HUD 2026 HMIS Data Standards

Every two years, HUD updates the HMIS Data Standards, setting the framework for how homeless service providers collect, manage, and report information about the individuals and families they serve.

Although HUD has yet to confirm their updates for the 2026 Data Standards, Bitfocus will be publishing the following changes in ONE on October 1, in compliance with the information HUD has shared thus far:

• Within the Race and Ethnicity field on the Client Profile, the Hispanic/Latina/e/o option will become Hispanic/Latina/o
• Sexual Orientation will no longer be collected on program enrollment screens. Please note that Sexual Orientation data will continue to be collected on the Client Profile screen for all clients.
• Family Critical Issues questions on RHY program enrollment screens will now include the additional response options: ‘Client doesn’t know,’ ‘Client prefers not to answer,’ and ‘Data not collected’
  
  

Impacts to veteran programs:

• SSVF Financial Services will have multiple field updates:
  
  • Date Provided field will now appear within SSVF financial services, reflecting the date the financial assistance was identified as being needed. This is separate from the Start Date of Financial Assistance field, which is meant to reflect the date the financial assistance actually began.
  • Expense Date field is retired from SSVF financial services
  • Expense Amount field to be relabeled to become Financial Assistance Amount
• Two HP Targeting Criteria questions will be reworded:
  • Household size of 5 or more requiring at least 3 bedrooms (due to age/gender mix) will become Household size of 5 or more requiring at least 3 bedrooms (due to household composition)
  • Household includes one or more members of an overrepresented population in the homelessness system when compared to the general population. will become Households which may include one or more members meeting other criteria for targeting prevention determined by the CoC.
• A new field, Mental Health Consultation, will appear on SSVF enrollment screens.
• A new service, Healthcare Navigation, will appear for SSVF programs.
  
  

Impacts on Reporting:

• All federal HUD reports within ONE’s canned reports library will be updated as of October 1 to meet the 2026 Data Standards.
• All impacted custom reports in the Data Analysis tab will be updated beginning October 1.