Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA)

A critical aspect of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, is a focus on viewing the local homeless response as a coordinated system of homeless assistance options as opposed to homeless assistance programs and funding sources that operate independently in a community.

The Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA) report, produced from a CoC’s Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) and submitted annually to HUD via the HDX 2.0, provides HUD and Continuums of Care (CoCs) with critical information about how people experiencing homelessness use their system of care. This page provides guidance for CoCs about how to use and interpret their LSAs as well as for HMIS software providers about how to program the report.

Tools and Guidance

An Introductory Guide to Submitting LSA Data for the AHAR

Comprehensive guidebook providing background information and guidance on the LSA and its use for the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.

Date Published: October 2020

LSA Report Specifications and Tools

HUD HMIS Programming Specifications detailing the business rules required to produce the HMIS LSA report file.

Date Published: October 2020

CoC Summary Data View: Conditions Tool

Tool teaching users more about how the HDX 2.0 takes the raw LSA Report upload file (a zip folder of 10 separate CSV files) and turns them into the results displayed on the screen in the Summary Data View.

Date Published: February 2019

Quick Reference: Differences between LSA and SPM Reporting Logic

Brief document describing the difference between the LSA and the System Performance Measures (SPM) report.

Date Published: October 2018

From AHAR to LSA: Understanding the FY 2018 Changes

Brief document highlighting key changes between the LSA and the former AHAR process.

Date Published: October 2018

Overview of the LSA Submission Process

Info-sheet on the submission process for the LSA and anticipated timeline for the 2018 upload.

Date Published: October 2018

LSA Full Table Shells

A set of table shells to illustrate the full dataset that the LSA is capable of producing.

Date Published: August 2018

LSA Summary Display Table Shells

A set of table shells for the basic data displayed to HDX 2.0 users uploading their LSA reports.

Date Published: July 2018

Webinars

Discussion of the LSA Submission Process for CoCs

Materials, including the presentation recording and transcript, from the office hours session held on October 28, 2020 covering questions received through HUD’s Ask A Question (AAQ) help desk regarding the 2019 and 2020 LSA data collection process.

Date Published: October 2020

LSA Office Hours Session 2 - LSA Submission Process: Discussion Session

Materials, including presentation slides, from the office hours session held on November 6, 2018 covering questions received through HUD’s Ask A Question (AAQ) help desk about the LSA process.

Date Published: November 2018

LSA Office Hours Session 1 - From AHAR to LSA: Understanding the FY18 Changes

Materials, including presentation slides, from the office hours session held on October 23, 2018 introducing CoCs to the LSA and covering key changes to this year’s data submission process and timeline.

Date Published: October 2018