General News

County unveils data tool as part of 10-point Homelessness Prevention Strategy

October 19, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe is introducing a new data tool to support its 10-point Homelessness Prevention Strategy and assist people in need in communities.

This tool will help inform enhancements, resourcing and strategies that support homelessness prevention and shelter efforts by tracking real-time data on shelter usage and other trends across the region.

The tool was built to support County Council, municipalities, system operators, residents, and service providers in better understanding the ever-changing needs of regional shelters and homeless prevention systems.

“County Council is committed to making the right investments that make the biggest impact, while continuing to support our unhoused residents, our agency partners and our community at large,” said County Warden Basil Clarke. “This important data now available to us will further assist in continuing to make well-informed, system-wide decisions to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable residents, when and where they need it the most.”

The County will now be able to share the occupancy and capacity through its Daily Shelter & Motel Voucher Program dashboard, offering a holistic view of shelter system usage across the County.

This data includes individuals known to have used shelter services at least once in the preceding three months and includes an anonymous analysis of key variables that affect vulnerable populations and shelter users.

Real-time data will allow information for accurate data and point-in-time information, as well as shelter capacity on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This includes community trends and priority areas, the flow of clients within the system, identifiable gaps to address where investments and resources can be adjusted if needed, and overall accountability for the system.

The date tool is now available at open.simcoe.ca.

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