot in time of the homeless population. Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) data are HUD’s primary means of gauging the nature and extent of resources that are dedicated to homeless persons across the country, whether funded by HUD or not.  Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data allow a more holistic understanding of the homeless clients served by participating providers and offer an understanding of data on an annual rather than a point-in-time basis. Communities are using the PIT count to determine the extent of homelessness in their area and then comparing that with HIC data to determine the resources available. These communities then use HMIS data to determine whether the resources they have are effectively meeting the needs of their homeless populations.  Click here to continue to read the HUD article 'Using Data to Understand and End Homelessness'. Local Data The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) provides an electronic case management system including software, hardware, internet services as appropriate, and all training to various homeless service providers in the effort to end homelessness. HMIS is mandated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in an attempt to quantify homelessness, track services provided by community agencies, and report progress towards ending homelessness. One Roof is the HMIS Lead entity for the AL-500 Continuum of Care. In addition to reporting the annual PIT count and HIC data, the HMIS team reports data for the Longitudinal Systems Analysis and the System Performance Measures Report. The Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) report provides HUD and Continuums of Care with critical information about how people experiencing homelessness use their system of care. The LSA focuses on key performance measures for homelessness response services, along with demographic information about people who experience homelessness in the community. The intent of the System Performance Measures (Sys PM) report is to encourage all other homeless assistance stakeholders in the community to regularly measure their progress in meeting the needs of people experiencing homelessness in their community and to report this progress to HUD. HUD uses system-level performance information as a competitive element in its annual CoC Program Competition and to gauge the state of the homeless response system nationally. State of Homelessness: 2023 Edition The State of Homelessness in America is a yearly report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness that charts progress in ending homelessness in the United States. It uses the most recently available data to present national and state trends in homelessness, trends in populations at risk of homelessness and trends in the types and utilization of assistance available to people experiencing homelessness. Click here to view the full interactive report. The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. HUD requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. PIT is an annual mini census of the homeless community. It provides important information that helps our community better understand the needs of the folks experiencing homelessness and how we can better work to make Central Alabama a place where no man, woman, or child has to experience homelessness. PIT count data are the primary data source for measuring homelessness from year to year at both the national and local level. Collecting accurate PIT count data is critical to planning strategies and tracking outcomes both nationally and locally. Click here to access the Point-in-Time data dashboard for Central Alabama. If you are interested in volunteering in this year's PIT count, complete the volunteer registration form here. Let's Learn More Overview of Homeless Data Sources -- Housing and Urban Development Future Directions for Homelessness Data Use and Reporting -- National Alliance to End Homelessness Materials and information in this newsletter sourced from HUD and NAEH. 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