Now that the HMIS Transition is complete, Dallas and Collin Counties’ Coordinated Access System (CAS) is transitioning into HMIS. The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is the community wide database that drives improvement of homeless services programs by tracking client progress and fostering collaboration and transparency across the system.
CAS, sometimes referred to as Coordinated Entry, Centralized Entry, or Coordinated Assessment, is the process through which people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness can access the homeless rehousing system in a streamlined way, have their strengths and needs quickly assessed, and quickly connect to appropriate tailored housing and mainstream services within the community. Given the limited community resources, households with the highest needs and most acute vulnerabilities are prioritized for housing and supportive services.
CAS is the framework that transforms a homeless services system from a network of projects making individual decisions about whom to serve, into a fully integrated crisis response system. Part of becoming a fully integrated crisis response system is having a shared data information system, HMIS, to improve the client’s experience.
The CoC utilizes existing service providers as Access Points to ensure people experiencing homelessness can meet with a skilled assessor and complete the standardized assessment process, the first step toward movement to permanent housing coordinated through CAS. This process begins with a conversation aimed at diverting clients from ever having to enter the system by connecting them to current supports that will allow them to remain housed. Access Points create accessible and navigable entry points, a universal assessment for all persons requesting assistance, and effective and appropriate connections to housing and services for all clients.
Housing providers connect people experiencing homelessness to housing. The CAS transition to HMIS will streamline this CAS referral process, so that housing providers can receive, record, and report on outcomes with tools like the bed management feature in HMIS designed to manage slots of available housing resources in real time.
Moving every piece of this response into one platform, HMIS, supports an integrated and effective response to the housing crisis in our community. Clients will experience quicker and more appropriate interventions based on their needs, while housing providers will be able to streamline processes, increase opportunities for collaboration, and share data and information. This integration will allow continuous improvement, leading to housing more people.
