Reason for Leaving Options

When clients leave your program, you must complete an Exit Assessment in HMIS. One required field is Reason for Leaving. Choosing the right option helps ensure reports are accurate and shows the real impact of your work. This article provides explanations of all the Reason for Leaving options in the Exit Assessment in HMIS. It also provides a general explanation and possible examples.

Search for you exiting client in HMIS and select the Entry/ Exit tab. From the tab select the Pencil icon highlighted yellow. See screenshot.

         

Select your reason before you begin the Exit assessment:

             

Reason for Leaving Option	Explanation	Possible Example	Case Examples
Successfully housed (by program)	The program assisted the client into obtaining a lease, is no longer homeless, enrolled or receiving services.	ES: Staff placed client into permanent housing. SO: Outreach connected client to PSH. TH: Client moved into permanent housing after stay. RRH: Rental assistance secured apartment. PSH: Client stabilized and transitioned to independent housing.	Maria worked with her case manager and moved into an apartment with RRH support.
Successfully housed (self-resolved)	The client self-resolved and found housing without specific program support, no longer homeless and enrolled	ES: Left shelter to live with family. SO: Found job and housing while unsheltered. TH: Moved to apartment without program help. RRH: Secured lease without subsidy. PSH: Exited PSH due to independent housing stability.	James left shelter after 2 weeks and moved in with his sister.
Successfully referred to another provider	Client connected to another provider that can better meet their needs	ES: Referred to TH. SO: Connected to ES bed. TH: Referred to RRH. RRH: Transferred to PSH. PSH: Referred to higher medical support program.	Sam exited outreach when referred to medical respite.
Service/program no longer available (weather dependent, ended)	The grant/program ended or is not operating at the time	ES: Winter shelter closed. SO: Outreach funding ended. TH: Grant ended. RRH: Assistance grant expired. PSH: Unit closed due to funding loss.	Cold weather shelter closed April 1st; clients exited.
Leaving for institution	The client needs services beyond the scope of the program such as hospitalization or in-patient care, or the client was incarcerated	ES: Client hospitalized. SO: Entered inpatient program. TH: Went to jail. RRH: Psychiatric facility admission. PSH: Transferred to nursing home.	Tanya went into inpatient mental health care.
Moving out of service area	The client is relocating somewhere outside of this project's area of service	ES: Moved out of state. SO: Relocated to another CoC. TH: Returned to hometown. RRH: Moved to another state for work. PSH: Relocated closer to family.	Tom moved to Georgia with relatives who guarantee housing.
No longer needs services	Client no longer in need of services the project is offering	ES: Left shelter after stabilizing. SO: Declined outreach after housing. TH: Completed TH program successfully. RRH: Fully sustaining housing. PSH: No longer requires supportive services.	Angela is stable and sustaining housing independently.
No longer wants services	Client refusing available services or no longer wishes to engage in services	ES: Left shelter voluntarily. SO: Refused outreach engagement. TH: Left before completing program. RRH: Declined further assistance. PSH: Declined case management.	Robert decided not to continue in RRH.
Mutually agreed program exit	Client and program agree to no longer work together	ES: Agreed to discharge. SO: Ended outreach engagement. TH: Agreed TH wasn’t appropriate. RRH: Ended enrollment early. PSH: Agreed to discontinue services.	Lisa and staff agreed to end RRH services together.
Maximum time in program	Program rules limit the days a client may participate	ES: 90-day cap reached. SO: (Rare) Engagement limit ended. TH: 24-month cap. RRH: 24-month subsidy cap. PSH: Time-limited supportive housing closed.	Julian reached 2 years in TH and had to exit.
No longer eligible	The client’s situation has changed and the program or funding rules prevent serving the client	ES: No longer homeless. SO: No longer unsheltered. TH: Over income. RRH: Exceeded income threshold. PSH: No longer disabled.	Shana's new job made her ineligible for TH.
Disagreement/noncompliance	The client didn’t follow program rules/requirements or did not want to follow them	ES: Repeated curfew violations. SO: Refused engagement and became hostile. TH: Violated program rules. RRH: Refused housing plan. PSH: Created ongoing disturbances.	Client repeatedly broke curfew despite warnings.
Safety concerns/risk	Client caused a safety risk to themselves or others	ES: Threatened violence in shelter. SO: Threatened outreach workers. TH: Endangered other residents. RRH: Created safety issues with landlord. PSH: Unsafe environment for others.	Client threatened other residents with a weapon.
Unknown/disappeared	No information is available on why the client has left	ES: Left shelter suddenly. SO: Lost contact. TH: Left without notice. RRH: Abandoned housing. PSH: Disappeared from unit.	Staff discovered client’s bed empty and belongings gone.
Data clean-up	Clients are exited for data clean-up	ES: Duplicate removed. SO: Enrollment closed in migration. TH: Project consolidation. RRH: Admin clean-up. PSH: Migrated to new HMIS.	Duplicate enrollment closed out during data clean-up.
Completed program	Other unspecified positive exit or completed project specified program	ES: Completed skills class. SO: Finished engagement project. TH: Completed service plan. RRH: Finished short-term assistance. PSH: Completed long-term services. SSO:	Client completed 8-week employment class.
Death	The client has passed away during program enrollment	ES: Died during stay. SO: Died unsheltered. TH: Passed away in housing. RRH: Died while housed. PSH: Died while enrolled.	Client died while enrolled in project.

Do’s and Don’ts

✅ Do

Match the reason for leaving with the exit destination

Choose the most accurate option

Use “Data clean-up” only when directed by your HMIS Admin

❌ Don’t

Default to “Unknown” when staff knows what happened

Select “No longer wants services” just because the client stopped attending — confirm reason

Skip the exit destination — HUD requires both fields even if you do not have any current answers.

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Check out the Exit Destination Guide too!