Take a Shelter Bed offline
Author: Reid Lemker | Date Created: 05/06/2025 | Date Updated: 06/12/2025
What this is
This article shows how to take a bed offline and how to make it available again. Sometimes a shelter bed needs repair and cannot be used. When this happens, shelter staff can mark the bed as unavailable in HMIS so it is not reserved for or occupied by a guest. This helps shelter staff control and maintain an accurate picture of their bed capacity in HMIS.
Follow these steps
- Select the Facilities workspace icon, (Make sure your in the correct facility by clicking on View Facilities and selecting the correct facility from the list).
- Select the Bed Availability for End Users menu option from the Facility Management folder.
Taking a bed offline
On the Housing Bed Availability screen, select the unit then the bed. Click on Save & Close when you're finished updating bed availability.
If a bed should become unavailable as of today's date, enter yesterday's date in the Latest Available End field. For example, if today is 05/06/2025, then you would enter 05/05/2025 into the Latest Available End field.
Make a Bed Available Again
On the Housing Bed Availability screen, add the date the bed is ready for use in the New Available Begin field. Click on Save & Close.
TIP: If you know when the bed will be ready for use, we recommend adding that date into the New Available Begin field right away. That way the bed is not offline any longer than necessary!
Questions? Email the Helpdesk: MNHMIS@icalliances.org