This guide provides HIFIS Leads and Community Entities across Canada with information on how HIFIS can be used to generate a Unique Identifier List.

The guide begins by explaining the underlying features in HIFIS that make it possible to generate a Unique Identifier List using HIFIS data. It then describes several of the methods that communities can use to generate a Unique Identifier List using HIFIS data. Following this, the guide provides several potential approaches for how communities can transition from using Excel or another HMIS to generate their Unique Identifier List, to solely using HIFIS to do so. Finally, the guide concludes with a discussion of the dimensions of data quality and the Unique Identifier List.

For more information on HIFIS and Coordinated Access, see the HIFIS Toolkit and the Coordinated Access Guide, respectively.

Commonly used HIFIS and Reaching Home terminology and definitions can be found in the Homelessness Glossary for Communities.

If you have any questions regarding HIFIS, please contact the HIFIS Client Support Centre by email at support@hifis.ca or by phone at 1-866-324-2375.