Oppose Federal Data Standards for Homeless Programs

Standards Would Require Disclosure of Mental Health & Other Sensitive Information

Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Data and Technical Standards Notice* Comments of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law* (Final) *These documents are in PDF format. You will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print them. To obtain these documents in an alternate format, please e-mail leec@bazelon.org. Get Involved... Support the Bazelon Center. Your tax-deductible donation helps the Bazelon Center keep you informed on important developments in mental health law and policy. Not a Subscriber? Sign up now to receive action alerts and updates from the Bazelon Center.

Sept. 9, 2003 — Recently published data standards could compromise privacy and discourage people with mental illnesses from seeking treatment. The Bazelon Center needs your help to reject these standards and the notion of a regimented, “Big Brother” services system that they would promote. Comments must be received by Sept. 22, 2003.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published proposed "Homeless management information systems data and technical standards" in the July 22, 2003 Federal Register (68 Fed. Reg. 43430). Under this innocuous title, HUD says that basically every homeless shelter and services provider that gets any federal money will have to ask detailed questions of every applicant for services (including questions about disability status, mental health history, HIV/AIDS, etc.)

Take Action Now

The Bazelon Center opposes these standards as illegal, morally wrong and bad public policy--likely to push "hard to serve" people with mental illnesses even farther from supports and services. Below you will find links to the HUD proposal and to the Bazelon's Center's comments. Please review the Bazelon Center’s comments and use them to develop your own.

• Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Data and Technical Standards Notice*
• Comments of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law*

*These documents are in PDF format. You will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print them. To obtain these documents in an alternate format, please e-mail leec@bazelon.org.

Please send your comments to:

Michael Roanhouse, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development
Room 7262
Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20410–7000.

Comments must reference the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Data and Technical Standards Notice, Docket Number FR 4848–N–01, and must be received at HUD by September 22, 2003.