HUD’s first annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress indicates that on any given night there are approximately 754,000 homeless people in transitional housing, emergency shelters, and on the streets. Other statistics from the report include:

		47% of people living in homeless shelters were single adult men
		Nearly one-quarter were children 17 or younger
		Less than 2% of the homeless population was 62 or older
		59% of the people in homeless shelters were members of minority groups
		45% of the homeless were African-Americans
		24% of all adults in homeless shelters were disabled

And these figures were generated from data collected in early 2005. It is clear that in order to effectively address a problem as complex, as layered, and as expansive as homelessness in America a collaborative approach is required. Since 2001 HUD has promoted the use of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) by all Continuums of Care. According to HMIS.info, a HUD-sponsored site:

A Homeless Management Information System is a software application designed to record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons throughout a Continuum of Care (CoC) jurisdiction. An HMIS is typically a web-based software application that homeless assistance providers use to coordinate care, manage their operations, and better serve their clients.

HMIS implementations can encompass geographic areas ranging from a single county to an entire state. An HMIS knits together homeless assistance providers within a community and creates a more coordinated and effective housing and service delivery system.

ServicePoint, the flagship product of Bowman Systems, is the nation’s leading HMIS. At its core ServicePoint is a collaboration tool that gives service providers the ability to cooperate and coordinate across multiple sites while addressing multiple needs. Agencies networked through ServicePoint create an interconnected system of care rather than a sporadic grouping of independent programs. For those in need of social services there is no wrong door; every participating agency becomes a point of entry for the entire network.

ServicePoint’s centralized database empowers care providers to function more quickly and efficiently. Once a client has a unique ID and profile within the system, he or she can move from one agency to another without having to answer redundant questions, fill out repetitive forms, or re-tell personal histories. (Protections also exist for those wishing to remain anonymous, such as victims of domestic violence.) This web-accessible personal record not only facilitates and accelerates the delivery of targeted care but also prevents the duplication of services rendered from one provider to the next. As an additional feature, numerous tools exist for determining each client’s level of eligibility for specific services.

The creation and maintenance of centralized client records also allows for the development of long-term goals and case plans. Of course the ultimate goal is always to get people into permanent housing but toward that end manageable strategies must be developed, implemented, and tracked. ServicePoint allows care providers to identify and establish phased goals-over-time and the action steps necessary to achieve those goals. The software gives Continuums of Care the power to drive an outcome rather than simply hoping for the best.

ServicePoint also comes with an array of reporting tools capable of collating both aggregate and local data. Among other things, customized reports give agencies the ability to spot trends in service demand and gaps in service delivery. More refined data leads to more informed fundraising efforts, greater investor interest, and improved operational efficiency. Bowman Systems has also been recognized as an industry leader in the development of its thoughtful and deliberate reporting methodology. The Advanced Reporting Tool (ART) continues to pioneer new avenues in the generation of meaningful data.

All of Bowman Systems’ software is HUD-compliant, HIPAA-compliant, and fully-encrypted. No other HMIS developer has more experience or expertise in security.

The solution to chronic homelessness in America will not come overnight but Bowman Systems is committed to the challenge. Through innovative software that positively impacts communities, every one of the 754,000 people on the street tonight have a chance at a better life.

If you would like to know more about how ServicePoint can serve as your HMIS, please Contact Us or browse our products page.