Alaska Homeless Management Information System

The Alaska Homeless Management Information System (AKHMIS) is the central database for homeless services in Alaska. AKHMIS collects client, program, and system-level data. Aggregated, anonymous data from AKHMIS is used to generate reports for federal, state, and local funders. Client-level data is used to help connect individuals experiencing homelessness to the best resources to meet their needs. The effective implementation of AKHMIS benefits homeless and near-homeless persons, homeless service providers, agency heads, public policymakers, and the community as a whole as data can be used for both individual and system-wide process improvement.

AKHMIS adopted the use of Bowman System’s ServicePoint (SP) as its platform for a coordinated community-wide HMIS. SP is a secure web-based application, which can be accessed through encrypted Internet connections from program offices. SP is the most widely used HMIS application in the country.

AKHMIS services in Alaska are managed by the Institute for Community Alliances (ICA). The CoCs designate ICA to administer HMIS operations on their behalf and to provide HMIS technical administrative functions at the direction of the Continua through the CoC governing bodies and achievements outlined in the contractual agreement. ICA is responsible for managing and administering HMIS operations and activities, as designated by the CoCs.

Although AKHMIS was initiated to meet the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) data collection requirements, AKHMIS is continuously evolving to better meet the needs of the community. In 2020, a strategic plan was launched to improve the system.