The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is transitioning to use a new tool to collect data in the homelessness sector.
Organizations that assist with homelessness in Thunder Bay, funded by the TBDSSAB, will all be switching to the Homeless Service System Data Tool (HSSDT).
According to the board, many organizations have already made the switch to the new system.
The hope is that all support organizations, even those not funded by the TBDSSAB, will implement the tool.
The local DSSAB plans on assisting organizations with implementing the new service.
The HSSDT will streamline data and reporting into one system, replacing other single-purpose reporting processes.
The new system will record data on those receiving provincial funding, as well from the service-system level, including information from the by-name list data, case management records, and service system capacity for emergency shelter and transitional housing.
The tool will track who is receiving support, which service providers are involved, and where they are in their journey.
The outcome will be a more complete, detailed picture of homelessness needs and supports throughout the District of Thunder Bay.
The district receives funding for the program through the Province of Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program for the homelessness service system.
The HSSDT will ensure that reporting requirements of the province are met, while serving the program and decision-making needs for the service system in the district.
The HSSDT was custom-built by Clark Communications in partnership with TBDSSAB staff and service providers in the emergency shelter system.
“Our team worked with community partners and Clark Communications to create something more user-friendly while still meeting our reporting requirements of our funders,” says Ken Ranta, CEO. “
“Streamlining the process means data is entered more quickly, with fewer errors, and puts less of the administrative burden on funded programs. The tool will capture information that service providers can use to inform client care, while also showing trends in the system.”
“We can now see all the moving parts in one system, which means the data informing our decisions is more reliable.”
