Homelessness Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS 4) 

Homelessness Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS 4)

HIFIS 4 is a comprehensive data collection and case management system developed by the Government of Canada – Employment and Social Development (ESDC) in partnership with communities across Canada. HIFIS 4 is designed to support coordinated access by allowing multiple service providers within a defined geographic region to access real-time homelessness data from approved web-enabled devices. HIFIS 4 also allows communities to better understand the number, characteristics, and needs of homeless individuals and families.

Homelessness Information Partnership Saskatchewan (HIPSK)

Under Reaching Home, Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, the use of HIFIS 4 is mandatory in all Designated Communities where an equivalent Homelessness Management Information System is not already being used. This common need led to creation of a partnership of agencies across Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert with the common goal of using a shared HIFIS 4. Through the use of a shared HIFIS 4, the goal of the HIPSK is to:

  • Support a collaborative model of service planning by allowing multiple service providers to access real-time data;

  • Better understand homelessness through consistent data collection practices and entry into a single system;

  • Work towards the prevention and reduction of homelessness using evidence-based policy;

  • Support Coordinated Access in each community through the use of real-time data.

By established agreements between Community Entities for Designated Communities (Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership; Namerind Housing Corporation; River Bank Development Corporation), Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) was selected as the HIFIS Lead Organization for the province's three Designated Communities. As such, SHIP is responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and training delivery of HIFIS 4 for Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

Participating Agencies

Any agency within the housing and homeless-serving system in a Saskatchewan Designated Community that wishes to join the HIPSK shall be given the right to do so under the same terms and conditions offered to other agencies, with the understanding that onboarding will be prioritized based on funding requirements under Reaching Home. Signing on to the HIPSK Data Sharing Agreement is a condition of joining the HIPSK as a participating agency.


Agencies interested in joining the HIPSK are encouraged to: