Examining data sharing and integration protocols in five American communities: An assessment of homeless management information systems applications

The implementation of homeless management information systems (HMIS) guidelines by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was meant to ensure accurate homelessness data collection and monitoring. The Subsequent, Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009, sought to improve homeless data and information security, placing more emphasis on performance based funding. Central access points for homeless service delivery were also expected to be implemented by HUD. These weren't available in all continuum of care (CoC). We sought to examine the data sharing and integration methods implemented in five innovative communities as reported in HUD assessment reports and assess their performance measurement modalities. Phone interviews were administered to these CoCs and their homelessness reports were reviewed. Data and Information collected were summarized into several tables and compared along with the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area CoC. The five innovative CoCs had poverty rates above the US national rate of 13.8%, and implemented homeless data sharing and integration protocols among their homeless service providers. They utilized Central access points while four of them implemented performance measures. However, the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area CoC despite an 11.5% poverty rate, underperformed on some HUD benchmarks. Applying innovative HMIS applications such as central access points and full access data sharing networks by homeless service providers appears to be significantly beneficial to improving homelessness. However, these applications should be designed to meet a community's homeless needs. Implementing performance measures is also beneficial and should be employed in line with HUD's performance guidelines.