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Data Source Information
System Performance Measures are a set of 7 measures that a Continuum of Care (CoC) submits to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually. This data is obtained through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
System Performance Measures
What are system performance measures?
A critical aspect of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, is a focus on viewing the local homeless response as a coordinated system of homeless assistance options as opposed to homeless assistance programs and funding sources that operate independently in a community.
To facilitate this, the Act requires communities to measure their performance as a coordinated system, in addition to analyzing performance by specific projects or project types. The Act has established a set of selection criteria for HUD to use in awarding CoC funding that require CoCs to report to HUD their system-level performance.
The intent of these selection criteria are to encourage CoCs, in coordination with ESG and all other homeless assistance stakeholders in the community, to regularly measure their progress in meeting the needs of people experiencing homelessness in their community and to report this progress to HUD.
To access HUD's introductory guide and other materials related to system performance measures, visit here.
System Performance Measures Frequently Asked Questions
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To ensure common understanding of system intent and goals
To focus on measuring cumulative impact of programs, not just individual success
To help the Continuum of Care (CoC) gauge progress toward preventing and ending homelessness
To identify areas in need of improvement
The data sources used in calculating the measures include both January PIT data and client-level outcome information from HMIS. Domestic violence data is not included in client-level outcome information, but is included in point-in-time data. The date range is October 1 – September 30. There are a total of 7 measures, 6 of which we currently use.
Measure 1: Length of time spent homeless
Measure 2: Returns to homelessness
Measure 3: Number of homeless persons
Measure 4: Employment and income growth
Measure 5: Number of people who become newly homeless
Measure 6: Exits to permanent housing
Measure 7: Exits to permanent housing
HUD will set national targets but is not setting specific subpopulation targets.
HUD expects CoC’s to establish appropriate CoC-level targets that:
Use national targets as benchmarks
Take into account the local homeless population and identify unique circumstances
Embrace local priorities as CoC implements system change
Example: Increase permanent housing exits in Balance of State to at least 70%