Why Collect Social Security Numbers?

To support the unique identification of each person served.
Where data is shared across projects, the Social Security Number (SSN) greatly facilitates the process of identifying clients who have been served and allows projects to avoid creating duplicate records at Project Start.
Where data is not shared, CoCs rely on unique identifiers to produce an unduplicated count in the HMIS. Name and date of birth are useful unique identifiers, but the SSN is helpful for deduplicating clients where name and/or date of birth might be the same.
Also, an important objective for ending homelessness is to increase access and utilization of mainstream programs by persons who are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness. Since SSN is a required data element for many mainstream programs, projects may need the SSN to help their clients access mainstream services.

(Quote from HUD's HMIS Data Standards: Universal Data Elements: 3.02 Social Security Number - HUD Exchange Social Security Number.)

Data Sharing and Social Security Numbers

By signing the HMIS Privacy Notice & Client Consent Form, clients agree to share their personal information. The shared information contains:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Sex
  • Veteran status
  • HMIS Unique Identifier


This information is not required and might be shared if the client has provided the information and consents to sharing information in HMIS. 

  • Gender
  • Nickname/Alias
  • Contact information 
  • Emergency Contact Information  
  • Client address/location 
  • Veteran details


Social Security Numbers are important to support the unique identification of each person served and projects require a full SSN. Clarity obscures the SSN to prevent passive sharing. Follow the steps below to see a client's complete SSN in Clarity. Please note an audit log is created any time a Clarity user views an SSN.






Viewing the SSN in Clarity

To display the entire SSN, hover your mouse over the privacy shield. A small box will appear; click on the "Edit" button.



You can then read the full SSN and make changes if necessary. 



SSN and the Data Quality Marker

For any unknown SSN digits, use "x." After entering a full, partial, or placeholder SSN, the correct Data Quality Marker must be selected to reflect the quality of the information entered.  If "Full SSN Recorded" is selected, and the same partial or placeholder (000-00-0000) number is entered on two or more client profiles, Clarity will merge those profiles and enrollment data into one profile. 


Contact Information

If you need help, or wish to offer suggestions or feedback, please contact the Cincinnati/Hamilton County HMIS Support team at HMISsupport@end-homelessness.org or by calling 513-263-2790 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).


When contacting HMIS Support about a particular client, please do not send sensitive personally identifiable information (Sensitive PII) through email, such as full name, social security number, or any other information used to determine a person's identification. Instead, please send the Clarity Unique Identifier found on the client's Clarity Profile page. You can use the messaging system in Clarity if you need to send sensitive personally identifying information.