Homeless Management Information System

HUD requires every Continuum of Care to maintain a centralized database called a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). An HMIS is a local information technology system used to collect client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Community Services is a flexible, web-based software system used by human services organizations to manage and coordinate services, guide resource allocation, and demonstrate effectiveness.   The Austin/Travis County Continuum of Care (CoC) uses the Community Services software for our CoC’s HMIS.

The site can be available within five business days; however, the roll out date will depend on your policy and procedure readiness, how quickly we can configure the system, and any customizations and/or conversions you may have requested. Users will also require training prior to gaining access to the system.

Community Services user licenses are at no cost to providers. New User Training and support are included and required to gain access to the system.

Agency Admins are responsible for initiating this process. Agency Admins are responsible for signing up new users and for registering staff for HMIS trainings. As outlined in the HMIS Agency Admin training, the Agency Admin must also create a profile for the new user in the back end of HMIS. A guide showing that process can be found under the HMIS Training tab and Agency Admin Guides and Tools section. Once that is complete, the Agency Admin or new user should submit an HMIS HelpDesk Ticket requesting a license to be assigned to their profile.

If you do not have an Agency Admin at this time, please submit an HMIS Helpdesk Ticket, so the HMIS team can assist.

The data housed in HMIS is secured and cannot be accessed by anyone outside of the HMIS system. HMIS participating agencies share information with each other as authorized by the person or household being served (client) and only share outside the system with client permission.

You do.

HUD annual report, statistical reports, service transaction reports, referral reports, met/unmet needs reports, cost of service reports, and more.

Community Service’s Report Writer can query the most recent data in most database fields. Additionally, the Business Objects reporting tool (BO) offers an array of intelligent reporting options. Providers can make a request to the HMIS Department for a custom report. Those are evaluated based on need and the amount of time building the requested report will take.