In Washington State there were 22,827 individuals counted as homeless one night in January 2009. Over the course of a year the total number of homeless persons in the state is estimated to be 40 to 50 thousand or more.
The Washington State Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) collects data about homeless clients to shed light on the extent, characteristics, and causes of homelessness. Homeless service providers in Washington, such as emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing programs, collect information about their clients so that it can be matched with information from other providers in the state to get accurate counts of homeless clients and the services they need. Learning about which services prove most helpful in ending homelessness and sharing this information with policymakers can improve both service and resource availability. HMIS also benefits service agencies directly by enabling caseworkers to easily track client progress and make referrals to other programs.
For more information about Washington State HMIS, contact Mary Schwartz at 360/725-2982.
Information for current and prospective HMIS users in WA
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