Homeless Outreach Request App

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The County of San Mateo developed a GIS solution to optimize homeless outreach operations by transforming the way non-emergency reports and responses related to homelessness are documented and processed, streamlining the workflow, and providing a centralized data repository and efficient reporting tools. The Homeless Outreach Request App was developed through a collaborative effort between the GIS team in the Information Services Department and the program manager of the Center on Homelessness in the Human Services Agency. The program utilizes mobile-friendly forms to collect data in the field, dashboards to access real-time information, and a dispatching system to assign incoming requests to the appropriate Community-Based Organization (CBO) based on location. This streamlined workflow has enabled the county to use data to make informed decisions and respond swiftly and effectively to offer services to unhoused individuals. This innovative solution helps set a strategic direction that will lead to measurable reductions in the number of people in the community experiencing homelessness. The data collected over time will help articulate a path to achieve this goal, and the program has already shown significant impact.