2023 Housing Inventory Count (HIC) Survey Link
For the 2023 Housing Inventory Count (HIC), we are further refining the process to reduce the burden providers face and leverage automation built into HMIS. Because of these changes, the importance of the data in HMIS about each project is critical. We will continue to use the survey process to update project data in HMIS starting January 23rd.
The HIC process will run from January 23rd - February 3rd. All projects must complete the HIC survey during this time period. Projects will proceed along different paths based on their project type and whether the project is in HMIS.
HMIS Housing Projects:
All HMIS participating permanent housing projects (PH and RRH) will be able to generate a Utilization Report from BusinessObjects for the night of January 26 (the night of the PIT count). Providers will need to confirm these reports are accurate or correct any errors for each operating project. Once confirmed providers will need to complete the HIC survey.
HMIS Other Projects:
Emergency Shelter (ES), Transitional Housing (TH), and Safe Haven (SH) projects will need to complete the HIC survey starting January 23rd.
Although last year these projects were excluded from the survey process, this year to ensure our data is the most accurate we will require ES, TH, and SH to complete the survey.
Projects that do not use HMIS:
Projects that do not regularly enter data into HMIS (non-participating) will need to complete a survey to report occupancy and vacancy on the night of count ( January 26th) similar to recent years.
Keep in mind that a separate HIC survey must be completed for all projects at your agency.
Timeline:
| January 9, 2023 |
Save the Date - A email will be sent to providers to register for The HIC 2023 training webinar (1/23/23). https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7242209742124765782 |
| January 18, 2023 | Documentation of the process - A email will be sent to providers with links to our helpdesk article that will walk through the process and timeline. |
| January 19, 2023 | Webinar Reminder - A email will be sent to providers as a reminder of the HIC 2023 training webinar (1/23/23). |
| January 23, 2023 |
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| January 23, 2023 | Permanent Housing projects and Non-Participating projects are to start completing their HIC survey (PH and RRH) |
| February 3, 2022 | All providers, both participating and non-participating, must submit their occupancy and/or vacancy data surveys to HMIS. The survey will close at end of the day. |
Housing Inventory Count (HIC) 2023 Webinar
Please note that a copy of the slides can be found at the bottom of this article.
Questions from the Webinar:
Q: What if the target population wasn't listed on the survey?
A: Any other population outside of DV/HIV will be N/A.
Q: This is PSH programs...if some of the units were initially intended for families but are now occupied by singles because the children grew up and left should such units be reported as single units or family units?
A: Its best practice to update your inventory to reflect the most updated utilization.
Q: Who is responsible for completing the HIC reports?
A: Anyone can - as long as they have all the needed information, however it is usually an ATA or a Supervisor/Director. Just be advised that they will be receiving and will be responsible for all the survey correspondences.
Q: If we have a veteran program where there are families, can we just mark who are veterans as those beds?
A: The veteran dedicated bed question (Sec. 8 Q26) is separated by columns (youth, chronically homeless, and all other veterans) and rows (single and families), where you'll have the space to input what your program has.
Q: If your program is a drop-in center, would it be considered a "Safe Haven"? Also one of our projects is Outreach, what would that be considered since it's neither a safe haven nor housing?
A: According to HUD's 2022 Data Standards Manual, safe havens are "A project that offers supportive housing that (1) serves hard to reach homeless persons with severe mental illness who came from the streets and have been unwilling or unable to participate in supportive services; (2) provides 24-hour residence for eligible persons for an unspecified period; (3) has an overnight capacity limited to 25 or fewer persons; and (4) provides low demand services and referrals for the residents."(40)
Project-type isn't determined by the HMIS, but is dependent largely on not only how it functions, but the project's funding.
Outreach projects are not required to complete the Housing Inventory Count.
If you have any further questions, please contact the HMIS Help Desk.