BOISE - Idaho Housing and Finance Association has activated a Homeless Management Information System called ServicePoint, a Web-based homeless tracking system that will help ensure that Idaho receives necessary funding for those in need.

Through ServicePoint, IHFA can accurately document usage of Idaho's homeless services. Providers report data on types of assistance given, referrals made, and other demographic details useful in reporting, but security is strictly maintained to protect personal information and identity.

Idaho was the second state to purchase a Homeless Management Information System and is in the forefront nationally in statewide program implementation.

"The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was directed by Congress to provide an unduplicated count of homeless services by the end of 2004," said IHFA Grant Programs Manager Earl Cook. "As the administrator of HUD funding in Idaho, we felt that the HMIS implementation presented us with an opportunity to make more informed decisions addressing the housing and service needs of homeless families."

With regular use of ServicePoint's many features, providers of homeless services in Idaho can keep track of the federal assistance they provide, the referrals they make to other providers, and the numbers they serve. This information will enable IHFA to more accurately determine the use and value of current grant funds, identify service gaps, provide an unduplicated count of homeless persons served, and better evaluate the outcomes of homeless assistance programs throughout Idaho.

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The Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where they are most needed and when it is economically feasible. IHFA uses no state funds or state employees to support its operations. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.