It Also Tells You How You Can Get A Paper Copy Of This Information.  

Please Read This Carefully…      
                        
What is HMIS?
When you get services from this agency, we enter information about you into a computer system. It is called the Homeless Management Information System.  HMIS is used by most homeless shelters in MA.

Why is the information collected?

• To help discover how many people we serve and the types of people we serve

• To help us meet your needs. And to help make sure you get services you need.

• To develop new services to meet your needs.

Information that would make you known personally will NOT appear
in any reports! This includes your name, social security number, and date of birth.
 
Who can use the information that is entered into our HMIS?
• People who work at ServiceNet Shelters and provide services to you.
• HMIS staff, who 1) check information to make sure it is accurate; and  2) run reports.   Reports do not identify you or any guests who stay at our shelters!
• Government or social service agencies that receive reports of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. These reports are sent when the law requires it.  
• Law enforcement officials who have a subpoena or warrant that requests specific information.  
• Those who protect society from threats to the health or safety of a person or the public. A disclosure is made to those who can help prevent the harm or threat. An individual who is a target of a threat can have information released to them.

Other uses and disclosures of your information will be made only with your written consent.  You may take back your consent at any time.  

If you sign the HMIS Release of Information form, how can your information be shared?
• Your information can be shared with other agencies that use the HMIS database, including other homeless shelters.  
• Your information can be shared with agencies that give us money to operate our shelters. Your privacy and security is ALWAYS protected by these agencies.

The release allows us to tell the city and the state how many people use our shelters, and why.  This will give them the information they need to develop plans for more affordable housing, more permanent housing, and other related services.  

• We will explain any information that you do not understand.
• We will safeguard the privacy of your protected personal information, as required by law.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

What rights do you have regarding your information?

• You have the right to review your personal information. You have the right to a paper copy of this information for as long as it is kept in the HMIS.

• You have the right to correct your protected personal information (like your social security number or date of birth).
    
• You have the right to receive a list of disclosures of protected personal information. This list will cover the six years prior to the date you request this information.   We may not keep a list of certain kinds of disclosures if the law does not require it.

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may send a written complaint to the above address.

This Notice concerns information entered into our HMIS.  You have extra rights regarding your protected health information. These rights are described in our “Notice of Privacy Practices.”

HELPFUL DEFINITIONS
                                                                            
Uses of Information: how information is used for a specific purpose. In HMIS, your information may be used for statistical purposes and reports.

Disclosure of Information:  to willingly allow facts about you to be known.  Your information may be disclosed to help you get services.

Subpoena:  A subpoena is a court order. It is issued at the request of a party; its purpose is to compel a witness to appear in court.

Warrant:   A warrant is an order signed by a judge.  

Consent:  to agree to something.

Personal Protected Information:  information that is unique to you that this agency will keep private. This includes your name, social security number, and date of birth.  

HIPAA: stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It was enacted by congress in 1996. It provides many layers of protection regarding an individual’s medical record and/or protected health information.   

ServiceNet’s Notice of Privacy Practices: in this notice ServiceNet discloses how your information is used, why it is collected, and your rights regarding this information.