River Valleys CoC
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What is CoC?
    • Governance
    • Committees
    • Staff
  • Coordinated Entry
    • Need housing help?
    • How CE Works
    • CE Agency Start-Up
    • CE Participating Agency Resources
    • Moving Up
  • Data & Planning
    • Data & Reports
    • CoC Plan
    • HMIS
    • Point in Time Count
  • Funding
    • HUD CoC Program Competition >
      • Local Competition for Projects
      • National Competition Applications
    • Other Funding Opportunities
    • Requesting CoC Support for Applications
  • Learning
    • CoC Grantee Guides
    • Training
  • Get Involved
    • CoC Meetings
    • CoC Membership
    • Local Homeless Response Teams
    • CoC Newsletter

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

HMIS is a computer system that helps agencies provide services to people with unstable housing. Agencies that use HMIS include street outreach programs, drop-in centers, shelters, and housing programs.

​River Valleys CoC participates in a statewide data system HMIS that complies with HUD requirements. It operates as a sort of electronic records system so that people experiencing homelessness may be served well no matter where they live in our state. 

HMIS forms the backbone of intake and data collection for most programs within the homeless response system. It also supports Coordinated Entry and many levels of reporting and planning for programs, agencies, regions, and the statewide network of homeless services. 
  • Minnesota's HMIS Policies and Procedures
  • Data Quality Monitoring and Reporting 
  • HMIS Data Standards

HMIS for your program

Agencies use HMIS to: 
  • Assess needs and support clients with case management 
  • Connect clients with housing referrals 
  • Evaluate how programs can improve
  • Apply for local, state, and federal funding
  • Inform policy change
  • Report to boards and funders 

Getting help with HMIS

Minnesota's HMIS is administered by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA). Some key resources provided through ICA: 
  • New agency and new user information
  • Forms and instructions by program type
  • Coordinated Entry resources
  • User Groups 
  • Contact the Helpdesk

Guidance for victim service providers

Victim Service Providers are prohibited from entering data into HMIS. Depending on their funding, such agencies may instead be required to enter data into an HMIS-comparable database.

A victim service provider (VSP) is “a private nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to provide services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Such term includes rape crisis centers, battered women's shelters, domestic violence transitional housing programs, and other programs" (HEARTH Act).
​
If you believe this applies to your agency or program, please contact ICA and the CoC to learn more.  
​

Picture

River Valleys CoC a community-based coalition dedicated to working together to prevent and end homelessness in southern Minnesota. 

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River Valleys CoC is also a Continuum of Care region recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purposes of the HUD Continuum of Care funding program. The CoC's formal name with HUD is Rochester/Southeast Minnesota CoC (MN-502). 

Quick links

  • Subscribe to the CoC Newsletter
  • Register to attend a Full CoC meeting 
  • CE forms & materials 
  • Stipend request forms​
Photo used under Creative Commons from Stabæk Comeback Team
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What is CoC?
    • Governance
    • Committees
    • Staff
  • Coordinated Entry
    • Need housing help?
    • How CE Works
    • CE Agency Start-Up
    • CE Participating Agency Resources
    • Moving Up
  • Data & Planning
    • Data & Reports
    • CoC Plan
    • HMIS
    • Point in Time Count
  • Funding
    • HUD CoC Program Competition >
      • Local Competition for Projects
      • National Competition Applications
    • Other Funding Opportunities
    • Requesting CoC Support for Applications
  • Learning
    • CoC Grantee Guides
    • Training
  • Get Involved
    • CoC Meetings
    • CoC Membership
    • Local Homeless Response Teams
    • CoC Newsletter