The process of gathering information about a new client or household and entering that information into the system. This process typically involves collecting demographic information, income and eligibility data, and other relevant details. The intake process is an important part of the data collection process for homeless service providers and is often the first step in providing services to clients. The information gathered during the intake process is used to create a client record in the HMIS system, which can be used to track the client’s progress and outcomes over time.