Mobilizing PiT Count Results - Stephen Gaetz, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

1. Mobilizing PiT Count Results • Stephen Gaetz • Canadian Observatory on Homelessness • Professor, Faculty of Education, • York University, Toronto, Canada Point in Time Count Workshop • Module 7 – Mobilizing Results

2. Part 1 The uses of RESEARCH

3. Part 1 The uses of RESEARCH!

4. Four Uses of Research • Conceptual • Instrumental • Symbolic • Process

5. Conceptual research Contributes to the: “subtle but potentially weighty shifts in knowledge, understanding and discourse, can be hugely significant in policy and practice settings, not just as a means to more instrumental impacts from research but as an end in themselves.” (Sandra Nutley).

6. Conceptual research

7. Instrumentaluse of research • This refers to situations where research can be seen to have a direct and concrete impact on decision-making and actions by policy-makers and practitioners. • Typically focuses on existing policies and practices • Often involves program evaluation research that answers the questions: What works, for whom and in what contexts?

8. Hierarchy of Evidence

9. A good example . . .

10. Symbolic use of research . . . involves using research results in the public realm to legitimate and sustain arguments, strategies and positions.

11. Symbolic use of research

12. Process use of research . . . engaging in the research process (through program evaluation, for instance), can lead to changes in ways of thinking, alter attitudes about the use of research and raise questions about the value of different kinds of knowledge and evidence.

13. Uptake • Use • Impact ‘the ways in which research affects society are based on complex, iterative, self-reinforcing processes, distributed unequally across research initiatives ’ (Molas-Galart 2000 : 172).

14. Research Evidence Matters!

15. Part 2 Mobilizing PiT Count Data

16. things you can do with data

17. 1 Understanding the local context

18. Data analysis

19. Sub populations seniors Mapping the problem youth Indigenous people women Newcomers Key issues Level of Chronicity Service priorities of clients? Substance use Do services match subpopulations?

20. 2 Tracking progress

21. You’ve got to be careful, because if you don’t know where you are going, you might not get there.” Yogi Berra

22. A count tells us how we are doing. • Your first count provides a baseline • Additional counts enable you to measure progress • Trends amongst sub-populations

23. Are you trending upward or downward?

24. Some communities are seeing real reductions in homelessness • Vancouver – 66% reduction in street homelessness since 2008 • Calgary – 11% reduction since 2008 • Edmonton – 30% reduction since 2008 • Lethbridge – 55% reduction since 2010

25. 3 Support local planning

26. Helps establish, measure & evaluate community priorities

27. Do your systems and services adequately address the needs of the homeless population?

28. 4 Engaging the Public

29. Reporting out

30. Dealing with the media

31. Community engagement

32. 5 Enhance understanding at a NATIONAL LEVEL

33. Aggregating Data The more communities that participate, the more effectively we can tell the story of homelessness at a NATIONAL REGIONAL LOCAL level

34. The benefits of Comparing Results

35. Good data supports engagement with higher levels of government Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Governments Community planning and programs

36. Homelessness amongst Indigenous People in Canada Belanger, et al. 2012

37. Engaging Provincial and Territorial governments

38. Supporting a National Strategy

39. Questions or comments?