Homeless Management Information System

The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a HUD funded initiative in use by homeless service providers. The Austin Community uses a web-based software, ServicePoint. It provides the ability to use standardized assessment tools to collect data the community has identified as crucial to the community’s planning and service provision missions.

Over 20,000 unduplicated homeless individuals have been entered into the Austin HMIS since implementation began in September 2001. Currently, 18 agencies with a total of 35 social service programs participate in the Austin HMIS, managed by the Austin Travis County MHMR Center. These programs are currently participating and assisting the goals of the Austin 's 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness by collecting community-wide data on type of homelessness, i.e., "Is client homeless/Is client chronically homeless?" More recently, agencies serving the Hurricane evacuees have begun using ServicePoint

One important capability of the HMIS to homeless persons being served includes decreased duplication of the client intake process. Through ServicePoint, agencies archive information in detailed web-based client records. A caseworker that has obtained signed client consent may share relevant information with a caseworker from another agency, thereby increasing the potential for success of the referral process and reducing the amount of paperwork and repetition of the client’s “story” as the client moves through the Continuum of Care. Caseworkers may also create and print a detailed service plan for the client to take with them at the end of a meeting.

Agencies jointly working with a client can increase their ability to communicate with one another and to coordinate services for individual clients through client authorized file sharing. Currently, agencies serving the Hurricane evacuees have begun the process of ongoing file sharing, a function available with client consent.

Agencies are also able to increase timely communication with one another by updating the agency list of resources, within ServicePoint’s ResourcePoint. The United Way Capital Area provides it’s “211” Community Resource Database to the Austin ServicePoint database. ResourcePoint, allows a user to search for agencies able to meet a specified need and refer clients to other agencies currently able to meet the need.

HMIS participating agencies in Austin/Travis County

HMIS Notice of Privacy Practices

Hud’s Chronically Homeless Definition

For more information about the Austin HMIS, please contact Elizabeth Gfell, ServicePoint HMIS Coordinator, ATCMHMR, at 512) 440-4026