Raleigh, NC (May 10, 2006) - The Carolina Homeless Information Network (CHIN), a project of the North Carolina Housing Coalition, today announced the launch of its statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).  The centralized database is used to capture client-level information about homeless persons, namely their service needs and characteristics.

“This is an important step for North Carolina,” says Hunter Thompson, Lead Coordinator of CHIN. “It puts us in a position to make better policy decisions to benefit our homeless citizens and the agencies serving them.”

The database, developed by Bowman Systems utilizing their ServicePoint software, offers an unduplicated count of individuals served at the county, continuum of care, or state levels. It will help North Carolina more effectively identify the needs and service gaps in the homeless community, leading to improved services. Accurate statistics and measurable outcomes will help policy makers better evaluate the effectiveness of programs and predict future needs.

A client-driven consent system, individuals assign access rights to their records in the network.  Service providers are only allowed access to information with the client’s authorization, and services will not be denied if a client chooses not to provide information. Other benefits to homeless individuals include:

		Reduced processing time at service agencies thus less waiting
		Streamlined referrals to area service providers
		Coordinated case management—less shuffling among case workers and service providers

Covering up to 97 of 100 North Carolina counties, the system will maximize limited resources and ensures that agencies, particularly those in rural communities, have access to the network for state and federal reporting.  Agencies receiving McKinney-Vento funds for homeless services are required to participate in the network per a mandate from Congress for The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide an unduplicated count of homeless individuals.  According to a 2004 study, that’s 250-300 organizations across the state.  In 2004, about one third of counties did not have access to a network through which to participate.

CHIN’s HUD-compliant system will not only help these counties better manage client data, but it will be a catalyst for more funds and improved service to clients. “This system, accessible to counties across the state, will allow North Carolina's rural communities to compete more effectively for highly competitive federal homeless resources,” contends Martha Are, Homeless Policy Specialist for North Carolina. “Without this system, the state will leave $10M in federal funding on the table that could benefit rural communities.”

Thus far, two hundred end users from approximately 100 agencies have been trained and certified to use the system. The subscription cost for users is $1,025.00, which is low compared to costs being charged by many of the twenty-three other states that have implemented statewide systems.  Some states are charging up to three times as much for a subscription. For more information about subscriptions and user certifications, contact Hunter Thompson, Lead Coordinator for CHIN, at (919) 532-3040 and hthompson@nchomeless.org, or visit www.nchomeless.org.

About North Carolina Housing Coalition
North Carolina Housing Coalition is a private, non-profit membership organization working for decent, safe, and affordable housing that promotes self-determination and stable communities for low-income North Carolinians.  Incorporated in 1988, the Coalition today includes a network of housing and service providers, members of the faith community, civic and elected leaders, representatives of business and industry and other advocates who believe that housing is a basic human need and the cornerstone of vibrant communities. To learn more, go to www.nchousing.org.

About CHIN