Client Doesn't Know/Refused vs. Data Not Collected

Most data elements include a " Client doesn't know" or "Client refused" response category. It is not the intention of the federal partners that clients be denied assistance if they refuse or are unable to supply the information. However, some information may be required by projects or public or private funders to determine eligibility for housing or services or to assess needed services.

Correct Usage

USE ONLY when a question is asked of a client and the client refuses to provide information or doesn't know the answer.

Incorrect Usage

DO NOT USE to indicate that the case manager or data entry person does not know the client's response.

DO NOT USE without first asking the client to provide the information. Some clients may decline to provide responses to some fields, but case managers or data entry staff may not make that decision for them.

For more information on this response category, refer to the HUD (Housing & Urban Development) HMIS Data Standards Manual.

Data not collected

Use the " Data not collected" response to indicate a question was not asked of a client.

Fields with " Data not collected" selected should be reviewed and serve as a reminder for the case manager or data entry person to try to collect a response from the client.

For more information on this response category, refer to the HUD (Housing & Urban Development) HMIS Data Standards Manual.

Impact on Reports

Some reports may flag Client refused, Client doesn't know as missing/errors. We acknowledge that this may not be correctable as clients have the right to refuse to respond to certain questions or clients may have left the project before the case manager or data entry person were able to collect the information.

"Data not collected" equates to missing data.