FY2026 Data Standards Update
Keep up-to-date with the latest data standards updates for FY2026
Table of Contents
Introduction
HMIS Data Standards are established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and participating federal partners. The HMIS Data Dictionary is designed for HMIS (homeless management information system) vendors and HMIS Lead Agency system administrators to identify the data elements required in an HMIS. HUD updates the HMIS Data Standards every other year and the next version of Data Standards, FY2026, will be effective as of October 1, 2025.
Data Standards Updates include widespread updates of the HMIS Data Dictionary, HMIS Data Standards Manual, CSV Export files, and reporting specifications including, System Performance Measures (SPM), Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA), CoC APR/ESG CAPER, Coordinated Entry APR, and the PATH Annual Report.
This article acts as an outline of the Data Standard Update release plan for Eccovia.
Timeline
January 2025 - Draft specification documents were shared with vendors in early January 2025.
March 2025 - Draft data element modifications / updates announced
April 2025 - Anticipating a firm set of data standard documentation to be available to HMIS Vendors
April - August - Development, QA, & Internal testing
September 1, 2025 - Sandboxes & Training Environment updated
October 1, 2025 - Go-Live for all Data Standard Updates in Production Environments
Data Standard Updates Details:
2.06 / Funding Sources
Overview
One new funding source is being added and two funding sources are being retired.
For the retired funding sources, ClientTrack has taken a new approach to ensure retired funding sources remain for historical purposes. When a funding source is retired, it will be retitled with (RETIRED) at the end of the component. Additionally, that funding source will be available to see for existing funding source records, but it will not be available for selection moving forward. Please see images below for what these funding sources will look like.
Updates Made in ClientTrack
New: HUD: CoC - CoC Builds

Retired: HUD: HOPWA-CV


Retired: HUD: ESG-CV


These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
4.13 / Date of Engagement
Overview
The FY2026 Data Dictionary clarifies that Date of Engagement is also necessary for Street Outreach projects funded by HUD: CoC - YHDP to collect.
Applicable Funding Sources & Project Types for the Date of Engagement element:
Federal Grant Program | Project Type |
HUD: CoC | 4 / Steet Outreach |
HUD: CoC Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) | 4 / Steet Outreach |
HUD: ESG |
4 / Street Outreach 1 / Emergency Shelter - NbN |
HUD: Unsheltered Special NOFO | 4 / Steet Outreach |
HUD: Rural Special NOFO | 4 / Steet Outreach |
HHS: PATH |
1 / Emergency Shelter - Night - by - Night 4 / Street Outreach 6 / Services Only |
HHS: RHY | 4 / Street Outreach |
Updates Made in ClientTrack
There was no change necessary to the existing enrollment form (FormID 5063), as it already makes Date of Engagement visible and required for all Street Outreach projects. Please see an example of our testing below.

These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
3.06 / Gender & R3 / Sexual Orientation
Overview
HUD has announced the retiring of the Gender and Sexual Orientation from the Data Dictionary. Communities may continue to collect this information at a local level, but all HMIS forms will have the required elements made visible and available, but not required.
Updates Made in ClientTrack
3.06 / Gender - Historical data will remain available for end users to review and access. The HMIS Intake form (FormID 5046) will be updated to make Gender available but not required. Other impacted forms include the Family Members form (FormID 5088), HMIS family Enrollment sub-form (FormID 5063), and the Add Family Member form (FormID 4622).
Please Note: Screenshots will be inserted after updates in ClientTrack are tested and available.
R3 / Sexual Orientation - Historical data will remain available for end users to review and access. The RHY Entry Assessment form (FormID 5050) has been updated to make Sexual Orientation available, but not required.

These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
4.21 / Sex
Overview
HUD has introduced a new element, 4.21 / Sex. This new element will be collected for all clients at record creation for the funding sources outlined below. HUD has also been very clear in their direction that this element is distinctly different from the retired Gender element and no mapping will be done as part of the Data Standards Update. The allowable response options for this element are:
- 0 / Female
- 1 / Male
- 8 / Client doesn't know
- 9 / Client prefers not to answer
- 99 / Data not collected
Applicable Funding Sources & Project Types for the Sex data element:
Federal Grant Program | Component & Project Type |
HUD: CoC HUD: CoC Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) HUD: Unsheltered Special NOFO HUD: Rural Special NOFO |
All components except SSO Coordinated Entry |
HUD: CoC Builds HUD: ESG HUD: HOPWA HHS: RHY HUD: PFS VA: GPD |
All components |
HUD: ESG RUSH | All components except Emergency Shelter and Street Outreach |
HUD: HUD - VASH | HUD VASH Collaborative Case Management |
VA: SSVF | RRH and Homelessness Prevention |
VA: Community Contract Safe Haven VA: CRS Contract Residential Services |
Updates Made in ClientTrack
Because this new element is required based on program and funding source combination, it will need to be available for collection in multiple locations. The new element, Sex, will be added to the Client Intake (FormID 5046), HMIS Family Member form (FormID 5088), HMIS Family Enrollment sub-form (FormID 5063) and Add Family Member form (FormID 4622). The element will be stored in a new column of the cmClient table called SexAtBirth. A new drop-down list will be created to allow end users to select from one of the 5 defined list options.
Users will see the Sex data element as visible and available on the Client Intake form and HMIS Family Member forms, but not required. This element won't be required on these forms because there is no direct tie to a program and funding source to make the element required.
Users will see the Sex data element as visible and conditionally required on the HMIS Family Enrollment sub-form (FormID 5063). At this step of the HMIS Intake, the user will have selected the Program to enroll the client and family into, so that project type and funding source will be used to determine if the element if just visible and available, or required.
Please Note: Screenshots will be added when the updates in ClientTrack have been tested and completed.
These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
V2 / Services Provided - SSVF
Overview
A new service type, 10 / Healthcare Navigation, has been added to the allowable SSVF Type of Service.
Updates Made in ClientTrack
The new service type, Healthcare Navigation, has been added to the report mappings drop-down list (ListID 3070) on the baseline Service Setup (FormID 1188). Users will be able to map any service to Healthcare Navigation to begin collecting the relevant information.

These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
V3 / Financial Assistance - SSVF
Overview
HUD has added an additional date field, Information Date, to be collected when collecting services mapped to SSVF Financial Assistance.
Updates Made in ClientTrack
Additional details will be added soon.
These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
V10 / Mental Health Consultation
Overview
A new element, Mental Health Consultation, has been added for VA funded projects to be collected at start for heads of households and veterans. This element offers four response options to the primary question of Mental Health Consultation Status. The four allowable response options are:
- 1 / Mental health consultation completed
- 2 / Mental health consultation being coordinated/arranged with VA provider
- 3 / Mental health consultation being coordinated/arranged with other provider
- 4 / Offer declined
Federal Grant Program | Project Type |
VA: SSVF |
13 / Rapid Rehousing (Project Type 55 in ClientTracK0 12 / Homelessness Prevention |
VA: Grant Per Diem | Case Management/Housing Retention |
Updates Made in ClientTrack
Additional details will be added soon.
These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
R13 / Family Critical Issues
Overview
HUD updated the allowable response options for this element to include 8/Client doesn't know, 9/Client prefers not to answer, and 99/Data not collected.
Updates Made in ClientTrack
The update has been made to change the drop-down list to ListID 2040. Changes can be viewed on FormID 3756 / Critical Issues which is a sub-form of the RHY Entry Assessment form.

These updates have not yet been deployed to customer environments. Screenshots are included to orient end users to where the updates will be seen upon deployment.
Additional details will be added in the coming weeks for the updates made to each of the HUD Reports