HMIS Newsletter: January 2026

Table of Contents

• LSA Submission
• 2026 Point-in-Time Count: January 27, 2026
• February Feature Release
• Upcoming Events 
• Bitfocus is Hiring

LSA Submission

The Longitudinal System Analysis, better known as the LSA, is finally done, and was submitted to HUD on January 16, 2026! We would like to extend our sincere thanks for your hard work on the data cleanup. We truly appreciate the time and effort you’ve dedicated to this process and for your prompt responses throughout.

As a recap, the LSA is an annual report produced by Continuum of Care’s (CoC) Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and provides HUD and the CoC with critical information about how people experiencing homelessness use their system of care. The LSA is essentially a massive export of information and includes: 

• Demographic data such as age, race and ethnicity, veteran status, etc. Please note that this year’s LSA is not reporting Sex or Gender data, however you may have local reporting that include one or both of these demographics.  
• Length of time homeless and patterns of system use 
• Information on special populations, such as veterans and people/households 
  experiencing chronic homelessness
• Housing outcomes for those who exit the homeless services system  

The LSA also provides information about patterns of system use prior to exit, destination types, and, for those who were served again later by continuum projects, lengths of time between exit and re-engagement or returns to homelessness.  
 
Thank you again for helping us ensure this year’s LSA submission was successful!  

2026 Point-in-Time Count: January 27, 2026

The Annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count is a one-night snapshot of people experiencing homelessness. This year Marin County conducted a sheltered count on the night of January 27, 2026 across Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing and Safe Haven project types. Marin County also conducted an unsheltered count in the early morning hours of January 28, 2026. Alongside the sheltered PIT count, we will conduct the Housing Inventory Count (HIC). This report provides HUD with a comprehensive look at available beds and the total number of clients served across these program types:

• Emergency Shelter 
• Transitional Housing 
• Rapid Re-housing 
• Safe Haven (not applicable in Marin County)
• Permanent Housing Type

The HIC includes all programs, regardless of whether they use HMIS. To ensure our community’s data is complete: 

• Non-HMIS Providers: You will receive a Non-Participating Program form to record your data for the night of the count.
• HMIS-Participating Providers: Please prioritize data cleanup to ensure HUD receives the highest quality information. 

What HMIS information should be reviewed?  

• Client Information: To ensure our community provides HUD with the highest quality data, please verify that all relevant client records—including profile demographics, enrollment/exit dates, move-in dates, and housing services—are complete and up-to-date for the PIT count date. 
• Program Information: For all housing projects, please confirm that project start/end dates, available beds and units, and voucher counts are accurate. 

Helpful Reports for Preparing for the HIC/PIT: 

• [GNRL-106] Program Roster: This report outlines program stays and relevant inventory information, based on dates you include when you run the report. The report will include a list of all clients who were enrolled, exited, or remained active during the reporting period.
• [GNRL-220] Program Details Report: This report is a detailed review of all relevant profile, enrollment, exit, and housing service data in one place. 
• [HSNG-108] Housing Census: This report provides bed occupancy rates by date, with the ability to drill down and see a client list for those dates.  
• [HSNG-200] Current Housing Availability: This report summarizes (by housing project type, then program name) the amount of available bed and unit inventory on the night before the report is run. This is most helpful for ensuring your program configurations are accurate. 

Thank you for your diligence and commitment to data quality, which ensures the success and accuracy of our annual PIT Count. If you have any questions, please let us know by emailing us at marin@bitfocus.com.

Bitfocus Feature Release

In February, we’re releasing several updates to help your community get the most out of Clarity. Here are some of the key changes you should know about:

• Enrollment Screens: We will be updating the enrollment screens and warnings around disabling conditions.
• New Interface: We are adding more functionality to the new Clarity interface and updating the messaging across Care team members will become easier! A “documentation requirements” section will be added to the referral screen, streamlining eligibility steps. And a Coordinated Entry analysis tab will be added with more clear ways to review all of the ways we work with referrals.

See it in action: Join our Feature Focus on February 5th at 10am PT.

Read the details: Check out the February 2026 Features article for a deep dive into these changes.

Try it yourself: These updates will be available in your Training Site starting January 27, 2026. If you need help exploring them, reach out to your Bitfocus Administration team: marin@bitfocus.com

Upcoming Events

HMIS Agency Leads Meeting* | March 18, 2026 at 11am-12pm Register here *Agency Leads Only

We ask that the designated HMIS Agency Leads and Security Officers join this meeting on a bi-monthly basis so the information discussed can be shared agency-wide. We will be discussing topics such as community initiatives, trainings, client privacy and security, program and data management, and much more!

Watch Past Video Recordings Here.

Want more details?

Check out our full events calendar.

Bitfocus is Hiring

Join our Team!

• Visit bitfocus.com | Jobs | About Bitfocus 

• Work with us at Bitfocus! Join a team committed to innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact in human services.  

Questions?

Your HMIS Administrators are happy to help.

Phone: 415-429-1400

Email: marin@bitfocus.com