Creating a Household
In this article
Before You Create a Household
Creating a household gives the user the ability to create an Entry/Exit record including all household members and assign services to a group of people. Households are created with one person designated as the Head of Household. When other members are added to the household, they are identified by their relationship to the Head of Household. Households are not created for single clients.
Ask yourself some questions:
- Is this a single client? If yes, do not create a household!
- Has a group of persons (2 or more) presented together as a household or family unit to receive a service together and/or are being provided a service together? If yes, then you should create a household.
- Is there already a household created in HMIS? If no, then you should create a new household. If yes, use the existing household.
Creating a Household
This overview assumes you have successfully entered EDA (Enter Data As) mode, Backdated appropriately, and searched for the client on the Client Search screen and have either identified an existing client or have added a NEW client to the system. For complete instructions on adding households to HMIS, please review the Households How-To Guide.
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- While in the Head of Household's record, navigate to the Households tab.
- Click on Search Existing Households first, and if you don’t find an existing household, click Start New Household.
- Add members to the household, then click Continue.
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- Complete Household Information fields.
- Select “Yes” for the Head of Household and “No” for all other household members.
- Select the Relationship to Head of Household for all members of the household.
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- Scroll to the Universal Profile assessment (attached to the Household Information Tab). Confirm all information is entered for the head of household.
- Toggle to the additional household member names.
- Complete the Universal Profile assessment by answering all of the questions for each household member.
- Click Save & Exit when completed.
Things to Keep in Mind
- There cannot be more than one Head of Household in any Entry/Exit record.
- The term Head of Household does not mean “leader” of the house.
- Do not create a new household if you do not have to!
Additional Resources
- Review the Households How-To Guide
- Review the General HMIS Instructions
- Watch the Updating Households webinar recording (jump to how to create a household)