HMIS 101: Do Data Elements and Standards Ever Change?

Data Element Definitions

Several state and federal funding partners require participation in HMIS (Homeless Management Information System). The HMIS Data Standards Manual provides data collection instructions for the Universal Data Elements, Common Program Specific Data Elements, and the Federal Funder Partner Program Data Elements. It contains information on client-level data collection requirements and detailed descriptions of each data element. The HMIS Data Standards were first published by HUD in 2004 as the HMIS Data and Technical Standards. HUD, in collaboration with its federal partners, has continued to update the HMIS Data Standards regularly thereafter.

HUD Universal Data Elements

The HUD Universal Data Elements describe the information required to be collected for clients in all projects using HMIS, although some data elements are only required for heads of household or adults only.

Program Specific Data Elements

The Program Specific Data Elements are required by one or more state or federal partners for projects funded by their homeless assistance programs. Not every Program Specific Data Element is required by every state or federal partner, so please review the specific state or federal program guides for more information .

Alaska Specific Data Elements

The Alaska Specific Data Elements, as designed by the AK CoCs, collect information that is important to Alaska-specific organizations that address and provide funding for Alaska-specific issues. The data elements were created to provide for the data collection necessary to fulfill the reporting requirements of these Alaska-specific programs, to ensure that homeless services organizations can continue to secure this funding. All new Alaska Specific Data Elements must be approved by the AK CoCs and AKHMIS (Alaska Homeless Management Information System) Advisory Board. There are three Alaska Specific Data Elements that all organizations participating in HMIS should be collecting: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) Specific Disabilities, Alaska Native Regional Corporation and Sexual/Relationship Orientation.

Data Standards Changes

Questions that organizations and users are required to collect and enter about clients occasionally changes.  Any changes in required data collection will be effective on October 1 ^st of the year.

Federal data elements

HUD (Housing & Urban Development) updates their data elements on a two-year cycle. Alaska has chosen to add data elements beyond what is specified in the HUD HMIS Data Standards. The Alaska data elements will not appear in any HUD published materials as they are only used in Alaska. The HUD data standards changes align with the federal fiscal year of October 1-September 30, so all HUD and Alaska data standards changes go into effect on October 1. HUD HMIS Resource Links

Alaska Specific Data Elements

The AKHMIS Advisory Board accepts input from a variety of stakeholders every spring to get feedback about state data standards changes so that they can be implemented by October 1. A good way to stay informed about this is to sign up for our AKHMIS Newsletter. The current Alaska Specific Data Elements can be found in the AKHMIS Data Quality Plan.