The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created a system to track data for adults experiencing homelessness. This data tracking system, called Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS), is used nationwide and is required for many service providers to receive federal funding. HUD, the federal partners, and other planners and policymakers use aggregate HMIS data to better inform homeless policy and decision-making at the federal, state, and local levels.
HMIS data includes:
- Client-level information
- Characteristics of homeless people
- Service needs of homeless people
- Housing and services provided to homeless people