What is the difference between project start date and housing move-in date?
Date Created: July 21, 2025 | Date Updated: July 21, 2025
What this is
In HMIS, two important dates often cause confusion: the Project Start Date and the Housing Move-in Date (HMID). Here's a quick explanation of what each one means and why they matter for Permanent Housing including Rapid Re-Housing project types.
Quick summary
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Project Start Date (Link to HUD definition) | For permanent housing projects, including Rapid Re-Housing, this is the date the client is admitted to the project. This means the client is eligible for the project, wants to be housed through the project, and can access the project's services and housing. The housing must be available or expected to be available within a reasonably short amount of time. |
| Housing Move-in Date (Link to HUD definition) | The date the client moved into permanent housing. |
Project Start Date
For Permanent Housing projects, including Rapid Re-Housing, the Project Start Date is the date the client is admitted into the project.
A client is considered admitted when:
- Information provided by the client or from the referral indicates they meet the criteria for admission;
- The client has indicated they want to be housed in this project; and
- The client is able to access services and housing through the project. The expectation is the project has a housing opening (on-site, site-based, or scattered-site subsidy) or expects to have one in a reasonably short amount of time.
The Project Start Date does not need to be the same date the client moves into housing.
Example: A client is admitted to a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project on July 1 and meets the requirements above. Their Project Start Date is July 1, even if they do not physically move into their housing unit until later.
Housing Move-in Date
Housing Move in Date (HMID) is collected only by permanent housing projects (RRH, PSH, PH S, PH HO). For clients in a Transitional housing (TH) project, the enrollment date (project start date) should be the day they move into the TH unit.
The Housing Move-in Date is the day a client physically moves into their permanent housing unit. This applies only to housing projects like PSH or Rapid Re-Housing (RRH).
Example: If the same client moves into their apartment on August 10, then the Housing Move-in Date is August 10.
Why the Difference Matters
- It helps track how long it takes clients to get housed.
- It’s important for reporting and funding requirements.
- It shows whether a client is still homeless or housed.
Transitional housing does not collect a housing move-in date because it are not considered permanent housing and is time limited.