Fredericksburg Regional Continuum of CareHomeless Management Information System
HMIS - Homeless Management Information System - is the first shared data tool in the Planning District for collecting data on the region's homeless population, their needs and the services provided. Since the system is shared among shelters, transitional housing, outreach programs and other CoC agencies and organizations, the coordination of effort has greatly improved. Use of a HUD-certified HMIS to track and report on clients served is now a requirement for a variety of Federal - and State - funded housing assistance, homeless and veterans' service programs. The Fredericksburg Regional CoC has selected Pathways Community Network, Inc. and its Pathways Compass HMIS to meet the HMIS use requirement. Other CoCs in Virginia using the Pathways system include Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke and Winchester.
Service providers input information on each client into the web-enabled, real time database, providing a comprehensive profile of the homeless person's needs, referrals made, services provided and needs not able to be met. Information about unmet needs is used to determine the need for new facilities and services or to expand existing ones.
The HMIS allows service providers to make accurate and appropriate placements and referrals. In summary, HMIS has enhanced communication between service providers. The system allows a service provider to see what other services a client is receiving. Service providers can then ensure their clients receive comprehensive services without duplication.
The George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) is the HMIS Lead Agency for the Fredericksburg Regional CoC. GWRC is the planning district commission for Virginia's Planning District 16. The GWRC, along with its predecessor, RADCO, has served our Planning District for more than 50 years. The principal functions are regional land-use planning, transportation planning and transportation demand-management activities, as well as providing technical assistance to the member local governments. In addition, GWRC also supports a number of affiliated regional organizations, including the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation and Rappahannock River Basin Commission.
Planning District 16 has a population of more than 330,000 and has been the fastest growing region in the Commonwealth for the last 2 decades, and is the fourth most populous among all of Virginia's 21 districts. For more information on GWRC, please visit their website: http://www.gwregion.org/