--- title: King County Newsletter May 2026 --- [ (206) 444-4001, Ext 2 ](tel:(206)%20444-4001,%20Ext%202) [kcsupport@bitfocus.com ](mailto:%20kcsupport@bitfocus.com) ** { ### Search        ![logo-bitfocus-small-gray](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hubfs/community%20/logo-bitfocus-small-gray.png "logo-bitfocus-small-gray") # HMIS Newsletter: May 2026 ![](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hubfs/arc_top_white.png) ## Table of Contents - [Announcement](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#announcements) - [Feature Focus and a New Clarity Experience](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#feature-focus) - [Help Desk Reminders](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#help-desk) - [In Our Community](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#community) - [Upcoming Events ](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#upcoming-events) - [Bitfocus is Hiring](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026#hiring) --- ## Announcement    ### **New Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Platform coming July 28th** We are excited to announce a major upgrade to the Clarity Human Services authentication foundation. On July 28th, 2026, we are migrating our multi-factor authentication platform to Auth0. From this date forward, the multi-factor authentication process to login to your HMIS account will look slightly different. While changing how you log in will require a brief adjustment, this upgrade is a critical step in providing a more unified, seamless, and highly secure foundation for protecting client data. View more details on Auth0 [here](https://help.bitfocus.com/clarity-human-services-june-2026-feature-updates?utm_campaign=20066108-Product%20Release%20Promo&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GYs1Wjhv6-2Pi_U2eHV3-xqLZQTeQ6YZLk40yMNfWcOSDsBopjI6k09wZu15usNtSgMj2T0F72XA-SU9X30oPQDIhbA&_hsmi=420581762&utm_content=420581762&utm_source=hs_email&hsLang=en#auth0-authentication:~:text=Interoperability%20Updates-,Introducing%20Auth0%20Authentication,-Bitfocus%20is%20upgrading).   **Your Rollout Timeline** To ensure your team is prepared, this transition will happen in two phases for your community: - **Training Site Rollout:** July 14th, 2026 - **Live Site Rollout:** July 28th, 2026   **Why We Are Making This Change** Authentication is one of the most critical parts of any software platform. Moving to Auth0 allows us to deliver better support for modern security standards to protect Clarity data. For more details check out this Help Desk article: [Auth0 for Clarity Human Services: Toolkit](https://help.bitfocus.com/auth0-for-clarity-human-services-toolkit?hsLang=en)   **How to Prepare** - **Audit staff list for valid email addresses. **Confirm every active user has a valid, unique email on file. Inactive users do not require attention.  - Whitelist the Recovery Email: Ask your IT team to whitelist the email address [noreply@bitfocus.com](mailto:noreply@bitfocus.com)   **What to Expect on Day One** When your live site transitions on July 28th, Clarity users will notice a few immediate changes to their sign-in experience: - You will now use your unique email address to sign in rather than a separate username. - Every staff user will be required to enroll in MFA on their first sign-in. Supported methods include: - One-time password via authenticator app (Bitfocus recommends Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator for iOS and Android devices) - Note: If users cannot use their phones to authenticate, they can use a desktop-based authenticator like [Proton](https://proton.me/authenticator/download). - Push notification via the Auth0 Guardian app - Phone (SMS or voice) Email will be available as a supported authentication method *after *the initial enrollment in the new multi-factor authentication platform. More details coming soon! Keep an eye out for more information on this. --- ## Feature Focus and a New Clarity Experience    We have been working steadily on a transition in Clarity’s look and feel – giving users an overhaul of the Clarity Human Services interface. This isn’t just a facelift; it’s an evolution of the HMIS experience designed to make your daily workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive. And we are now entering the final stretch! In order to prepare internally, starting this month, we will begin to release weekly feature updates, rather than monthly, for the new Clarity interface and system improvements. - For more details on what has been included in our most recent feature release, visit [our HelpCenter webpage on News and Announcements.](https://help.bitfocus.com/news-and-announcements?hsLang=en) - For more details and a preview of the new Clarity User Interface, visit [our HelpCenter webpage on our New Clarity Human Services Interface.](https://help.bitfocus.com/new-clarity-human-services-interface?hsLang=en#main-content) We’ll be working hard internally to update your resources and training for a smooth transition! If you have any questions though, please reach out to your admin team: kcsupport@bitfocus.com  --- ## Reminders from Our Help Desk Team ![Clarity Human Services logo small](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clarity%20Human%20Services%20logo%20small.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=Clarity%20Human%20Services%20logo%20small.jpg)   **Help Us Keep Your Data Accurate!** Merging client profiles is a great way to stay organized and deduplicate your system, but since it's a **permanent change that can't be undone**, we need to be extra careful when end users request a client merge! To ensure a smooth merge process, please keep the following in mind: - **Authorization:** Before sending a request, please verify that you’re approved to make a client merge request. - **The "Triple Check": **Please confirm that the **Full Name, DOB, and SSN** match up perfectly. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult your agency lead and program staff. - **Protecting Client Records:** If our team spots a significant difference that suggests the records might belong to two different people, we will decline the merge to keep the data safe. We appreciate your diligence in helping us maintain a high standard of data integrity! For more details on how we use the Client Merge Tool in Clarity, please [check out our online HelpDesk article.](https://help.bitfocus.com/the-client-merge-tool?hsLang=en) --- ## In Our Community   #### **Stay Informed! Get the Latest News from the KCRHA Blog**  Want to stay in the loop with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority? The KCRHA Blog is the go-to resource for real-time updates on regional efforts. This month, we’re highlighting critical information regarding seasonal shelter openings and the latest Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO). Don’t miss out on important deadlines and community resources. [Bookmark the KCRHA Blog today.](https://kcrha.org/news-hud-withdraws-notice-of-funding-opportunity/?utm_campaign=121725_December-Service-Provider-Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ctct) --- ## Upcoming Events ![calendar-icon-navy](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-08-14%20at%207.34.50%20PM.png?width=165&height=152&name=Screenshot%202025-08-14%20at%207.34.50%20PM.png) #### **Coordinated Entry Monthly Assessor Credential Training (ACT) |** 6.10.26 @ 9:30am [Open the Zoom Registeration Link Here](https://bitfocus.zoom.us/meeting/register/py_mXIjVSU2ipco6VaXzRQ#/registration) Users must attend an ACT training before they gain assessors access in the HMIS. The Monthly Assessor Credential Training is hosted virtually every month. Come prepared to participate in a Coordinated Entry Assessor Onboarding Training that will cover an overview of the system, housing types, service match, documentation, and nomination process, followed by an HMIS demo on your basic assessor workflow.   #### **2026 HMIS Training Series: Inventory |** 6.17.26 @ 9:30am [Open the Zoom Registration Link Here](https://bitfocus.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z5U7dSckT3-wzhqC8zVAMw#/registration) In this meeting, we will review the allowable types of Client Consent in King County's HMIS and the best practices for gathering Releases of Information. --- ## Bitfocus is Hiring #### ![bitfocus Checkmark small](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bitfocus%20Checkmark%20small.png?width=134&height=134&name=bitfocus%20Checkmark%20small.png) ### Join our Team! - Visit bitfocus.com | [Jobs](https://www.bitfocus.com/jobs?hsLang=en) | [About Bitfocus](https://www.bitfocus.com/about-bitfocus?hsLang=en) - Work with us at Bitfocus! Join a team committed to innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact in human services.   --- ## **Questions? ** ## Your HMIS Administrators are happy to help. ![Images of Melissa and Lauryn](https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Melissa%20Lauryn%20-%20King%20Co-1.png?width=500&height=195&name=Melissa%20Lauryn%20-%20King%20Co-1.png) | **Melissa Nicholson** | **Lauryn Searles** | | --- | --- | | Team Manager | Deputy Project Administrator |   ## Phone: (206) 444-4001, Ext 2 ## Email: [kcsupport@bitfocus.com](mailto:kcsupport@bitfocus.com) **OUR VISION:** All people have a home. We want to see that homelessness is rare in King County, racial disparities are eliminated, and if one becomes homeless, it is brief and only a one-time occurrence. Homelessness is solvable, and by acting together as a community, all people can have a home. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States", "addressLocality" : "Las Vegas", "addressRegion" : "NV", "postalCode" : "89118", "streetAddress" : "5940 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 400 #60866 " }, "description" : "Bitfocus is a leading system administration and software development firm offering superior value-priced services for Human Services data systems.", "email" : "info@bitfocus.com", "image" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/5911360/bitfocus-og-image.jpg", "logo" : "https://www.bitfocus.com/hubfs/Bitfocus%20logo.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://kingcounty.bitfocus.com/newsletter-may-2026", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "" }, "naics" : "923", "name" : "Bitfocus", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfocus-inc-/", "https://twitter.com/bitfocus" ], "telephone" : "800-594-9854", "url" : "https://bitfocus.com" } ```