Stats and Facts

A key strategy of the Western MA Network to End Homelessness, inspired by our public health approach, is the use of information and data to examine where we are, where we’ve been, and where we are going.  Check out the links below to view, explore, and interact with Network data!

>> Housing Court Collaboration

>> Family Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Rehousing

>> REACH:  Housing for Homeless Individuals

Coming Soon! Western MA Waypoints: Point-In-Time Counts, Recent Trends, & Monthly Updates

Data Collection and Reporting Strategies

Through the oversight of its Data & Performance Review Committee, the WMNEH network staff will continue to expand upon the initial infrastructure built during the pilot period by continuing the implementation of data collection and reporting systems including:

1. The use of the Uniform Assessment Tool (UAT) developed by DHCD by all funded providers along with customized monthly data collection and reporting tools that allow us to track provider-based capacity and services across our region.   Network staff will facilitate the expansion of this assessment and data collection tool to the additional providers.

2. Continued efforts to build a comprehensive reporting and evaluation system through its continued collaboration with CoC staff from the three continua in the region.   Specifically, this will include assisting the Three County CoC in monitoring and guiding the implementation of the new state Social Solutions’ ETO ASIST; leveraging the careful study and programming undertaken during the pilot period to gain a complete understanding of the new HUD HMIS Data Standards and new file structures as well as data quality issues; and supporting the CoC’s as they expand the number of providers who use the HMIS and monitor data quality.

3.  The implementation of the Family Services Monthly Report, an online survey that grew out of the initial ICHH pilot reporting requirements, family providers now report on the number of preventions, diversions, and re-housing interventions they have provided each month, as well as PIT counts for their shelters.  We believe the addition of this monthly PIT count will help us to monitor the state of homelessness in our area on a quarterly basis.  This survey tool not only gives us timely summary information, it will also serve as a check on data quality as new systems (the newly revised UAT, the move to Social solutions, the addition of new participants in HMIS and associated quality considerations, and finally the integration of the three CoC HMIS data which will be facilitated by the addition of ETO community) are implemented.

4. Data collection on Housing Court Interventions throughout the region with the Housing Court Record of Service form developed during the pilot.

All of these leveraged resources will be put to the service of monitoring our progress and assessing the reasons for deviations from expected outcomes.   We will continue to develop the use of our blog and the free online data visualization tool Tableau to to promote accountability and transparency to our various stakeholders.