What is MN Extent of Homelessness?
Date Created: September 21, 2026
What this is
This articles explain what does the MN Extent of Homelessness data element mean, why it is collected and what projects in HMIS are required to collect it.
What you need to know
In HMIS, the MN Extent of Homelessness is used to document a household's homeless status based on MN definition of homelessness and to determine who in the homeless response system meets the criteria for Long Term Homeless.
Where is this question located?
MN Extent of Homelessness is located on the Universal Assessment Data form. It is collected for the head of household and any adults attached to an enrollment.
What projects need to collect this information?
As of October 1, 2026, this data element is only collected for the following:
- All Transitional Housing (TH) projects
- All permanent housing types: Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Permanent Housing with Services (PH S) and Permanent Housing - Housing Only (PH HO)
- Projects funded with Long-Term Homeless Supportive Services Fund (LTHSSF)
- Coordinated Entry and Diversion projects
For housing and diversion projects, MN Extent of Homelessness is only collected at project entry. For Coordinated Entry projects, it is collected at project entry and update.
How to complete this question
Based on the client's prior and current living situations, choose the best option that fits your client situation at the time of assessment. Someone is considered long-term homeless if they do not have a permanent home and have been in that situation for one continuous year or more, OR At least four separate times over the past three years.
Temporary housing situations are counted differently towards a person's time homeless depending on their length.
- Doubled Up / Couch Hopping: Staying temporarily with friends, family, or different people (couch hopping) counts as an episode of homelessness, as long as each stay is for less than a year.
- Transitional Housing (TH): Time spent living in transitional housing is treated as neutral. It does not count as being "housed," but it also does not count toward your time being "homeless" when checking if you qualify for long-term homelessness programs.
- Institutions (Hospitals, Treatment, Jails, etc.): Time spent in facilities like hospitals, treatment centers, foster care, or correctional facilities is also neutral. It generally doesn't help or hurt your homeless timeline, unless you were already homeless when you entered the facility and you stayed for less than 90 days (in which case, that time counts as homeless time).
Since MN has a more board definition of homelessness that HUD, it is important to ask your client about their time in temporary housing situation and not just time in shelter or living on the streets.