An Introductory Guide to Submitting Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) Data for the AHAR

Description

This guidebook provides background information and guidance on the Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) and the use of this LSA data for the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. The guide describes the LSA data submission requirements and reviews the data submission process via the Homelessness Data Exchange, version 2.0 (HDX 2.0), a web-based data collection tool. Beginning with fiscal year 2018, all LSA data submissions must occur through the new HDX 2.0. The guidebook includes the following:

• Chapter 1 provides a general overview of the LSA and its use in the AHAR, including a brief discussion of the origins of the project, the types of communities that participate, and the uses of LSA data;
• Chapter 2 details the LSA submission schedule and reporting requirements;
• Chapter 3 focuses on accessing and managing your profile in the HDX 2.0;
• Chapter 4 focuses on the LSA submission and data cleaning process via the HDX 2.0;
• Chapter 5 presents additional resources for the LSA and the AHAR; and
• Several appendices provide additional useful information for Continuums of Care (CoCs) submitting the LSA.

At some point in the future, HUD anticipates adding modules to the HDX 2.0 that will address the following:

• Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) count data submission
• HIC, PIT count, and LSA data visualizations
• Data-driven System Improvement Action Planning
• Optimized System Modeling

Additional chapters or sections may be added to this user guide as those modules become available. There is a version history for this guidebook available at the end of the table of contents, which details any recent revisions since the last release. Test LSA Upload Files are also linked on this resource page for those who may want to test the LSA process in the HDX 2.0 prior to receiving files specific to their CoC from their HMIS vendor.

Resource Links

• An Introductory Guide to Submitting Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) Data for the AHAR (PDF)
• Test LSA Upload Files (ZIP)

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