Chattanooga becomes 7th US city to collect data on all single adults experiencing homelessness

Chattanooga has become the seventh US city to collect data on all single adults experiencing homelessness.

According to the press release, most have relied on the annual Point-in-Time Count, which records the number of those experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

Community Solutions' Quality by name data has pushed this idea further by providing a comprehensive source of information on all unhoused people, including their name, history of homelessness, and health and housing needs.

"You can't solve homelessness if you don't know who is experiencing it," said Beth Sandor, chief program officer at Community Solutions. "With comprehensive by-name data in tow, leaders in Southeast Tennessee now have the foundation to make homelessness rare and brief in the region."

The by-name data strategy will allow the region to evaluate whether or not efforts are reducing homelessness over time. This knowledge will help to effectively prioritize resources and evaluate the needs of the community year-round equitably
Chattanooga began the journey to confront homelessness in 2015 when it, along with Southeast Tennessee, united with Built for Zero, an initiative of more than 100 US cities and counties using data to measure and equitably end homelessness.

The Southeast Tennessee comprises the following counties:

• Franklin
• Grundy
• Marion
• Sequatchie
• Bledsoe
• Hamilton
• Rhea
• Meigs
• Bradley
• McMinn
• Polk

The region had a wake-up call when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, prompting big changes, such as redesigning its data collection approach, deploying outreach teams, and coordinating with hospitals, libraries, schools, and clinics in the region to help identify those in need of assistance.

The Southeast Tennessee team's next goal is to reach "functional zero", meaning that the number of people experiencing homelessness does not exceed the region's capacity for moving them into permanent housing.