Category: Uncategorized

Orange County’s HUD CoC System Performance Measures have been published! Check out the report here.

The HMIS Team has received an update from BitFocus about the system lag the users had experienced last week. The developers have created modifications to resolve the issue.

In case you continue to have issues with the system, please let us know.

Thank you for your patience while this issue was being resolved!

The last couple of days, our HMIS has been running slower than normal. We apologize for the inconveniences this might have caused to all our users. Bitfocus’ developers are currently working on resolving the lag in the system.

For updates on the resolution of this issue, please click here.

Thank you!

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase in mental health and substance use disorders in the United States. Join SAMHSA’s Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC)on March 25, 2021 from 3:30 – 5:00 PM EDT in exploring equitable and culturally appropriate interventions to engage people experiencing homelessness in treatment and deliver services in non-congregate settings. Participants will hear from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Central City Concern about the creative methods they have used during the pandemic. Participants will also learn self-care strategies from the National Council for Behavioral Health to avoid burnout during and after the pandemic.

Speakers for this webinar include:

• Dave Iverson, MD, Director of Psychiatry, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver, Colorado
• Eowyn Rieke, MD, MPH, Blackburn Medical Director, in conversation with Walter Bailey, Peer Counselor at the Imani Center, Central City Concern, Portland, Oregon
• Laura Leone, DSW, MSSW, LMSW, Integrated Health Consultant, National Council for Behavioral Health

Register for the Webinar

The National Council for Behavioral Health and National Health Care for the Homeless Council contributed to the development of this webinar.

We’re hiring an HMIS Data Analyst! If interested, please review the job posting and apply here.

Check out the new Orange County CoC Dashboard here.

HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) hosts weekly Office Hours sessions to discuss COVID-19 planning and response on Fridays from 2:30 – 3:30 PM EST. The next session is January 8, 2021.

This week’s Office Hours will feature the following topics:

• University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative: Vaccination Strategies
   
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Homelessness Unit: Basics of Vaccination Efforts and Q&A
   
• HUD Updates on Vaccination Distribution Planning

Join Friday’s Office Hours

Date and Time: Friday, January 8, 2021 at 2:30 PM EST

Participants do not need to register in advance. It is strongly recommended that you join the Office Hours 15 minutes prior to the start time (2:15 PM EST). To join the Office Hours, simply access the login page at this link.

Previous Office Hours Recordings and Slides

If you participated in previous Office Hours, you are still encouraged to attend future Office Hours for the latest information and updates.

View the recordings and slides from previous Office Hours.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this Office Hours or encounter difficulties joining the Office Hours, please contact Thomas_Bednar@abtassoc.com.

Additional Resources

• Visit the Disease Risks and Homelessness page to access technical assistance materials from HUD as well as guidance issued from HUD’s federal partners dedicated to preparing for and responding to infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
   

HUD is also available to provide technical assistance to our homeless assistance providers who need support in preventing or responding to the spread of infectious disease. Submit your questions to the Ask A Question (AAQ) portal. In Step 2 of the question submission process, select “CoC: Continuum of Care Program” from the “My question is related to” drop down list and write “Health Preparedness and Response” in the subject line.

Visit the HUD Exchange at https://www.hudexchange.info

Check out the resources below for information on the 2021 HIC & Sheltered PIT:

• 2021 HIC & Sheltered PIT Overview knowledge base article
• Email blast for HMIS participating projects
• Email blast for non-HMIS participating projects

The Orange County CoC is considering a policy for charging service providers a fee to participate in the Orange County HMIS. Check out this email for information regarding the two proposals being considered, and submit your feedback to the HMIS Help Desk by EOD November 25th.

The 2020 HMIS User Re-Certification deadline of Friday, November 20th, 2020, is approaching. Agency Administrators should make sure that:

1. All HMIS Users at your agency have completed the HMIS Skills Test 
2. You have submitted an HMIS Account Update & Testing Form for each HMIS User by 11/20/20.

HMIS accounts belonging to users who have not completed the HMIS Skills Test by Friday, November 20th, 2020, will be locked.

If you have any questions regarding the 2020 HMIS User Re-Certification process please review the FAQ section of the HMIS Skills Test knowledge base article or contact the HMIS Help Desk.