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Describe agency's capability and experience with utilization of the local Homeless Management <br />Information System (HMIs). If you are not presently on HMIS, describe steps that will be taken to <br />comply with this requirement. Include overview of process, cost and timing to access HMIS. Also include <br />information from OC Partnership confirming date agency will be on HMIS. Note: all HPRP recipients will <br />be required to utilize Orange County's HMIs system (CMIS). Priority may be given to applicants that are <br />already users or will be user prior to Council approval of grant agreement. <br />Limit Response to 750 Words <br />The Client Management Information System (CMIS) is Orange County's local branding of a <br />Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and is a requirement for receiving HUD <br />funding, which is approximately $13.7 million annually for Orange County. OC Partnership is <br />designated by the County of Orange and recognized by HUD as the region's lead agency <br />responsible for the collection of unduplicated, aggregate data on homeless and at-risk clients. <br />OC Partnership collaborates with, as formalized in a service contract, the County of Orange, OC <br />Community Services to serve as the CMIS lead agency. Annual data from HMISs nationwide is <br />collected and compiled into an Annual Homeless Assessment Report that guides national policy <br />decisions and provides year-to-year comparisons of the number and characteristics of homeless <br />persons and their service use. HUD research has shown that HMIS is a better, more accurate <br />tool than Point-in-Time counts or aggregate service provider reports for gathering community- <br />wide information.' <br />As a county-wide, web-based database and client management system, CMIS allows for the <br />collection of unduplicated information on clients served by each participating agency. The <br />system benefits clients by enabling providers to view client demographic information to <br />streamline the intake process. The system benefits service providers by allowing them to track <br />and measure client and program progress over time from the point of entry, to the system of <br />care, through stability. It benefits the community by providing region-wide data that can be used <br />to identify gaps and trends, measure success, guide strategic planning and policy, measure <br />resource distribution, and meet HUD funding requirements. For 2010, OC Partnership is <br />seeking funding of the CMIS to support the required system enhancements for HPRP, and <br />support expansion of program to include a greater number of providers in order to better capture <br />data on the demand, needs and service gaps of the county's at-risk populations. <br />Currently there are 34 agencies participating in CMIS, representing 63% of county shelter beds. <br />OC Partnership provides all training, outreach, and technical support for agencies using the <br />system. The majority (~80%) of CMIS funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing <br />and Urban Development (HUD). The remainder must be raised through grants and donations. <br />CMIS focuses on shelters as is required to receive HUD funding. OC Partnership and the <br />Orange County Continuum of Care strongly believe in the need to expand CMIS to include non- <br />shelter homeless and at-risk service providers, as they represent the larger portion of our <br />community's residents in need, but who don't seek shelter services for whatever reason. With <br />1 Abt Associates. Introduction to Homeless Management Information Systems. Prepared by Abt Associates for the US Department of Housing <br />and Urban Development. http://hmis.info/Resources/741/Introduction-to-HMIS aspx <br />RFP HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION & RAPID RE-HOUSING SERVICES 6/11/09 <br />6 <br />