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DNSSAB is 'Built for Zero' in bid to end chronic homelessness

Working with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Nipissing District will start setting goals to reach functional zero for chronic homelessness by 2025
BayToday Staff
2020 11 16 Homeless City Hall Tent City (Campaigne)
In this 2020 file photo, a tent was pitched on municipal property, not far from the DNSSAB offices.Stu Campaigne/BayToday

The Nipissing District was accepted as a Built For Zero (BFZ) community in June and is moving forward with a commitment to using a structured, supportive and data-driven approach that focuses on optimizing local homeless systems, accelerating the adoption of proven practices and driving continuous improvement to end chronic homelessness.

Working with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), Nipissing District will start setting goals to reach functional zero for Chronic Homelessness by 2025.

Data required to inform this movement is gathered through the By Name List (BNL) and the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), which are both important parts of Coordinated Access Nipissing (CAN).

See related: DNSSAB: 'By Name List' helping house those in need

“The real-time, quality data will allow the District partner agencies to have a more accurate picture of the needs, the service and housing gaps and barriers to be addressed,” says, DNSSAB Chair Mark King.

The BNL began during the last homelessness count a year ago and is updated weekly with monthly reports sent to the provincial government. It is an ongoing, real-time list of people experiencing homelessness in a community. This list is shared by service providers, that are part of CAN, so that households experiencing homelessness can be prioritized and appropriately matched with available supports and housing that will help them be permanently and successfully housed.

HIFIS works with web-based sharing of data, case management information and shared service models. With the consent of those being served, CAN partner agencies meet and case conference and put together collaborative goal plans for shared clients using the information in the HIFIS 4.0 platform. This system makes it easier for participants, as they will only have to tell their story and answer questions once.

CAN offers many shared access points through partner agencies, shared and common assessments of individuals experiencing homelessness, and shared data and information to better prioritize and coordinate housing and support.