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Data Elements: 3.04 Race and Ethnicity
Data Element
A client self-identifies with one or more different racial and/or ethnic categories. HMIS (Homeless Management Information Systems) options for Race and Ethnicity are:
- American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous
- Asian or Asian American
- Black, African American, or African Black, African American, or African
- Hispanic/Latina/e/o
- Middle Eastern or North African
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- White
- Client doesn’t know
- Client prefers not to answer
- Data not collected
Understanding how people of different races and ethnicities experience homelessness identifies inequalities in the homeless services system. By collecting information about race and ethnicity over time, communities can work to eliminate disparities or inequities based on race.
Data Element Type
3.04 Race and Ethnicity is a Universal Data Element (HUD).
Collection Point
3.04 Race and Ethnicity is collected at project entry and is entered when a client record is created in HMIS.
Why It Matters
Race and Ethnicity supports system planning, and local and national understanding of who is experiencing homelessness.
Data Quality
The Data Completeness Report looks for missing information and is flagged as an error if information is missing or the response is Data Not Collected.
To correct: enter value, if known, on the Project Entry Assessment.