Did you know that on a single night in 2022, six in 10 people experiencing homelessness were staying in sheltered locations, and four in 10 were unsheltered — that is, staying in a place not meant for habitation*? Demographic data on people experiencing homelessness has been collected on a single night each year as part of the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 2017.
Knowledgeable data collection and assessment, when applied to enduring social issues such as homelessness, can have a tremendous impact on the lives of people around the world.
At this year’s National Human Services Data Consortium, the Cloudburst Group delivered a set of presentations that represent Cloudburst’s commitment to making a significant impact on sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. These presentations included training on the fundamentals of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the information technology systems used by communities to collect client-level data on shelter, housing and service utilization. Local HMIS implementations are guided by National Data and Technical standards.
Cloudburst presentations also highlighted strategies for HMIS leaders to effectively communicate with local planning bodies, known as continuums of care (CoCs), who are responsible for coordinating the full range of homelessness services in a geographic area.
To view the Cloudburst Group presentations delivered at NHSDC:
- Unsheltered/Encampment Abatement
- HMIS Project Setup 101 & 201
- HMIS Fundamentals
- Strategic Communications with Non-CoC Partners and the Public
Cloudburst’s presentations provided distinct assistance to organizations that offer services to sheltered and undersheltered people experiencing homelessness, because approximately 45% of those attending the conference were new to the complex world of client-level data analysis, collection, and management. Since 2019, the Cloudburst Group has developed and delivered 43 impactful presentations at NHSDC conferences.
To learn more about how data can make a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness, please visit: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hmis/
The Cloudburst Group’s mission is to create a lasting impact and build resilience within vulnerable populations when responding to social issues. To learn more about how the Cloudburst Group uses data to make an impact around the world, please visit: https://cloudburstgroup.com/services/homeless-assistance-programs/
*Annual Homelessness Assessment Reportment (AHAR) to Congress, December 2022, Published by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development