Minnesota Joint Transition Letter

TO: All Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Users and StakeholdersFROM: David Eberbach and Demetri Vincze, Institute for Community AlliancesMike Manhard, on behalf of the Minnesota HMIS Interim Governing BoardDATE: May 24, 2016RE: Administration of the Minnesota Homeless Management Information SystemAs you may know, the HMIS Governing Board recently voted to approve the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA) as the new Interim Lead Agency and State System Administrator for Minnesota’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). As a result of a process that included written correspondence, interviews, and comprehensive reference checks, the Governing Board determined that ICA would be an effective, transparent, and responsive Lead Agency. ICA will begin as Lead Agency on June 1 and access to ServicePoint will continue uninterrupted through the transition.ICA has provided technical support and guidance to communities and nonprofits for more than 25 years, evolving over time to meet requests for assistance from around the country. ICA’s leadership team brings over 50 years of HMIS expertise and the agency currently provides diverse services to over 500 programs and nearly 2,000 HMIS users in nine states, from Alaska to Vermont. ICA’s nationally-recognized expertise and organizational capacity will facilitate a smooth transition and help Minnesota make the most of its investment in HMIS.The Governing Board and ICA are committed to an inclusive HMIS. ICA has extensive experience with a variety of stakeholders, including domestic violence agencies, tribal organizations, and youth programs, and a proven track record of integrating new programs into HMIS. This experience will help us expand and improve the use of HMIS in Minnesota, so that more programs and clients can reap its benefits.We understand that there is significant interest in using HMIS in new and innovative ways, and we are fully committed to satisfying that interest. At the same time, we know that some fundamentals need work; for example, agencies and funders must be able to obtain useful reports from HMIS. Sometimes that work will have to come first. As ICA assumes the Lead Agency role, hires project staff, and begins to navigate these challenges, we appreciate your understanding and support.Starting June 1, please direct helpdesk questions to mnhmis@icalliances.org. We are also working to retain the current HMIS website at hmismn.org to provide continued access to online resources. If you have already paid user fees in 2016, you will not be required to repay. If you have user fees due after June 1, further instructions will be coming. To learn more about ICA, please visit www.icalliances.org.Demetri Vincze will be the Project Manager and you can reach him at demetri.vincze@icalliances.org. In the coming weeks, you will also receive a brief survey from ICA to help us learn more about your organization and your HMIS needs. We appreciate your feedback in advance.Together, we thank you for your patience during this process and look forward to working closely with you to get the most from your HMIS investment moving forward.