What is HOMES? A Look Inside VA’s Data Management System

By Kerri Kline, Senior HOMES Operations Specialist, Business Intelligence, VHA Homeless Programs Office

March 6, 2026

Like many things in government, HOMES is an acronym. It stands for Homeless Operations Management and Evaluation System.

It’s fitting that one of VA’s priorities is ensuring Veterans have safe, stable housing, but HOMES is more than just another cute acronym. It’s VA’s primary platform for collecting key information for homeless Veterans as they move through VA’s system of care.

Why is HOMES important?

HOMES plays a critical role in enhancing communication among VA homeless program staff and leadership across the organization, as it is the primary portal that captures data on hundreds of thousands of Veterans connected to housing services. It offers insight into case management and provides visibility into program outcomes and service delivery.

Additionally, HOMES is the primary data system for VA’s national homeless performance measures, including the Homeless Services Scorecard, technical assistance manuals, and data definitions. These resources clarify how data documented in HOMES influences performance metrics at the local and national levels.

Having accurate and timely data isn’t just important—it’s essential to helping Veterans find stable housing and support. HOMES supports this mission by enabling us to:

• Ensure compliance with data management policies and procedures while supporting 139 VAMCs with over 7,000 HOMES users, in accordance with system documentation requirements.
• Maintain strict access controls and data security protocols.
• Conduct data reconciliation processes to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Promote data literacy through targeted training and technical assistance for VISN and VAMC staff.
• Advocate for the effective use of data during stakeholder engagements.
• Prepare and share accessible, actionable data with partners and stakeholders.
• Strengthen VA’s capacity to monitor program effectiveness, including service utilization and outcomes.
• Provide real-time data to staff and leadership for informed decision-making.

How does VA protect Veterans’ data?

VA is responsible for private health care data day in and day out. That’s because VA is a health care agency with strict Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) oversight.

HIPAA data elements, also known as Protected Health Information (PHI) identifiers, are 18 specific types of data that can uniquely identify an individual. This includes common identifiers like names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, as well as less obvious identifiers, such as medical record numbers, IP addresses, and biometric data like fingerprints.

VA’s data management practices, including those related to HOMES, are governed by strict uses and disclosures outlined in our System of Records Notice (SORN), ensuring the confidentiality and security of all Veteran data.