Welcome back to the Mind Your Data Series, the training series focused on improving data quality one element at a time.

DATA NEWSLETTER

This edition breaks down what household types and subpopulations are, how they’re used in the HIC, and common data quality pitfalls to avoid.

Accurate household type and subpopulation data are foundational to the Housing Inventory Count (HIC). These data points determine how LAHSA reports inventory to HUD, how programs are categorized, and whether inventory aligns with the people actually being served in HMIS.

Why This Matters: The HIC is a point-in-time snapshot of your project’s beds/units and households, aligned with:

Project configuration (inventory)
Enrollment data in HMIS
HUD reporting requirements

If household types or subpopulations are misaligned, it can result in:

Inventory misreporting
Data quality issues
Manual corrections during HUD submissions
An unclear reflection of what is actually happening

Primary household types used in the HIC:

Household Type describes who a project is designed to serve, not just who is currently enrolled.

Household Types (HIC Reporting Categories)

Households with only adults: One or more adults (18+) with no children
Households with children: At least one adult and one child
Households with only children: Children only (no adults) – rare and program-specific

Important Notes:

Most projects should not serve households with only children unless they are explicitly youth based.
Households with only children appearing in adult or family projects often indicate:
Enrollment errors
Missing or incorrect household relationships
Adults exited but children left enrolled

Subpopulation Breakdowns - Who You Serve

Subpopulations describe specific groups within households that HUD tracks for planning and funding purposes.

Common HIC Subpopulations:

Chronically Homeless: Adults in ES/SH/TH/PSH
Veterans: Adult household members
Youth (under 25): Children and youth
Domestic Violence Survivors: Heads of household only
Adults with HIV/AIDS: Adult household members

Key Detail: Subpopulation data starts at the client level and is summarized at the project level for HIC reporting.

How Household Type & Subpopulation Work Together

HUD expects logical alignment between:

Project inventory
Household type configuration
Subpopulation counts
Actual HMIS enrollments

Example: If your project inventory is configured as: Households with only adults, but HMIS shows:

Active enrollments with children
Youth only households

This creates a misalignment and may require inventory updates or enrollment corrections.

Common Data Quality Issues We See:

Children enrolled without an adult in non-youth projects
Adults exited but children left active
Subpopulation data missing or outdated (e.g., Chronic Homelessness not assessed)
Inventory not updated after program model changes

Best Practices to “Mind Your Data”:

Use the User-Level Data Quality Dashboard to spot issues
Review household composition at enrollment and exit
Ensure children are properly attached to adults
Update subpopulation data when client status changes
Respond promptly to LAHSA data review requests

Bottom Line:

Household Types define your inventory.
Subpopulations define who you serve.
Both must align with your HMIS data for accurate HIC reporting.

Mind your data now, so it doesn't surprise you later...

Submit a support ticket:

LAHSA's Enterprise Ticketing System

Join our weekly HMIS office hours:

Every Thursday from 2 PM - 3 PM

HMIS Office Hours

Data, Explained: LAHSA's Data Quality Monitoring Plan

LAHSA’s Data Quality Monitoring Plan (DQMP) ensures HMIS data is accurate, reliable, and actionable so providers and policymakers can understand needs, track progress, and improve outcomes. Check out our website to take a deeper dive into LAHSA's data quality framework:

LAHSA's DQMP Website

LAHSA is a joint powers authority of the City and County of Los Angeles, created in 1993 to address the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles County. LAHSA is the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages federal, state, county, and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing, and services to people experiencing homelessness.

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority