Megan Vickers, who presented homelessness system data for the symposium, reviewed Metro Nashville’s HUD system performance measures drawn from the local HMIS (Homeless Management Information System).

Vickers told the audience these measures reflect a specific reporting window (February to February) and only include projects funded through the Continuum of Care (CoC). She emphasized that HMIS data underpin performance scores used in federal CoC funding decisions and urged participating agencies to keep records current.

Key numbers presented by Vickers included median lengths of homelessness for people in system projects: about 59 days for people in emergency shelter or safe haven beds; 96 days for those in emergency shelter, safe haven or transitional housing; and 1,038 days when counting emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional and permanent housing placements in the measure she displayed. She also highlighted Measure 4: 44% of people who stayed in CoC‑funded projects increased income during the reporting period, and 22% of leavers recorded income growth. Measure 5 counted 2,651 people classified as experiencing homelessness for the first time in HMIS during the reporting period, a figure Vickers noted can reflect absence of interaction in HMIS over the prior two years rather than true life‑time first‑time homelessness.

Vickers cautioned that the point‑in‑time (PIT) count is a single‑night snapshot and that HMIS additions — including a new data bridge with Nashville Rescue Mission and more participating agencies (about 47 agencies) — have improved coverage in recent years. She said Measure 7 (successful placements into permanent housing) was roughly 45%, and housing retention for those placed in permanent housing was shown at about 96% in the report Vickers reviewed.

Ending: Vickers invited agencies to consult HMIS helpdesk staff for questions and repeated that accurate HMIS reporting matters because system performance measures can affect up to 40% of CoC funding scores.