Annual Meeting Thank You & Follow-Up

Thank you to those who were able to attend and participate in the 2025 HMIS Annual Meeting. If you were unable to attend and would like to watch the presentation please contact us at the helpdesk to receive the slides and/or recording.

During the meeting, we highlighted our vision and mission statements of the HMIS Governing Board and met all the fabulous board members who support the implementation of the vision and mission. A big welcome to our newest Governing Board members, Etelvina Arevalo Amaya (Twin Cities Metro Area) and Monique Doward (Greater Minnesota). The addition of these two members marks an important milestone: formally sharing decision making authority with people with lived experience of homelessness through the Governing Board. We also heard from two HMIS community members, Danielle Werder with Hennepin County and Theresa Drift with Bois Forte Reservation. Thank you so much Danielle and Theresa for sharing your HMIS stories.

In addition, our dedicated and thoughtful Governing Board Committees: Finance, Policy and Prioritization (P&P), and End User Advisory (formally known as the Implementation Committee) shared their accomplishments for 2025, including an overview of the most recent community survey of our HMIS Lead Administrator, ICA (Institute for Community Alliances). We want to thank everyone who has provided feedback through the year, whether through the official surveys or other means. We can only keep making the improvements the system needs with the input of those who are using it to help residents. And finally, Britt Heinz-Amborn, HMIS Director, shared insights and learnings from 2025 regarding the software transition and hope to focus on increasing trust and confidence in ICA, building relationships between ICA staff and users, and addressing any challenges working with HMIS in 2026.

In closing, HMIS is a core tool for the homeless response system and essential to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. We appreciate your partnership as we use a client-centered data system to connect people to resources and guide equitable, data-informed decisions to prevent and end homelessness in Minnesota, advancing housing, racial, and health justice.

Sincerely,

Annie McCabe & David, MN HMIS Governing Board Co-Chairs