2026 HMIS Data Standards

Overview

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) updates the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Data Standards every other year. The requirements of the FY2026 updates must be programmed and in practice by all HMIS and comparable database systems by Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This article will serve as a “central hub” for Clarity Human Services FY 2026 Data Standards resources.

Resources  included:

• Data Standards Release Dates
• Clarity Human Services Help Center resources
• Data Analysis resources
• Pentaho resources
• A summary of updates within Clarity Human Services
  
  • Looker impacts included for each Data Element, where available
• Pentaho Report Impacts
  • Federal Reporting
    
    • Note: please review a recommendation on SSVF and GPD-CM VA Repository Submissions, due October 1-7, 2025, at the top of this section.
  • General Reports and Custom Reports
• Data Import Tool (DIT) resources
• Operational API resources
• Zipcode Geography Crosswalk update
• New and Updated Screens
  
  • Screen Update Schedule included
• New and Updated Templates
  
  • Template Update Schedule included
• HUD Exchange resources (linked here when available)
• Article Update Log

Data Standards Release Dates

• System screens
  • September 1: The 2026 System Screens will be released to Training Sites.
  • September 17: The 2026 System Screens will be released to Production Sites, but the screens will be Inactive and will have a DO NOT USE label.
  • October 1:  The 2026 System Screens will be made Active and the DO NOT USE label will be removed.

• New /Updated fields, new/updated picklist options, updated labels, etc
  • September 1: Updated fields will be released to Training Sites
  • September 17: The following new fields/ picklists will be released to Production Sites: Sex, Mental Health Consultation, SSVF Service Category “Healthcare Navigation,” Funding Source - HUD: CoC Builds. The values will be Inactive and will have a DO NOT USE label.
  • October 1: Updates will be applied in Production Sites. New picklist values that were added on September 17 will be made Active and the DO NOT USE label will be removed. The following new fields/picklists will be also released to Production Sites: RHY Critical Family Issues, SSVF HP Targeting Criteria, Race and Ethnicity, Retire Funding Sources - HUD: ESG-CV and HUD: HOPWA-CV

• System templates will automatically be updated to include the 2026 standard screens and will be relabeled to 2026 on the following dates:
  • September 1: Training Sites.
  • October 1: Production Sites.

Clarity Human Service Help Center Resources

The following resources are available on the Help Center:

• Clarity Human Services: October 2025 Feature Updates
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards (this article)
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: System Administrator Checklist Quick Guide
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: Screen Configuration Guide
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: Custom Screen Update Instructions
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: DIT Impact
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: 2026 Sample Forms

Data Analysis Resources

As of August 29, 2025, Looker updates and required actions are included in the Clarity Human Services: October 2025 Feature Updates article and below with each Data Standards element, where available. Any additional resources or standalone articles will be linked here when they become available. 

Pentaho Resources

FY 2026 Federal Reporting Updates are summarized in this article and include a note regarding General and Custom reports. More information about Pentaho FY 2026 Data Standards impacts will be provided in Pentaho release notes as it becomes available.

The relevant release notes and any standalone articles will be linked here as they become available:

• Pentaho Release Notes - August 2025
• Pentaho Release Notes - September 2025

2026 HMIS Data Standards Summary of Updates

This is a summary of the updates to the FY 2026 HMIS Data Standards. 

For updates with required actions or mapping details, please refer to the Clarity Human Services: October 2025 Feature Updates or the 2026 HMIS Data Standards: System Administrator Checklist Quick Guide articles.

2.02 Program Information

Language was added about the appropriate project type for Pay for Success funded projects.

2.06 Funding Sources

One funding source is being added, and two are being retired.

The following will be added to core field Funding Source (funding_source): 

• HUD: CoC Builds (56)

The following will be labeled as retired and moved to the bottom of the picklist for core field Funding Source (funding_source):

• RETIRED (HUD: ESG-CV) (47)
• RETIRED (HUD: HOPWA-CV) (48)

Data Analysis Update 

Funding Sources 47: HUD: ESG-CV and 48: HUD: HOPWA-CV have been removed and 56: HUD: CoC Builds has been added to the measures that count errors on the DQ Client Program Demographics view of the Data Quality Model. 

56: HUD: CoC Builds has been added to the universe of programs used for the calculation of the measures exposed on System Performance Measures, Measure 4 in the HMIS Performance Model.

3.04 Race and Ethnicity

The Additional Race and Ethnicity Detail field (3.04.2) is now optional and already set to “Not Required” on 2024 system Profile Screens. This field will be set to “Not Required” on 2026 system Profile Screens. The picklist option “Hispanic/Latina/e/o” will be changed to “Hispanic/Latina/o”.

3.06 Gender

The Gender field (gender)  has been retired from HUD Data Standards. The Gender field will remain in the system and is included in a new Clarity Intake screen for communities who wish to continue using the field. More information about the new Clarity Intake screen can be found here in this article.  

3.20 Housing Move-in Date

Housing Move-in Date must be collected for VA: Grant Per Diem - Case Management/Housing Retention Projects. VA Enrollment screens will be updated.

4.05 - 4.10 Specific Disabling Conditions

The following fields are not required for VA-funded and HUD: VASH programs:

• Physical Disability (health_phys_disability)
• Long Term Physical Disability (health_phys_disability_longterm)
• Developmental Disability (health_dev_disability)
• Chronic Health Condition (health_chronic)
• Long Term Chronic Health Condition (health_chronic_longterm)
• HIV – AIDS (health_hiv)
• Mental Health Disorder (health_mental)
• Long Term Mental Health Problem (health_mental_longterm)
• Substance Use Disorder (health_substance_abuse)
• Long Term Substance Abuse Problem (health_substance_abuse_longterm)

These fields and any related warnings will be removed from system VA Enrollment, VA Status, and VA Exit screens.

HUD: CoC - Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) and HUD: CoC Builds (56) has been added as relevant funding sources. 

4.21 Sex

This is a new data element. A new Core field Sex (sex) will be added to the system enrollment screens:

• Data Quality Check is set to Required
• The field is visible for all clients

The Sex field requirements are for the following:

Data Analysis Update 

The new Sex field is available in the following Looker models:

• Client Model
• Coordinated Entry Model
• Data Quality Model
• HMIS Performance Model
• Outreach Model
• Population Over Time Model

C4 Translation Assistance Needed

The following C4 Translation Assistance Needed fields have been retired:

• Translation Assistance Needed (translation_assistance_needed)
• Preferred Language (preferred_language)
• If Different Preferred Language, please specify (different_preferred_language)

R3 Sexual Orientation

In the Field Editor, Sexual Orientation (rhy_sexual_orientation) and Other Sexual Orientation (rhy_sexual_orientation_other) are marked as retired. The core fields will be marked retired in the following ways:

In addition, Sexual Orientation and Other Sexual Orientation have been removed from the following system enrollment screens:

• 2026 HHS: RHY Project Enrollment
• 2026 HUD: YHDP Project Enrollment
• 2026 HUD: CoC Standard Project Enrollment
  • The ‘Additional Information’ label is also removed from this screen

Data Analysis Update

Sexual Orientation (rhy_sexual_orientation) and Other Sexual Orientation (rhy_sexual_orientation_other) will remain in Looker, but are marked as retired in the field’s description. The affected models are: Client Model, Coordinated Entry Model, Data Quality Model, HMIS Performance Model, Inventory Model, Population Over Time Model, and Services Model.

R13 Family Critical Issues

R13 Family Critical Issues fields have been updated from toggle fields to picklist fields. Mapping will be provided. 

The following fields will be converted from toggle fields to picklist fields:

• Unemployment - Family Member (rhy_crit_unemployment_family)
• Mental Health Disorder - Family member (rhy_crit_mental_family)
• Physical Disability - Family Member (rhy_crit_disability_physical_family)
• Alcohol or Substance Use Disorder - Family member (rhy_crit_substance_family)
• Insufficient Income to Support Youth - Family Member (rhy_crit_income_family)
• Incarcerated Parent of Youth (rhy_crit_incarcerated_parent)

The picklist response options for each of the fields above are:

• No
• Yes
• Client doesn’t know
• Client prefers not to answer
• Data not collected

Data Analysis Update

The following RHY Family Critical Issues dimensions have been updated from Yes/No values to the picklist values 0: Yes, 1: No, 8: Client doesn't know, 9: Client refused, and 99: Data not collected in the Client Model, HMIS Performance Model, and Coordinated Entry Model:

• Unemployment - Family Member (rhy_crit_unemployment_family)
• Mental Health Disorder - Family member (rhy_crit_mental_family)
• Physical Disability - Family Member (rhy_crit_disability_physical_family)
• Alcohol or Substance Use Disorder - Family Member (rhy_crit_substance_family)
• Insufficient Income to Support Youth - Family Member (rhy_crit_income_family)
• Incarcerated Parent of Youth (rhy_crit_incarcerated_parent)

The Family Critical Issues Error dimension in the DQ Client Program Specific view for the Data Quality Model has been updated to recognize 0, 1, 8, 9 and 99 as valid codes in data quality checks for the RHY Family Critical Issues dimensions listed above.  In addition, the choices 8: Client doesn't know, 9: Client refused, and 99: Data not collected are reported specifically with their own error messages.

V2 Services Provided - SSVF

The System field VA SSVF Service (si_cat_1_2700) will be updated to include “Healthcare Navigation” as a service.

• The Service Title is “Healthcare Navigation”
• The picklist value is 10
• The Category is VA SSVF Service

The “Healthcare Navigation” service will be added to any new programs where the system VA: SSVF Project program template is applied after October 1, 2025. For any existing programs that use the VA: SSVF Project program template, or any existing programs that use a custom VA: SSVF Project program template, the new “Healthcare Navigation” service must be manually added.

New Clarity Interface

Within the new Clarity interface, end users can provide the new VA SSVF Healthcare Navigation service to clients, as well. The steps to provide the new service are the same as the steps to provide any other service using the new Clarity interface.

Data Analysis Update

The field Type Provided, under the Services view in the Services Model, has been updated to include the new VA SSVF Service, "Healthcare Navigation." 

The field SSVF Services Provided Error in the Data Quality Model has been updated to ensure the new value "Healthcare Navigation" is not counted as an error.

V3 Financial Assistance - SSVF

The date field Event Date of Financial Assistance will be renamed Date Provided for V3 SSVF Financial Assistance services. Mapping will be provided. 

The date field Event Date of Financial Assistance will be renamed Date Provided for V3 SSVF Financial Assistance services with:

•  A Delivery Type of Single Event
• The Category = VA SSVF Service, AND
• A service item with a Category = Financial Assistance

The following updates will also be made:

• Two new date fields, Start Date of Financial Assistance and End Date of Financial Assistance have been added
  • These fields are on a single row below the Date Provided field
  • Start Date of Financial Assistance corresponds to FAStartDate in the HMIS CSV Services.csv file
  • End Date of Financial Assistance corresponds to FAEndDate in the HMIS CSVServices.csv file
• The Expense Date field was hidden to avoid repetitive data entry. Instead, the new Date Provided field populates the Expense Date field in the database.
  • The Expense Amount field was relabeled Financial Assistance Amount for SSVF Financial Services only
• On the Modify Expense screen, Expense Amount has been renamed Financial Assistance Amount
• The Date Provided and Start Date of Financial Assistance fields are required to be completed when the user provides V3 SSVF Financial Assistance services to clients
• The End Date of Financial Assistance field is not required at the time the user provides the V3 SSVF Financial Assistance service to the client; it can be added later
• Date Provided populates the Service Start Date field in the database. The Service Start Date data from the database will be used in the HMIS CSV Services.csv file. 

New Clarity Interface

The same three fields are also available in the  new Clarity Human Services interface for V3 SSVF Financial Assistance services with a Delivery Type of Single Event, Category = VA SSVF Service, AND a service item with a Category = Financial Assistance:

• Start Date of Financial Assistance

• End Date of Financial Assistance

• Date Provided

The steps to provide the new service are the same as the steps to provide any other service in the new Clarity interface.

Data Analysis Update 

The description for the existing Services Start Date field has been updated to explain that this field is also used as “Date Provided in V3 Financial Assistance - SSVF.”

Two new date fields, Financial Assistance Start Date and Financial Assistance End Date, were added to the “Services” view for the following models: Client Model, Coordinated Entry Model, HMIS Performance Model, and Services Model. 

The new date fields, Financial Assistance Start Date and Financial Assistance End Date, were also added to the “Client Services” view for the following models: Data Quality Model and Reservations Model. 

V7 HP Targeting Criteria

The field display names will be updated for ssvf_targeting_field_15 and ssvf_targeting_overrepresented_population. The fields will be updated in both the field editor and on the system VA: Project Enrollment screen.

• Dependency P:  "Household size of 5 or more requiring at least 3 bedrooms (due to household composition)"
• Dependency Q: "Households which may include one or more members meeting other criteria for targeting prevention determined by the CoC."

Data Analysis Update 

The labels for entry_screen.ssvf_targeting_field_15 and entry_screen.ssvf_targeting_overrepresented_population dimensions have been updated. These dimensions are exposed on the Entry Screen view under the SSVF/VASH group label for the Client Model, Coordinated Entry Model, HMIS Performance Model, and Population Over Time Model.

V10 Mental Health Consultation

A new data element V10: Mental Health Consultation has been added as a new Core picklist field.

The response options for the Mental Health Consultation field are:

• Mental health consultation completed
• Mental health consultation being coordinated/arranged with VA provider
• Mental health consultation being coordinated/arranged with other provider
• Offer declined

The Mental Health Consultation field will be added to the following system screen:

• 2026 VA: Project Enrollment screen
  • The field will be in the Additional Information section below the General Health Status field
  • Data Quality Check is set to Required

The field will be visible for heads of household and veterans who are being enrolled in any of the following programs:

• VA: SSVF-funded Homelessness Prevention project
• VA: SSVF-funded Rapid Rehousing project
• VA: Grant per Diem-Case Management/Housing Retention-funded Services Only project

Data Analysis Update 

The Mental Health Consultation field has been added underneath the Entry Screen view in the HMIS Performance Model, Client Model, Population over Time Model, Data Quality Model, and Coordinated Entry Model. 

Pentaho Reports 

Federal, General, and Custom reports will be updated to align with the FY 2026 Data Standards.

Federal Reporting

The following updates are being applied to Federal Reporting to align with FY 2026 Data Standards and relevant Reporting Specifications by 10/01/2025. FY 2024 Report Versions will no longer be accepted in Federal Reporting submission sites after 10/01/2025. *

• [HUDX-111-AD] HUD CSV / XML Program Data Export

• [HUDX-223-AD] System Performance Measures  

• • Updates were applied to Measure 1b, Measure 2, Measure 3, and Measure 4 to ensure alignment with the SPM specifications. 

• [HUDX-224-AD] PATH Annual Report  

• • Updates were applied to update relevant row number and table references, removed Q26a. Gender, added Q26l. Sex,  and improved logic for Q26f. Co-occurring disorder, Q26g. Connection with SOAR, and Q26k. Domestic Violence to return the latest non-null value within the enrollment.  

• [HUDX-225-AD] HMIS Data Quality Report 

• • Updates were applied to remove Gender data quality checks from table Q2. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and update logic in table Q7. Inactive Records: Street Outreach and Emergency Shelter – Contact to exclude Emergency Shelter – Night-by-Night enrollments and include PATH-funded SSO enrollments.  

• [HUDX-227-AD] APR and [HUDX-228-AD] ESG CAPER 

• • Updates were applied to remove Gender references/tables (Q6a. DQ Table Row, Q10. Gender, Q25c. Gender – Veterans, Q26c. Gender of Chronically Homeless Persons, Q27c. Gender – Youth), remove Q24d. Translation Assistance Needed, and Q24c. Sexual Orientation of Adults in PSH, added table Q24e. Sex, and updated Hispanic/Latina/o Labels. 

• [HUDX-235-AD] CE APR  

• • Updates were applied to remove Gender references in the Q6a. Data Quality Table, and Report Universe/Q4 Logic based on CE APR specification updates where there must be “at least one [CE Participation Status] (2.09) record with [Project is a Coordinated Entry Access Point] (2.09.1) = yes (1)”. 

• [HUDX-231-AD] LSA Export - Systemwide  

• • LSA updates are ongoing as we work with LSA TA Partners to discuss relevant shifts. Updates at this time include removing Gender references, updating AHAR labeling to AIR (Active in Residence), and logic updates for HHChronic (LSAExit.csv) and active client logic on a specific date for Emergency Shelter – Night-by-Night Enrollments.  

• • As updates approach finalization, downstream logic updates will be applied to: 

• • • [HUDX-236-AD] LSA - Project Descriptor HDX Upload Test  

• • • [HUDX-123-AD] Housing Inventory (HIC) Supplemental 

• [HUDX-230-AD] Shelter Count PIT  

• • Updates were applied to remove Gender from the PIT table shell and Persons by Programs Table and update Hispanic/Latina/o labels.  

General Reports and Custom Reports

General reports will be updated to align with FY 2026 Data Standards and impacted custom reports have been identified. Additional information about general and custom reports will be communicated as it becomes available via Pentaho Release Notes and/or targeted communication/documentation.

Data Import Tool (DIT)

The Data Import Tool (DIT) will be updated and DIT users can:

• Upload a FY26 Data Standard-compliant HMIS CSV v1.0 zipfile and equivalent Clarity XML file to the DIT (FY24 format option is still available to select as well)
• Validate the uploaded HMIS CSV v1.0 files and equivalent Clarity XML file against the FY26 HMIS CSV v1.0 Specification and the the new FY26 HMIS-compliant Clarity XML Schema, respectively
• Import the same HMIS CSV/Clarity XML zipfile file into Clarity Human Services.

More information about Data Import Tool impacts can be found in the following articles:

• Clarity Human Services: October 2025 Feature Updates
• 2026 HMIS Data Standards: DIT Impact

Operational API

Clarity Operational APIs will be updated to the FY2026 Data Standards:

• The updated Operational API GraphQL Schema and example Postman Collection will be released as soon as they are available, with an incremented version number (currently at v2.3.0) to reflect these changes.  
• All applicable FY26 Data Standard changes will be made.  These include changes to, or additions of, the following HMIS Data Elements:
  • 4.21 Sex
  • Gender (will remain in the API, but no longer possessing the HMIS data element ID of #3.06 for FY26). 
  • R3 Sexual Orientation
  • R13 Family Critical Issues
  • V2 Services Provided SSVF
  • V3 Financial Assistance SSVF
  • V10 Mental Health Consultation
  • Removal of C4 Translation Assistance 

Zipcode Geography Crosswalk

Reference data and lookup logic has been updated to align with HUD’s 2026 Data Standards ZIP code/geography type crosswalk. 

New and updated Screens

The following new System Profile screens will be created: 

• [2026] HMIS General Intake
• [2026] HMIS Minimum Intake

The following new Profile screen will be created:

• [2026]  Clarity General Intake
  • This is a new system profile screen that includes the retired Gender field.

The following new System Enrollment, Status, and Exit screens will be created: 

• [2026] HUD: CoC Standard Project
• [2026] Minimum Project
• [2026] HUD: HOPWA Project
• [2026] HUD: YHDP Project 
• [2026] HHS: PATH Project
• [2026] HHS: RHY Project
• [2026] VA: Project

The following new Enrollment, Status, and Exit screens will be created:

• [2026] Clarity Project
  • These new system screens exclude the new Sex field.

The following new System Post-Exit Screens will be created:

• [2026] HUD: CoC Standard Project
• [2026] HHS: RHY Project

Screen Update Schedule

• September 1: The 2026 System Screens will be released to Training Sites.
• September 17: The 2026 System Screens will be released to Production Sites, but the screens will be Inactive and will have a DO NOT USE label.
• October 1:  The 2026 System Screens will be made Active and the DO NOT USE label will be removed.

New and Updated Templates

The following new Program Template will be created:

• [2026] Clarity Project
  • This is a new system Program Template that includes the new [2026] Clarity screens.

The following Program Templates will be updated:

• [2026] CoC Project [Standard]
• [2026] Minimal Project
• [2026] HUD: HOPWA Project
• [2026] HUD: VASH Project
• [2026] HUD: YHDP Project
• [2026] HHS: PATH Project
• [2026] HHS: RHY Project
• [2026] VA: GPD/HCHV Project
• [2026] VA:SSVF Project

Program Template Update Schedule

October 1: Existing 2024 System templates will be automatically renamed and screens replaced with 2026 System screens. 

• Custom templates will need to be updated manually.

HUD Exchange Resources

As of August 29, 2025, HUD Exchange resources for the 2026 Data Standards updates have not yet been published. Once available, links will be added to this article.

Article Update Log

 

Updated: 09/11/2025