Toledo Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Terry Biel
Technology Director, TLCHB/HMIS
419-244-9440 ext. 12
tbiel@tlchb.org
Glenn Harmon Jr.
Systems Analyst, HPRP
419-244-9440 ext. 11
gharmon@tlchb.org
HMIS is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is a software application designed to record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons. HMIS is a requirement of HUD funded supportive housing programs and projects, as well as several other funding partners. Toledo HMIS was implemented in November 2004 by TAAEH with FOCUS as its sponsoring agency. There is no single point of entry for Toledo HMIS. Promoting collaborative efforts among contributing homeless providers and others, the Toledo HMIS director oversees the process and provides technical support for operations.
In 2007, Toledo HMIS came under the supervision of TLCHB and January 2008 an HMIS sub-committee under the governance of the TLCHB was formed. The committee’s purpose is to assure the Toledo/Lucas County HMIS is a strong effective on-gong tool for collecting and disseminating information about the homeless and the homeless service system in Toledo, specifically in the areas of analysis and planning for the TLCHB.
Since its inception, Toledo HMIS has recorded over 12,000 unduplicated homeless persons. They are single men, single women. They are families with children. They are unaccompanied teens. They are veterans. They are retirees. They are former home-owners. They are evicted renters. They are victims of abuse and/or domestic violence. They are battling addiction. They are affected by serious illness, physical and mental. They are unemployed and/or they are working for poor wages. Homelessness can and does affect a wide range of people in our community. They need community understanding and investment to bring them home to stay. HMIS is a vital component in making this happen.
- Helpful site: HMIS.info