Centralized Homeless Service System (C.H e S.S.)

November 5, 2007 CS410 Green Team 11

Centralized Homeless Centralized Homeless Service SystemService System

(C.H(C.HeeS.S.)S.S.)

The Green TeamThe Green Team

Friday, April 21, 2023Friday, April 21, 2023

CS410 – Workforce TrainingCS410 – Workforce Training

November 5, 2007 CS410 CHeSS 22

The Green TeamThe Green Team

SupervisorSupervisor

Janet BrunelleJanet Brunelle

Manager & Manager & WebmasterWebmaster

Keith Barth Jr.Keith Barth Jr.

Stats & HardwareStats & Hardware

Nathapon “Max” Nathapon “Max” SiangchokyooSiangchokyoo

Documentation Documentation & Software& Software

Nathan AldrichNathan Aldrich

Marketer & EditorMarketer & Editor

Jeffrey Ray Jeffrey Ray TaylorTaylor

Competition & Competition & FinancesFinances

David BonatzDavid Bonatz


Homelessness DefinedHomelessness Defined

• An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residenceand adequate night time residence

• An individual who has a primary night An individual who has a primary night time residence that is:time residence that is:

• A public or private place not designed for, or A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations for human beingsaccommodations for human beings

• Supervised publicly or is a privately operated Supervised publicly or is a privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodationsaccommodations


What Causes What Causes Homelessness?Homelessness?

• Low Income - Can’t Afford RentLow Income - Can’t Afford Rent• Alcohol and Drug Abuse - Sudden Loss of EmploymentAlcohol and Drug Abuse - Sudden Loss of Employment• Domestic AbuseDomestic Abuse• Mental or Physical DisabilityMental or Physical Disability• Many more…Many more…

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/civilrights/lawrence/lawrence.html


Who is Homeless?Who is Homeless?

• On any given night in Norfolk, On any given night in Norfolk, 500-800 people are on the streets500-800 people are on the streets

• Approximately 10,400 Virginians Approximately 10,400 Virginians are homelessare homeless

• Roughly 3.5 million Americans will Roughly 3.5 million Americans will experience homelessness each experience homelessness each yearyear• 25% have jobs25% have jobs • 20% have mental disorders20% have mental disorders• 40% are American Veterans40% are American Veterans• 33% are families with children33% are families with children


Effects of HomelessnessEffects of Homelessness

Damaged reputation of localities with notable Damaged reputation of localities with notable homeless outbreakshomeless outbreaks

Concern for public safety from both criminal and Concern for public safety from both criminal and medical standpointsmedical standpoints

The appropriation of tax money to fund homeless The appropriation of tax money to fund homeless service projectsservice projects


The Price of The Price of HomelessnessHomelessness

• "A study in San Diego that tracked 15 "A study in San Diego that tracked 15 homeless individuals for 18 months homeless individuals for 18 months found they alone cost the government found they alone cost the government and other organizations $3 million in that and other organizations $3 million in that period, or around $133,000 per person period, or around $133,000 per person per year.”per year.”11

• Proposed budget for homeless aid of Proposed budget for homeless aid of

$35.2 billon nationally in 2008 $35.2 billon nationally in 2008 221.1. http://www.uticaod.com/opinion/x751579913/index.html?printview=truehttp://www.uticaod.com/opinion/x751579913/index.html?printview=true2.2. http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr07-008.cfmhttp://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr07-008.cfm


What is the Problem?What is the Problem?

Homeless people are not Homeless people are not getting the individualized getting the individualized assistance they need due assistance they need due

to a lack of to a lack of communication and failure communication and failure

to coordinate efforts!to coordinate efforts!


Contribution to the Contribution to the ProblemProblem

• Outdated or complete lack of communication Outdated or complete lack of communication between organizations, the government, and the between organizations, the government, and the homeless populationhomeless population

• Lack of understanding of homelessness on a Lack of understanding of homelessness on a grand scale and an individual levelgrand scale and an individual level

• Lack of real time information for certain homeless Lack of real time information for certain homeless people and the homeless population of a localitypeople and the homeless population of a locality


Communication IssuesCommunication Issues

• Information is shared through verbal Information is shared through verbal communication, hard copy reports, email, communication, hard copy reports, email, etc.etc.

• Information about services is not always Information about services is not always shared with homeless peopleshared with homeless people

• Data is handwritten or entered manually Data is handwritten or entered manually into basic spreadsheets and other filesinto basic spreadsheets and other files

• Data cannot be provided to the government Data cannot be provided to the government and other organizations instantlyand other organizations instantly


The Assistance CycleThe Assistance Cycle

“Understanding homelessness is a necessary step in addressing it successfully”

– HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson

More More OrganizationsOrganizations

Volunteer to HelpVolunteer to Help

Lack ofLack ofCommunicationCommunication

Lack ofLack ofUnderstandingUnderstanding

Inefficient UseInefficient Useofof

ResourcesResources

FewerFewerPeoplePeopleHelpedHelped

HomelessHomelessPopulationPopulation

GrowsGrows

ProblemProblem


Resource EfficiencyResource Efficiency

HomelessHomelessPopulation UtilizationPopulation Utilization

Services BeingServices BeingProvided byProvided by

OrganizationsOrganizations

Services BeingProvided by the

GovernmentGovernment

Services Being Services Being ReceivedReceived

Wasted Wasted ResourcesResources

Wasted Wasted ResourcesResources


HMIS - Homeless Management Information System

• Started in 1998 as a directive from the Started in 1998 as a directive from the Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDepartment of Housing and Urban Development

• It was decided to use aggregated data rather It was decided to use aggregated data rather then a national databasethen a national database

Current National EffortsCurrent National Efforts


Current Local EffortsCurrent Local Efforts

• HIMS was created as a local HMISHIMS was created as a local HMIS

• The project was too expensive for groups The project was too expensive for groups to purchase ($500-600)to purchase ($500-600)

• Nonprofit groups did not have access to a Nonprofit groups did not have access to a centralized database for informationcentralized database for information

• HIMS is now open source with a GNU HIMS is now open source with a GNU General Public LicenseGeneral Public License

• Identification is required by local Identification is required by local organizations before an individual can organizations before an individual can receive assistancereceive assistance


• Ghent Area Ministries

• Project Connect

• Individual Organizations

• Government Services

Current Local EffortsCurrent Local Efforts


Organization AOrganization A

Organization BOrganization B

Organization COrganization C

Organization DOrganization D


ObjectivesObjectives

• Increase Communication Increase Communication

• Real-time information exchangeReal-time information exchange

• Raise homeless awareness of Raise homeless awareness of service providedservice provided


(CHeSS)(CHeSS)

• Centralized Homeless Service System (CHeSS)– Communication

Network Infrastructure – Real-time Statistics– Uniform Data Entry– Simple Identification

Organization COrganization C

Organization DOrganization DOrganization BOrganization B

Organization AOrganization A

CHeSSCHeSS



Competition MatrixCompetition MatrixGeneral SolutionsGeneral Solutions

Org. & Research

Cooperative Efforts

Networking Non-profits

Real-Time Statistics

Calendar Database

Ghent Area Ministries X

Project Connect

X

HIMS X

CHeSSCHeSS X X X X


Competition MatrixCompetition MatrixData CollectionData Collection

Org. & Research

Home-less

peopleOrgs & Helpers

Statistics & History

Home-less

peopleOrgs & Helpers

Statistics & History

Ghent Area Ministries

X X X

Project Connect X X X

HIMS X X X

CHeSSCHeSS X X X X X X

Localized Databases Centralized Computer Databases


Features of CHeSSFeatures of CHeSS

• Centralized database of homeless profilesCentralized database of homeless profiles

• Centralized calendar system of servicesCentralized calendar system of services

• One-time manual user inputOne-time manual user input

• Easy-to-use GUIEasy-to-use GUI

• Identification software that will update Identification software that will update information information


How Does CHeSS Work?


What’s in the BoxWhat’s in the Box

• Government CHeSS softwareGovernment CHeSS software– Database Administration PackageDatabase Administration Package

• Organization CHeSS softwareOrganization CHeSS software– Identification Hardware to Database Interface Identification Hardware to Database Interface

• Card ScannerCard Scanner– Ensure compatibilityEnsure compatibility


Through the DoorThrough the Door

Homeless Homeless Person Person IdentifiedIdentified

Automatic Automatic Profile UpdatesProfile Updates

Service is ProvidedService is Provided

Manual Data Manual Data Entry – BasicEntry – Basic

Manual Data Manual Data Entry – AdvancedEntry – Advanced

Homeless person Homeless person enters service enters service building/area and is building/area and is identified.identified.

If not in the system, If not in the system, person is entered. person is entered.

All relevant data is All relevant data is entered in person’s entered in person’s profile.profile.

Person is served.Person is served.

YesYes

NoNo

YesYes NoNo

Already Registered?Already Registered?

Enter Personal Enter Personal Information?Information?


CustomerCustomerNationalNational

• GovernmentGovernment– Market the concept of CHeSS to the Market the concept of CHeSS to the

federal government for grant money federal government for grant money (development and Implement)(development and Implement)


CustomerCustomerLocalLocal

• GovernmentGovernment– Provide database Provide database – Track statistical informationTrack statistical information

• OrganizationOrganization– Provide information Provide information – Track resources Track resources


Customer CostsCustomer CostsOrganizations and The GovernmentOrganizations and The Government

• Government Database Software - $50,000Government Database Software - $50,000

• Installation/Training Fee: Organization- Installation/Training Fee: Organization- $250$250

• Organization Software with Identification Organization Software with Identification Hardware - $150 to $300Hardware - $150 to $300


RisksRisks

• Government declines purchaseGovernment declines purchase• Lack of organization participationLack of organization participation• Lack of homeless cooperationLack of homeless cooperation• Security concernsSecurity concerns

– Storage of Personal InformationStorage of Personal Information– Access to Personal InformationAccess to Personal Information


Risk Probability/Impact Risk Probability/Impact MatrixMatrix

ProbabilityProbability

5544332211

11

cc22

bb33

aa44

55

IImmppaacctt

a)a) The government The government does not buy the does not buy the systemsystem

b)b) Lack of Lack of organization organization participationparticipation

c)c) Lack of cooperation Lack of cooperation of the homeless of the homeless populationpopulation


What are the Benefits?What are the Benefits?Organizations and The GovernmentOrganizations and The Government

• Improved communication will lead to a Improved communication will lead to a more efficient distribution of servicesmore efficient distribution of services

• Recorded data will provide an overall Recorded data will provide an overall understanding of the homeless situationunderstanding of the homeless situation

• Real time information will help the Real time information will help the government distribute services and government distribute services and resources based on individual needsresources based on individual needs


ConclusionConclusion

• People are homeless for many different People are homeless for many different reasons, and homelessness drains societal reasons, and homelessness drains societal resources. resources.

• Current efforts to help the less fortunate are Current efforts to help the less fortunate are inefficient and outdated.inefficient and outdated.

• CheSS will provide a network infrastructure to CheSS will provide a network infrastructure to improve communication and provide services improve communication and provide services to the homeless on an individual basis.to the homeless on an individual basis.


ReferencesReferences

• Barrett Transitional Home (BTH) - transitional housing in Norfolk– http://groups.hamptonroads.com/BTH/

• Non profit congress - effective things of a non-profit organization– http://www.nonprofitcongress.org/files/Briefing%20Book%20Excerpt%20pg%208-

16.pdf

• List of how much federal government is spending as well as in VA– http://www.hud.gov/local/va/news/pr2007-02-20.cfm

• Directory of Organizations in VA– http://www.nationalhomeless.org/resources/local/virginia.html

• Study about fewer homeless people in Norfolk– http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=118740&ran=11099

• Nation taking a new look at homelessness, solutions– http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-10-11-homeless-cover_x.htm

• Homelessness– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness

• Homeless Statistics– http://www.uticaod.com/opinion/x751579913/index.html?printview=true


ReferencesReferences

• HUD's Proposed budget of 2008– http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr07-008.cfm

• HUD federal funding– http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr05-

007.cfm&CFID=2483991&CFTOKEN=13285473 • Service opportunities for the homeless(education, etc...)

– http://www.virginiahomeless.org/ • Gospels available by Country/State

– http://www.agrm.org/missions.html • HUD's homeless information in VA

– http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=va&topic=homeless • Interagency Council on Homelessness (a 10 year plan)

– http://www.ich.gov/slocal/index.html • Solution to Homelessness

– http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0104/p13s01-lihc.html?s=planetizen • Homelessness

– http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/homeless.shtml

Documents

Centralized Homeless Service System (C.H e S.S.)