Thank You from the IGB Executive Committee!

MN HMIS Partners, On behalf of the HMIS IGB Executive Committee, we are writing to recognize a major benchmark in Minnesota’s HMIS.  In April 2016, partners across the state initiated our decision to pursue a new direction for Minnesota’s HMIS Governance and System Administration. One year later, the HMIS Interim Governing Board is holding our final meeting (3/13/17) and will pass on our work to the new HMIS Governance Board.  We want to recognize this significant step AND thank the many partners for their amazing efforts to make progress over this past year. While we have not yet reached all of our goals for HMIS, we have moved significantly forward in many areas and have created a clear plan to continue progress. As we remember the accomplishments of the past year, we want to acknowledge all of you who helped make this transition possible. First, thank you to the Wilder Foundation and the HMIS staff for their many years of dedication to Minnesota’s HMIS—and their work to ensure that the transition over this past year went smoothly. Second, thank you to those who have served in an HMIS Governance role, either on current or past boards or committees, especially the Interim Governing Board, MN Housing staff, and the HMIS IGB Executive Committee. The later groups put in many hours of planning and meetings over the past year to assure the transition happened as smoothly and collaboratively as possible.  Additionally, MN Housing contributed significant time and staff resources to initially pursuing the Lead Agency role, then subsequently supporting the interim plan. Next, thanks to all the Continuum of Cares and State Agency partners who approved and supported this transition, despite some initial unknowns and a tight timeline. We would also like to acknowledge the support and guidance from our HUD Technical Assistance staff. Their patience, examples and flexibility in the TA process helped us adapt our timeline and needs to Minnesota. Finally, thank you to ICA, our new System Administrator, for your willingness to meet our aggressive timeline and adapt to our evolving Governance, all with an initial ambiguous budget. As we transition to a new governance model and new Governing Board members, we express our thanks to all who contributed your time and effort to improve HMIS over the past number of years.  We are confident these efforts have us heading in the right direction and expect a productive year in 2017. Sincerely, Mike Manhard                        Carla SolemHMIS IGB Chair                     HMIS IGB Vice-Chair