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2026 HMIS Data Standards: Custom Screen Update Instructions

This article provides general instructions for customizing screens with FY 2026 HMIS Data Standards.

Note: this article is a companion to the  2026 HMIS Data Standards: Screen Configuration Guide article. The information provided here is included on the first tab of that article's Excel file.

Overview

There are two primary ways to make Data Standard screen updates:

  1. Make a copy of the CoC’s custom screen, and then add the 2026 Data Standard
    changes to that screen; or
  2. Make a copy of the standard screen, and then add your CoC’s custom fields to it.

Work smarter, not harder by selecting the most efficient option based on the number of customizations.

If a screen has more than the following custom modifications, it would probably be more efficient to update the custom screen than it would be to copy the system screen and add the custom modifications.

Note: this considers both custom fields and display constraints as “modifications.” If there’s one custom field with display constraints, that's considered 2 modifications for the purpose of this analysis.

CoC Standard Project Enrollment - 9 modifications

YHDP Project Enrollment - 8 modifications

CoC Minimum Enrollment - 5 modifications

PATH Project Enrollment - 2 modification

RHY & HOPWA Project Enrollment - 5 modifications

VA Project Enrollment - 26 modifications

VA Project Status & Exit - 18 modifications

YHDP Project Status & Exit - 1 modification

RHY Project Status & Exit - 1 modification

HMIS General & Minimum Intake - 3 modifications

Many CoCs have more customizations than the thresholds listed above. This guidance will detail Option 1 first -- copying the custom screen and updating Data Standard fields. Option 2 instructions will follow below.

For reference, the 2026 standard system screens with changes are the following:

  • Enrollment screens
    • 2026 HUD: CoC Standard Project Enrollment
    • 2026 HHS: RHY Project Enrollment
    • 2026 HHS: PATH Project Enrollment
    • 2026 VA: Project Enrollment
    • 2026 HUD: HOPWA Project Enrollment
    • 2026 HUD: YHDP Project Enrollment
    • 2026 Minimum Project Enrollment
  • Program Status screens
    • 2026 HHS: RHY Project Status
    • 2026 HUD: YHDP Project Status
    • 2026 VA: Project Status
  • Exit screens
    • 2026 HHS: RHY Project Exit
    • 2026 HUD: YHDP Project Exit
    • 2026 VA: Project Exit
  • Profile screens
    • General Intake
    • Minimum Intake

Option 1 -- Copy Custom Screen and Update for Data Standards:

  1. Identify active Custom Screens relevant for 2026 DS updates (Looker can help identify applicable screens).
  2. Getting started: Start with a specific screen type, for example Enrollment screens. Update all custom Enrollment screens, then move on to Status screens, etc.
  3. Go to Launchpad>Setup>Screens>[screen type]. Make a copy of the custom 2024 screen you intend to update. 
  4. Open the copied screen and rename it to reflect 2026. Be sure to click Save Changes, but do not exit out of the screen. 
  5. Now it’s time to customize the screen using the screen configuration guide. The guide includes the detailed instructions for updating each screen.
  6. Open the screen update guide on a second monitor or window so you can see both the update guide and Clarity at the same time. 
  7. Navigate to the appropriate tab on the update guide (if updating a custom CoC Standard Enrollment Screen, find the corresponding “CoC Standard Project Enrollment” tab).
  8. Complete the actions detailed in each row to make your custom screen compliant with the 2026 Data Standards, then click “Save Changes.”
  9. Next, click “Force Publish” and exit the screen.
  10. Follow these same steps for all of the remaining custom screens.
  11. On October 1, update your existing templates with your new screens.
    1. Add (10) Healthcare Navigation as a service for VA SSVF-funded RRH and HP projects that are not using the system VA: SSVF Project program template.

Option 2 -- Copy Standard Screen and Update for local Customizations:

  1. Identify active Custom Screens relevant for 2026 DS updates (Looker can help identify applicable screens).
  2. Getting started: Start with a specific screen type, for example Enrollment screens. Update all custom Enrollment screens, then move on to Status screens, etc.
  3. Go to Launchpad>Setup>Screens>[screen type]. Make a copy of the system screen you need to customize.
  4. Open the copied screen and rename it to reflect the custom screen name for 2026. Be sure to click Save Changes, but do not exit out of the screen. 
  5. Now it’s time to customize the screen using a side-by-side comparison. 
  6. Open the 2024 version of the custom screen on a second monitor or or window so you can see both Clarity 2024 and 2026 screens at the same time. 
  7. Compare the new 2024 custom screen with the original 2022 custom screen. Go row by row and make adjustments in the new 2024 custom screen as needed. Look for any of the following:
    1. Custom fields, labels, and/or spaces that are in the original custom screen that are not in the new custom screen. Add these fields, labels, and/or spaces to the new screen and ensure they are placed in the correct spot on the screen. Make sure the constraints on these particular fields, labels, and/or spaces match the constraints on the original custom screen. 
    2. Standard Fields that have local custom screen display names. For example, if your CoC relabels “Prior Living Situation” to say “Where did the client live the night before entering the program?” Update the screen display name on the new custom screen. Be mindful of whether these are just updated fields vs. fields your CoC labels differently.
    3. Data Quality Check setting on fields: Ensure that each field added to the new custom screen has the same Data Quality Check as the field on the original custom screen -- is it required?
    4. Field response option defaults: When adding fields to the new custom screen, check if the field should have a default response value. For example, “City of Prior Residence” might default to ‘Hoboken’ rather than ‘Select’ or some other response. 
    5. Warnings: Add any custom warnings from the 2024 screen to the new custom screen. 
  8. Complete all relevant customizations, then click “Save Changes.”
  9. Next, click “Force Publish” and exit the screen.
  10. Follow these same steps for all of the remaining custom screens.
  11. On October 1, update your existing templates with your new screens.
    1. Add (10) Healthcare Navigation as a service for VA SSVF-funded RRH and HP projects that are not using the system VA: SSVF Project program template.


Published: 8/29/2025