Local governments across the United States are turning to GIS technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of point-in-time (PIT) counts of people experiencing homelessness.
In recent years, a variety of technologies have been introduced to increase this population, from apps and data dashboards to drone technology. With record numbers of people experiencing homelessness across the country, this work is arguably more important than ever.
In California, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) first used technology in the form of an app two years ago to replace an existing paper-and-pen process, according to Ahmad Chapman, LAHSA communications director. It has been integrated into the process. Last year, LAHSA adapted his Esri technology to create a new app, which received better reviews than the first. During last week’s count, LAHSA used last year’s app again, but with new technical features implemented.
The county is the largest in the country by land area and has one of the highest numbers of people experiencing homelessness. Last year, the estimated number was more than 75,000. And with 149 deployment sites and more than 3,200 census tracts in the region, the PIT process is not a simple one. As the lead agency for the Los Angeles continuum of care, LAHSA oversees much of this count.
Chapman explains that paper lacks the resilience of digital processes because it can get wet and can be subject to errors. Using a smartphone app not only improves data accuracy but also saves time for the person entering the data. Now, as volunteers patrol the city and measure people who may be experiencing homelessness, that information is now available in real time to people in the office. If errors are detected, you can quickly correct them to get a more accurate count.
“It’s really important to have an accurate count of homelessness,” Chapman said. “This is one of the many metrics we use to decide where to put our resources.”
This year, to increase accountability in the process, LAHSA implemented a new feature: geofencing. This feature was piloted this year to further improve accuracy and was actually requested by volunteers. Chapman explained that this is helpful because census tract boundaries are very specific and in some cases may even include one side of a street and not the other. This feature alerts volunteers who deviate from their designated counting areas, ensuring counts are accurate and ultimately ensuring that resource placement is based on data.
Specifically, the app works offline and LAHSA coordinates hotspots to deployment sites to address connectivity issues.
Este Geraghty, former deputy director of the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Health Statistics and Information and current chief medical officer at Esri, said the potential of location technology to impact health and human services is growing in California. He said it was a big part of his decision to transition to public health. We will work with the private sector to focus on the role of this technology in public health.
“We saw early on how using location technology as a framework and perspective can help us make better decisions,” Geraghty said.
She explained that Esri’s Survey123 solution can be customized to meet the needs of a variety of government users. For example, in Los Angeles, you can use the app to track volunteers and make sure you don’t miss an area. Also new this year is a training hub to streamline access to volunteer information.
Geraghty said governments are benefiting from this technology in terms of enhancing strategic planning and deciding where to put health resources to serve their region’s demographics.
In other counties, customization for this type of technology may vary.
Daniel Yates, Director of Housing and Community Relations at the Department of Resident Services (DCS) in Carroll County, Maryland, said the county is using the technology to enhance its approach to harm reduction.
Tom Dowd, GIS division manager for the county’s Department of Technical Services (DTS), said the county is using Esri apps again this year after last year’s success.
Specifically, when the county created the survey, in addition to the questions it included to meet federal requirements, the county used location technology to provide resource bags filled with items such as Narcan. It was decided to include information on the use of the substance.
Additionally, while LA PIT’s population is unique in its geographic breadth, Carroll County’s population is unique in the county’s rural character, Yates said. What this means is that people experiencing homelessness or living in encampments in the county are often located in non-urban areas, such as the Forest of County Parks. The technology also simplifies the deployment of resources to people living in encampments that are difficult to find or reach by providing more specific locations.
Location technology has enabled the county to save significant time. Previously, Yates explained, the county was doing paper reviews, and everything had to be entered back into the Homeless Management Information System. This additional process could take several weeks.
“It makes it a lot easier for people who are collecting information,” said Carroll County DCS Director Serene Steckel. And in the case of Carroll County, Steckel added that volunteers collecting information will include representatives from the Carroll County Commission.
In the future, this technology will evolve to meet the county’s needs. DTS Enterprise GIS Analyst Farah Solomon said upgrades are underway to open the survey to the public and lock access with a pin. This allows them to be shared publicly and securely, increasing participation in the process. This feature will be introduced in next year’s aggregation.
