Cal ICH outlines HDIS data work and new statewide goals as lawmakers consider resources for AB 799 implementation

Cal ICH Executive Officer Megan Marshall updated the subcommittee on the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS), how the council uses data to measure program impact and the agency's request for resources to implement AB 799.

Marshall described HDIS as an aggregation of homeless management information systems (HMIS) from California's 44 continuums of care and said HDIS now includes more than 300 data fields to measure programs, participants and enrollments. She said Cal ICH has developed a five‑goal action plan with baseline data from HDIS and other state sources and will publish annual progress dashboards and AB 914/SB 977 reporting dashboards next fiscal year.

The Legislative Analyst's Office told the committee the budget change proposal to fund AB 799 implementation is consistent with prior Appropriations Committee estimates. Marshall said Cal ICH is also expanding data‑sharing agreements to match HDIS records with other state data sets (for example, Medi‑Cal or social services datasets) to better analyze outcomes and disparities.

Why it matters: Cal ICH's HDIS is intended to create consistent statewide metrics for homelessness programs and to allow the state to track outcomes across multiple programs and agencies. The subcommittee will consider Cal ICH's requested resources as part of the budget process.

Committee members asked about council membership, meeting cadence and how the data are shared with local Continuums of Care. Marshall said the council consists of 21 members, meets quarterly, and that legislative staff receive briefings before each quarterly meeting.