HMIS Newsletter: December 2025


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As 2025 draws to a close, we would like to extend a sincere thank you for your incredible work, collaboration, and dedication throughout the past year. Your efforts are deeply appreciated, and we are excited about our shared future in 2026. 
 

Wishing you and yours peace, love, joy this holiday season, and a New Year filled with happiness. 

 

Bitfocus Holiday Closure Notice 

Please note our office will be closed for the Holiday Week: 

  • Closure Dates: Thursday, December 25, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026. 
  • Full Staff & Support Resume: Friday, January 2, 2026. 
  • Help Desk Availability: Our Help Desk will remain operational but on a limited capacity during the closure week, except for the Federal Holidays (12/25/25 and 1/1/26). 
  • Need Assistance? If any urgent questions or issues arise during this time, please email the Help Desk at support@bitfocus.com. They will respond as quickly as possible.

Announcements

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2025 HMIS User Satisfaction Survey

Your Voice Matters: Help Us Improve Santa Clara County’s HMIS

We are reaching out to request your assistance with the 2025 HMIS Satisfaction Survey.

Your feedback is essential to making the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) more effective for everyone in Santa Clara County. By sharing your experience, you help us identify exactly where we can improve our tools and support.

  • Length: 14 questions
  • Time: 10 minutes or less
  • Privacy: All responses are completely anonymous

We understand how busy your schedule is, and we truly value the time you take to help us build a better system.

[Link: Take the 2025 Satisfaction Survey]

Thank you for your partnership and for everything you do for our community!

 

2026 Performance Management Work Group (PMWG)

Mission & Purpose

The PMWG is responsible for reviewing HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data within the Santa Clara County Continuum of Care (CoC). Their three primary goals are:

  • Inform & Implement: Drive the community's performance management process.
  • Monitor Progress: Track data against established community benchmarks.
  • Maintain Standards: Uphold service delivery and data quality standards.

Q1 2026 Meeting Schedule

All meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Date

Session Theme

Key Performance Measures (SPM/Local)

Jan 22

The Kick-Off

• Health Insurance Coverage

SPM 8: System Process & Data Quality

Registration Link 

Feb 26

Prevention & Placement

SPM 5: First-time homelessness (Baseline review)

SPM 7: Successful housing placements

Registration Link

Mar 26

Economic Stability

SPM 4: Employment & Income growth

• Living Wage assessment

Registration Link

Next Steps for Members

Please ensure these dates are blocked on your calendar. If you have specific data concerns regarding the SPMs listed above, please submit them to the Help Desk prior to the scheduled meeting or bring the question to the meeting.


Published: 2026 Data Standards Manual

Data Standards Manual

HUD has officially released the manual for Fiscal Year 2026 HMIS Data Standards. While Clarity HMIS is already compliant with the current Administration’s Executive Orders and these new data standards, this shared documentation details the specific changes, mapping guidance, and configuration requirements. 2026 HMIS Data Standards went into effect on October 1, 2025.  
 
What This Means for Clarity HMIS Users: Because Clarity HMIS is currently up-to-date and is already compliant, no immediate action is required by end-users to maintain compliance. You can continue with your normal data entry processes. We do, however, encourage all lead CoC and agency staff to review this documentation to understand the changes and collection requirements. 

 

The following HUD resources have been updated: 


Federal Reporting is Underway!

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Federal Reporting – LSA Updates 

The final submission for the LSA is due on Thursday, January 16th, 2026. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the data quality improvements during the cleanup process. Your efforts and partnership are greatly appreciated as we approach the finish line! If you have any questions or need assistance during the clean-up process, please do not hesitate to reach out!  

 

PIT Reminder  

As you know, we’re also preparing for the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of people experiencing homelessness. This critical count serves as the primary source of nationwide data on homelessness, informing funding and strategic planning for years to come. 

The PIT Count comprises two essential components: an unsheltered count (individuals sleeping on the streets or in places not meant for human habitation) conducted by volunteers and outreach teams, and a sheltered count (individuals staying in housing programs setup in HMIS). 

For the sheltered count, data accuracy within the HMIS is important. It is critical that all housing projects ensure accurate enrollments, exits, and housing services are logged for the designated night of the count. 

How You Can Ensure Data Integrity: As we approach the official count night, we urge all project staff to review and update their HMIS data immediately. Please ensure the following data points are accurate for all clients served by your projects on the count date: 

  • Demographics: Complete and up-to-date client profile data.  
  • Enrollment and Exit Dates: Accurate program enrollment and exit records. 
  • Move-In Dates: Recorded household move-in dates for permanent housing projects. 
  • Service Logs: Precise housing bed night services, especially for night-by-night shelters. 

Tip: We highly recommend utilizing the [GNRL-220] Program Details Report. This report is an invaluable tool for reviewing a spreadsheet containing all relevant profile, enrollment, exit, and housing service data in one place. 

Thank you for your diligence and commitment to data quality, which ensures the success and accuracy of our annual PIT Count. 


SCC HMIS Quarterly Compliance Certification Checklist

Deadline Reminder

 

SCC HMIS Quarterly Compliance Certification Checklist - Due Friday, January 30, 2026 EOD

 

  • Quarterly Security Checklist Report: How to Guide - Note that Coordinated Entry [CE] "Agency Name"  Only Agencies TA/Agency Lead will receive an email with a list of End Users that require certification
  • This certification list will cover the timeframe from January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025
     
     

Upcoming Events

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Technical Administrator (TA/Agency Lead Meeting) | January 1, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30 pm - MEETING CANCELLED

These meetings discuss the Agency Administrator reports and data collection requirements in HMIS. Additionally, updates regarding changes and/or upcoming changes to HMIS are explored in an effort to ascertain impacts on programs and/or end users. Furthermore breakout sessions allow for exploration of the understanding of ongoing data updates, and/or challenges being experienced by end users.

 

SCC HMIS Looker - HMIS Report Spotlight Office Hours | January 5 & 19 2:00pm - 3:00pm Register here

We know that lots of issues and questions can arise when using Clarity (HMIS) and Looker. Office Hours are a great opportunity to get your questions answered, see demos of anything you can't figure out or can't remember how to do, find out how to fix things that might have gotten messed up, and participate in discussions with other users around solutions to common challenges. 

 

HMIS Clarity Office Hours | January 15 & 29 10:00am - 11:30am Join here

We know that lots of issues and questions can arise when using Clarity (HMIS). Office Hours are a great opportunity to get your questions answered, see demos of anything you can't figure out or can't remember how to do, find out how to fix things that might have gotten messed up, and participate in discussions with other users around solutions to common challenges. 


Bitfocus is Hiring

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Join our Team!

  • Visit bitfocus.com | Jobs | About | Bitfocus  
  • Work with us at Bitfocus! Join a team committed to innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact in human services.  

Questions?

Your HMIS Administrators are happy to help.

 

Lesly Bryanna

Phone: 408.596.5866 Ext. 2

Email: