Over the past several years, COHHIO has been working with the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and local homeless services providers from around the state to resolve problems surrounding contradictory federal requirements for collecting data about domestic violence survivors who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.

While HUD requires federally funded homeless services providers to enter data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), federal agencies that fund victim service providers discourage the collection of client level data and prohibit grantees from entering data into HMIS because of the unique risks to DV survivors. HUD’s data requirements make many victim service providers reluctant to refer their clients to HUD-funded housing because of confidentiality concerns.

To overcome barriers for people who need both housing assistance and confidentiality, the COHHIO-ODVN workgroup, including staff from HMIS administrators around the state, developed DV Data Collection Protocols and a DV Assessment Tool to provide the minimum amount of information necessary about a client to link them to the appropriate housing referral.

The workgroup unveiled these new resources during a June 15 webinar. We urge DV and homeless services providers to utilize these tools to expand access to safe housing and protection for domestic violence survivors.

More information (also available here: https://cohhio.org/boscoc/special-initiatives/):

Please email amandawilson@cohhio.org with any questions.