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HIFIS 4.0.60.5 Release Notes

As the Government of Canada advances the National Housing Strategy and Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, the importance of data collection, management, and sharing has never been more pronounced. These elements are critical for advancing our collective understanding of homelessness and facilitating informed decision-making. Reaching Home underscores the significance of a data-driven, client-centered approach in addressing the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk.

In this context, the Government of Canada remains dedicated to continually enhancing the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS). Our commitment is to ensure HIFIS is not only secure but also fully supportive of communities in their efforts to collect crucial data, prevent homelessness, and drive meaningful reduction strategies.

For any bugs encountered that are not listed below or for more information on the timeline for resolving other issues, please contact the HIFIS Client Support Center at 1-866-324-2375 or support@HIFIS.ca.

Warning:

Before implementing this release, a backup of your database is necessary. Taking a snapshot of your application tier before implementing this update is also important in the event that a roll back of the changes should be required.

Key Recommendations:

  • Create a copy of your production environment and deploy it to your sandbox or testing site.
  • Perform the update on the sandbox/testing environment first to evaluate the impact of the recalculation and the overall duration of the process.
  • Verify that all key functionalities and client data behave as expected after the update in the sandbox environment before proceeding with the production update.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the HIFIS Client Support Center.

Please note that Microsoft has ended its support of SQL Server 2014 effective July 9th, 2024. As a result, the lowest version of SQL Server supported by HIFIS will be SQL Server 2016.

We strongly recommend upgrading to SQL Server 2016. Moving forward versions and releases of HIFIS require SQL Server 2016, and Microsoft will not be able to assist with any server related problems experienced using SQL Server 2014. For more information on SQL Server 2014 support, you can visit the Microsoft website.

4.0.60.3 may have an impact on your custom reports. This is due to changes to your database's underlying structure that were introduced in release 4.0.58.1 of HIFIS. Check release notes 4.0.58.1. for additional information on the affected tables. Consult your report service provider if you have any issues.

The functionality to pre-define rooms and beds in HIFIS and have them automatically activate on the specified "EffectiveDate" will not function in 60.5. These fixes are ongoing and are expected to return to normal in a future release.

On this page

Download HIFIS version 4.0.60.5

Release highlights

  • HIFIS will allow for flexibility and customization of Consents, helping communities manage consent in a way that better fits their local needs.
  • Users can now add encampment enumerations in HIFIS to indicate which clients are there on a given day. This builds on the Encampment module that was released in version 4.0.60.1.
  • Hidden clients are now hidden under all modules when accessed via the Front Desk Menu.

New features and major changes

New features and major changes introduced as part of this release:

Database Changes

The HIFIS Schema is available here and has been updated for 60.5.

All

Modified Table – HIFIS_CityTypes

  • Added two new columns called Stratum and RollUpIDThe

Consents

  • New Table – HIFIS_Consent_Documents
  • New Record – HIFIS_ConsentTypes
    • A new value for Explicit + Coordinated Access consent has been added, with ConsentTypeID=5.
  • Modified Table – HIFIS_Cluster
    • A new column was added called ConsentExpirationNotification

Client State

Updated Stored Procedure – sp_ClientStateChanges

  • The stored procedure will be triggered to execute asynchronously, preventing conflicts with other database operations.

Client Vitals

  • New Table – HIFISPronounTypes
  • New Table – HIFIS_PronounTypes_SP
  • Modified Table – HIFIS_People
    • A new column was added called PronounsID

Data Export

New Table – EXPORT_RacialIds

Encampments

  • New Table – HIFIS_Encampment_Comments
  • New Table – HIFIS_Encampment_Enumeration_Clients
    • On update, all client data from HIFIS_Encampments will be copied into the HIFIS_Encampment_Enumeration_Clients.
  • New Table – HIFIS_Encampment_Enumerations
  • Modified Table – HIFIS_Encampments
    • The following columns were removed, as they are captured in HIFIS_Encampments_Enumerations moving forward:
      • AnonymousCount
      • DemoChildYouthCount
      • DemoAdultCount
      • DemoSeniorCount
      • DemoMaleCount
      • DemoFemaleCount
      • DemoOtherCount
      • DemoAboriginalCount
      • DemoNonAboriginalCount
      • DemoDisabledCount
      • DemoNonDisabledCount
  • Deleted Table – HIFIS_Encampments_Clients
    • This table is obsolete, with the addition of enumeration functionality.

Food Banks

Modified Table – HIFIS_FoodBankItems

    • A new column was added called BehaviourTypeID

Identification

Modified Table – HIFIS_PeopleIdentification

    • A new column was added called ConfidentialYN

PiT Counts

Modified Table – HIFIS_PiTQuestionnaires

    • A new column was added called TemplateNameF

Rights

New Record – HIFIS_Rights

  • New value for 'Encampments Comments' has been added with a RightID=1196
  • New value for 'Add Encampment Comments' has been added with a RightID=1197
  • New value for 'Delete Encampment Comments' has been added with a RightID=1198
  • New value for 'Display Encampment Comments' has been added with a RightID=1199
  • New value for 'Edit Encampment Comments' has been added with a RightID=1200
  • New value for 'List Encampment Comments' has been added with a RightID=1201
  • New value for ‘View Confidential Identifications’ has been added with a RightID=1191
  • New value for ‘View Confidential User Documents’ has been added with a RightID=1207

Users

New Table – HIFIS_AccountTypes

Minor changes

Minor changes included in this release:

All

  • Client names are now clickable under all Front Desk modules.
  • Clients who are hidden are no longer visible under all Front Desk modules.

Admissions

  • When booking a client into shelter, their Housing History now appears, with the option to add a new record, update a record, or delete a record (when the user has the appropriate rights).
  • When booking a client out of shelter, their Housing History now appears, with the option to add a new record, update a record, or delete a record (when the user has the appropriate rights).
  • There is now a shortcut button to add an admission record for a client under the Client Management menu on a client’s profile.

Case Management

Allow users to attach multiple documents at a time in the Case Management module.

Client Vitals

  • Changes to the geographic region field in Client Vitals are tracked in the Client Vitals History Log.
  • Consent type in the client profile summary box changes colour based on the consent type.
  • The Client State History list now says ‘System’ in the “Changed By” column when a change was made due to an automated process.
  • Pronouns can now be specified for client during creation and on the Client Vitals screen. The look-up table can be customized.

Client Vitals Encampment

Visual indicator has been added to

    • Consent status
    • Encampment

Consent

  • Consent types look-up table can now be customized to reflect local terminology.
  • A consent expiry notification has been added when accessing a client’s profile. It will appear based on a new field found in the Cluster Settings.
  • Consent attachments have been added to the list of mandatory and disabled field options.
  • Consent value “Declined Anonymous” has been renamed to “Decline to Share” to better reflect its behaviour.
  • Once a new consent has been created, any existing active consents are automatically end dated.
  • Combine the Coordinate Access Consent and Explicit into one record.
  • Allow users to attach multiple documents at a time in the Consent module.
  • When adding Declined consent to a client, the end date can be updated or removed.

Custom Tables

The module a Custom Table is linked to can now be changed. If there is data attached to the Custom Table, it is duplicated instead of moved.

Data Export

The Client Racial Identity field is now included in the Client’s data export.

Documents

Allow users to attach multiple documents at a time in the Documents module.

Encampment

  • The following Encampment Actions are now tracked in User’s Activity Logs:
    • User creates a new Encampment record
    • User deletes an Encampment record
    • User creates a new Enumeration log
    • User edits an Enumeration or Encampment record
  • Users can now add an enumeration record to an active Encampment. Clients (anonymous or existing) can be added to enumeration records to indicate which clients were present at an Encampment on a given day.
  • On the Manage Encampment screen:
    • Encampment status appears in the heading, based on the presence of an end date
    • Enumeration tab has been added
    • Comments tab has been added
  • Comments can now be added to Encampments. Ability to display, add, edit, and delete comments can be determined by user rights.
  • Add active and inactive status for Encampment records:
    • Encampment status will remain Active if there isn’t an end date
    • Encampment status will be considered Inactive when the end date is equal to today’s date or the date is in the past.
  • Updated the Encampment List:
    • Place Type column has been renamed to Encampment Location
    • These columns will no longer appear when viewing the list:
      • Service(s) Offered
      • Number of Clients
    • These columns have been added when viewing the list:
      • Start Date: will display the date the encampment was first created
      • Status: will reflect whether the encampment is active or inactive
      • Last Visit: will reflect the date of the most recent enumeration record attached to that Encampment
  • Added a validation preventing users to add future date in Encampment record.
  • Encampments have been added under the Client Management menu on a client’s profile.

Help

Access to the Field Dictionary can be determined by user rights (Display Field Dictionary and Edit Field Dictionary).

Housing Placement

Allow users to attach multiple documents at a time in the Housing Placement module.

Housing Loss Prevention

Allow users to attach multiple documents at a time in the Housing Loss Prevention module.

Identification

  • Identification Records can now be marked as confidential.
  • Ability to view confidential identification records can be determined by user rights.

Look-up Tables

The City look-up table can now be modified.

Service Provider

Add Option to Make Geographic Region fields Mandatory.

SPDAT

Removed categories from the Progress Panel when they are not applicable.

Users

  • The following activities that users perform in the Coordinated Access list will appear in the Activity log:
    • Generate
    • Export
    • Print
  • Attachments can be added to HIFIS user files. Multiple attachments can be added at once.

Bug fixes

Bug fixes included in this release:

Admissions

Fixed an issue where you could not create a room with a name above 20 characters. (Issue ID: 770083).

Bulletins

Clients who are hidden no longer appear in bulletins unless the user has the ‘Right to See Hidden Clients’ enabled (Issue ID: 769792).

Case Management

  • Fixed an issue where no items appeared after selecting the ‘View All Session Details’ button (Issue ID: 770438).
  • Fixed an issue when displaying the Case Management details, the Programs field was blank (Issue ID: 770208).
  • Addressed the issue where the action buttons remain visible on case management records from other service providers even when the user doesn’t have the appropriate rights (Issue ID: 770602)

Client Merge

Fixed issue where clients with Veteran Summaries cannot be merged. (Issue ID: 770450).

Client Vitals

  • Fixed the toggle color for Client is “Hidden” or “Visible” (Visible is now blue and Hidden is now red). (Issue ID: 770555).
  • Fixed the issue with the Racial Identity checkboxes not being compliant with WET4 (Issue ID: 770351).
  • Fixed an issue where editing a client’s vitals resulted in their Chronically Homeless status being set to “No” (Issue ID: 770626).

Coordinated Access

Fixed an issue where users could export the Unique Identifier List without having the appropriate rights (Issue ID: 770956).

Encampment

  • Addressed the issue on preventing the end date from being older than the start date (Issue ID: 770389).
  • Addressed an issue where you could future date an encampment record (Issue ID: 770645).
  • The description text entered without spaces, extends beyond the border of the webpage (Issue ID: 770577).
  • Remove the timestamp from the field and only display the dates (Issue ID: 770531).

Financial Profile

  • Fixed an issue where users couldn’t add an Income Type of “Aboriginal Band Council” when the client had been assigned a custom look-up value under “Indigenous Status” (Issue ID: 770639).
  • Fixed issue where Income records are duplicating once saved (Issue ID: 770429)

Good and Services

  • Fixed an issue with user rights to Express Goods and Services not working correctly (Issue ID: 770670).
  • Fixed issue with the Referred field in Express Services not being displayed correctly (Issue ID: 770698).
  • Fixed issue with the Goods field in Express Goods not being displayed correctly when using HIFIS in French (Issue ID: 770918).

Group Activities

Fixed an issue where Group Activities couldn’t be edited (Issue ID: 770765).

Housing Placement

Fixed issue where the Date Search Started for Housing Placements could not be edited (Issue ID: 770699).

PiT Count

  • Fixed the survey number increasing by concatenating number, instead of incrementing (Issue ID: 770597).
  • Fixed issue where you could click on the Abandoned Survey button despite it appearing disabled (Issue ID: 770501).
  • Fixed issue where there is an infinite loading page when the abandon survey button is clicked while completing a Live Survey – Scrolling survey. (Issue ID: 770596).
  • Fixed issue where the province field disappears after saving (Issue ID: 770514).
  • Fixed an issue where a value was include for Question 7 in the exported CSV, even when Don’t Know/ Declined (Issue ID: 770661).
  • Fixed an issue where users cannot “Add an Option” for question 15 (Issue ID: 770712).

Reports

  • Addressed the issue when editing a report after updating it in Report Manager, it removes the assigned Report Categories and Service Providers (Issue ID: 770527).
  • Addressed an issue where Report Categories were not having the desired effect (Issue ID: 770882).

Rights

  • Corrected the word "appointments" as it wasn’t properly spelled out in some sections of the rights tree (Issue ID: 770594).
  • Users without the “Add Client” user right no longer can add clients (Issue ID: 770335).

SPDAT

Fixed user rights issues associated with Adult VI-SPDAT version 2 (Issue ID: 770954).

Users

  • Users with the following labels under the user rights have been properly adjusted:
    • Complete Programs List

(Issue ID: 769729).

  • Fixed issue where users couldn’t be created when the minimum password length was larger than 14 characters (Issue ID: 770571).

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