The AHAR 4 data collection period, October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008, is now completed. The Rural Arizona CoC, for Flagstaff area providers, is one of the 80 sites that provides aggregate data for the AHAR. Flagstaff providers are reminded to ensure all clients are entered correctly and completely into HMIS to facilitate our AHAR data.
The AHAR reports and table shells will be generated and produced by the HMIS System Administrators in November - December 2008 for submittal to Abt Associates, who administers the AHAR nationally.
PKI Implementation for HMIS
February 5, 2008
The Rural Arizona HMIS project team will be implementing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) security for the Rural Arizona HMIS (ServicePoint) in February and March 2008. PKI is a type of encryption that provides an additional layer of security for HMIS data. PKI ensures that only authorized users can access HMIS only from authorized computers. The HMIS Data & Technical Standards from HUD require that HMIS systems that operate over the Internet be further secured through PKI or similar technologies. HMIS software vendors, such as Bowman Systems, the developer of the ServicePoint software, now have PKI solutions to meet this HUD requirement. However, each Continuum of Care, including the Rural Arizona CoC, must take steps to implement PKI.
Each agency and HMIS user will be contacted by the HMIS System Administrators to notify when they will be at each agency to install the PKI security certificates on each user's computer.
AHAR 3 is Coming
August 16, 2007
The AHAR 3 data collection period, October 1, 2006-September 30, 2007, is currently underway. The Rural Arizona CoC, for Flagstaff area providers, is one of the 80 sites that provides aggregate data for the AHAR. Flagstaff providers are reminded to ensure all clients are entered correctly and completely into HMIS to facilitate our AHAR data.
The AHAR reports and table shells will be generated and produced by the HMIS System Administrators in October - November 2007 for submittal to Abt Associates, who administers the AHAR nationally.
HMIS Grant Administration Training
August 3, 2007
HUD is sponsoring a grant administration training for grantees that receive Supportive Housing Program (SHP) funding for Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). This is the first training that will specifically focus on grant administration for HMIS grantees.
The goal of the training is to improve the capacity of HMIS grantees to effectively manage their projects and administer grants. Currently there is limited guidance for HMIS grantees on a number of grant administration issues, including eligible activities, allocating and shifting of costs, performance measurement, financial management and grantee responsibilities. Most guidance is provided on a case-by-case basis by HUD field office staff and/or HUD Headquarters staff. This training will offer grantees the opportunity to learn first-hand the policies and procedures of grant administration for HMIS.
The training is scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2007 through Tuesday, September 18, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Representing the Rural Arizona CoC will be Mark Ludwig from the Arizona Department of Housing and Scott Rich and Don Logue from Symmetric Solutions.
HMIS to be Implemented for Eviction Prevention/Emergency Housing (EPEH) Providers
July 16, 2007
The Rural Arizona Continuum of Care will be implementing the Rural Arizona HMIS for all Eviction Prevention/Emergency Housing (EPEH) Providers in 2007. ADOH, through the State Housing Trust Fund, administers 21 contracts totaling over $2 million to non-profit and local government entities in all 15 counties in Arizona for persons and families of low income who are in jeopardy of becoming homeless. Services funded include hotel/motel vouchers, rental assistance, foreclosure prevention, utility payments, and rental/utility security deposits.
HUD’s Notice on VAWA Applicability to HUD Programs
March 16, 2007
The following was taken from the summary of The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005: Applicability to HUD Programs Notice [Docket No. FR-5056-N-01].
On March 16, 2007 HUD released a notice that “addresses the applicability to HUD programs of certain provisions of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, as amended by a technical corrections bill signed into law in August 2006. HUD plans to issue rules or guidance on this new law. The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the technical corrections described in this notice became effective upon enactment.
The notice presents information from HUD`s Offices of Community Planning and Development, General Counsel, Housing, and Public and Indian Housing, and provides an overview of key provisions that affect HUD programs, identifies those provisions that require program participants to take action to be in compliance, and advises of efforts underway within HUD to further facilitate compliance with this new law, including rules and guidance that are under consideration or development.”
The Notice is available on www.hmis.info homepage under Latest Resources.
Release of HUD`s First-Ever Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress
February 28, 2007
HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress measures homelessness over time, allowing researchers to expand their body of knowledge beyond more limited estimates in the past. HUD unveiled new data from Continuums of Care (CoC) that indicates 754,000 persons are living in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and on the streets on any given night. In addition, data from Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS), available for the first time, indicated that 704,000 persons used emergency shelter and transitional housing during a three-month period (February-April) in 2005.
“This first-of-its kind study is a huge leap forward in our understanding of not only how many people are homeless, but also what their needs are,” said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. “We’ve got to remember that behind these numbers are people – individuals and families who are struggling to survive. This first report and those that follow will help us gauge how well our efforts, as well as those of our partners at the state and local level and the nonprofit sector, are working to help the homeless. We all must work in concert together to help our nation’s most vulnerable.”
Read the Report
HUD Awards for 2007
February 2007
HUD has announced the McKinney-Vento funding awards for the 2007 year. The Rural Arizona CoC was awarded $2,449,191. Over $28 million was awarded for the entire state of Arizona and almost $1.4 billion was awarded nationally.