How to "Favorite" a Report


Are you checking for program enrollment or service-use every day? Did you know you can "favorite" reports so they populate at the top of your screen? Learn how "favorite" your most used reports in this Knowledge Base Article.
 

1:30PM Tuesday, Aug 26: CES Announcements and Information


11AM Wednesday, Aug 27: HSOC Coordinated Entry Committee


3PM Wednesday, Sept 3: HMIS "Drop-in" Office Hours



1:30PM Tuesday, Sept 9: CES Case Conferencing


9AM Monday, Sept 15: HSOC Data and Performance
 

Service Summary Report


The "Service Summary [Program Based]" (GNRL-407) report provides a count of unique clients, number of services, and number of service days by HMIS project. Each service is listed as a row and multiple project types can be included at once. The report can be found in the Report Library under the "Program Based Reports" section.
 

Data Quality Planning with Agency Administrators

In preparation for federal reporting season, HMIS Agency Administrators have received monthly Data Quality reports and Data Quality Improvement Plans. The HMIS Team, alongside implementation partner ICA, will be providing hands-on support for data corrections over the next several months ensuring a proactive, collaborative approach to federal reporting.


Updated Coordinated Entry Training for all CES Users

All current Coordinated Entry System (CES) users in HMIS were assigned an updated training that will expire on Friday, August 29. Requiring training for users fosters consistent, community wide practices for data entry and reporting - we appreciate your help! Login to TalentLMS here to check your progress or complete the course! Reach out to HMIS Support and the Coordinated Entry Team if you have any questions.


Welcome Veteran Affairs Greater LA Healthcare and

Oxnard Family Circle to SLO County CoC HMIS!

The SLO County homeless system of care is expanding! By increasing agency participation, we advance opportunities to meet the unique needs of our county's most vulnerable. Review the HMIS Website here for a complete list of participating HMIS agencies and welcome to our new providers! We are ready to do this good work together.


*NEW* Street Outreach Data Collection Training in TalentLMS

Current HMIS users can now find a new course in TalentLMS for Street Outreach Data Collection practices. This training covers such topics as Date of Engagement, collecting and recording an HMIS ROI, and how to exit a client from the program once housed.


Attend HMIS Drop-in Office Hours and Win Swag!

Drop-in to HMIS Office Hours to meet users across all agencies, ask questions directly to the team, and best of all - be automatically considered for free swag provided by the HMIS vendor Bitfocus.

Click here to join HMIS Office Hours on Wednesday, Sept 3 at 3PM.

Question: Sometimes the client information I'm looking for is not in a standard report. Who can I reach out to for custom reporting help?


Answer: We love to build custom reports! The HMIS Team is available for custom reports, or data requests, or showing your administrators how to pull the information you need. Reach out to the HMIS Support Team directly and we will get to work!



Question: I work in Outreach. What is the difference between the HMIS Release of Information (ROI) that I complete in Clarity, and the DSS Form 815?


Answer: Great question! The HMIS ROI is required to share client information in HMIS, including between participating agencies outside of HMIS, like over the phone for example. The SLO County CoC HMIS operates as what is known as an "open" system, meaning all users, regardless of home agency, can view client information (that is not marked private). An "Open HMIS" is a best practice for maximum care coordination within a system of care. An HMIS ROI allows participating agencies to discuss client information to coordinate care outside of HMIS, for example over the phone. Remember: Clients may decline to complete an ROI and that preference does not prohibit them from receiving services. Though, it is important for case managers to help clients understand how completing an ROI allows for meaningful and individualized care coordination across all participating agencies countywide.


The DSS 815 Form, is a "nonHMIS release" required specifically for DSS Programs. In Outreach in the field, it is common to work alongside CalFresh or Medi-Cal and other DSS programs, and thus, having your client complete the DSS 815 can be very helpful. A completed DSS 815 can be uploaded to a client's HMIS profile and is an option under files, category: NonHMIS Releases and Agency-Specific Documents, then "County 815". The DSS 815 is not required by HMIS, unless specified in a specific program, and it cannot be used to share client-level data from HMIS with any other agency or organization. Any requests for client-level data outside of HMIS-participating agencies should be directed to the HMIS Team at ss_HMISsupport@co.slo.ca.us. Learn more about documenting an ROI in Clarity HMIS with this Knowledge Base Article.

 

Queue Referrals

Emergency Shelter referrals through Coordinated Entry have been ongoing. In the last two weeks, we have referred more than 20 households from the Emergency Shelter Individual Shelter Queue (for individuals and households without children) and the Family Shelter Queue (for households with children). Great job, everyone! Keep referring!

The CE team is working with HASLO to finalize the Referral Guidance for the Maxine Lewis Housing Project, which is scheduled to take referrals beginning in early October 2025, with occupancy expected in December 2025. At a TBD date, service providers will have an opportunity to tour the property ahead of occupancy. Stay tuned!

Beacon Studios and Welcome Home Village are both scheduled to gain occupancy sometime in 2026. The CE team will provide updates as timelines are confirmed. 

The CE team has observed an increase in denied housing project referrals due to missing eligibility documents, such as birth records and certification of disability. This topic will be discussed at the CES HSOC on 8/27 at 11AM Service providers are encouraged to attend to share their thoughts on the referral process or they may email their thoughts to CoordinatedEntrySLO@capslo.org

Coordinated Entry User Meetings

The CE Team hosts two monthly meetings: 1) an Announcements meeting, where program updates and relevant educational content are reviewed, and 2) a Case Conferencing meeting, where recent denials to housing projects and individual clients who have been on the queue for a significant amount of time are discussed. During both meetings, there is time for providers to ask questions and share resources. We hope to see all agencies represented to build community and share best practices!


Questions regarding CES user support

can be directed to CAPSLO, the CES Management Entity
 

Meet the Staff of the Behavioral Health Community Action Team (BHCAT)


Famous for the “CAT Paw” pictured here and BHCAT’s HMIS pioneer, Health Agency’s Erny Lowry, RN, brings a positive attitude and unique approach to mental health services in the field. Erny is embedded with San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department as part of a co-response model with Law Enforcement designed to divert individuals from arrest.


Using his CAT PAW model, Erny connects clients to core resources needed to be successful in treatment. Resources include connecting people to social services for any eligible assistance, insurance enrollment, cell phone, bus pass, Behavioral Health Services and Drug and Alcohol Services as needed, and any housing support - coordinated through Clarity HMIS. BHCAT is proud to share that Erny has successfully housed individuals by coordinating care with Clarity HMIS and has spearheaded the entire team’s HMIS access. His strong commitment to his work allows him to build rapport with some of the most treatment resistant individuals, often gaining successful outcomes. We are fortunate to have Erny as a part of the team at the Health Agency! 


Learn more about Erny's good work with the crisis response teams on the County Health Agency website here.
 

2026 Point-in-Time Count



Planning is underway for the countywide 2026 Unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count! We will need homeless service providers help and will be coordinating directly with Agency Administrators for that. Learn more about the Unsheltered PIT Count on the website here.

Contact Us

HMIS Website
 

County of San Luis Obispo | 3433 South Higuera Street | San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 US

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