What is a Universal Data Element?
Date Created: May 7, 2026
What this is
This article explains what a Universal Data Element (UDE) is and provides a list of the current HUD and Minnesota UDEs used in HMIS.
What is a Universal data Element?
A Universal Data Element (UDE) is a specific piece of information that every project using HMIS is required to collect, regardless of the type of funding they receive.
Think of UDEs as the "required fields". Whether a client is entering an emergency shelter in Duluth or a permanent housing program in Minneapolis, the state (and the federal government) requires the same basic information to understand who is being served.
What information is collect?
Below is a list of UDEs. To learn more about each item, click on a row to open it. Each record will show:
- The name of the data element
- Which household member it applies to
- When the information is collected
- Whether it applies only to certain project types
- Why the information is being collected
- Instructions for collecting the data
HUD Universal Data Elements
Minnesota Universal Data Elements