Giving Compass' Take:

• The author shares reflections from the 2018 Funders Institute on best practices and strategies regarding homelessness preventions tactics, including the importance of good data systems.

• One of the considerations centers around the importance of good data. How can philanthropists strive toward data-driven giving to make an impact on homelessness? 

• Read the Giving Compass Homelessness Guide to understand how best to support and address this issue. 

In July at the 2018 Funders Institute, attendees gathered to share what they are learning about homelessness prevention, including what it is and how to work effectively with other systems to really end homelessness. The highly interactive day included a panel discussion, speed networking on what we’re each learning in our work, roundtable discussions, and opportunity to connect with multiple national leaders.

This year’s Institute was of particular interest to the Pohlad Family Foundation as, for the first time in our 20-year history, we have a singular strategic focus on housing stability with the goal to prevent and end homelessness in the Twin Cities.

Katie Hong of Raikes Foundation did just that by kicking off the day posing great questions about our shared interest in developing upstream efforts to prevent homelessness. From these discussions and interactions, some of the main takeaway from Funder’s Institute that stuck with me included:

The importance of growing insight into the “inflows” into homelessness.  Effective prevention strategies start with deepening understanding of the circumstances faced by individuals and families just prior to experiencing homelessness.

Targeted efforts that “give people what they need.” Panel member Jennifer Loving spoke to efforts in Santa Clara County that were streamlining access to direct financial assistance through coordinated entry for families in crisis, and how we simply should “give people what they need.”

Importance of good data and data systems.  Panel members spoke to the power of data, and “not underestimating” the insight that data can offer to prevention strategies.

Equity and institutional racism.  Implicit bias and institutional racism were widely identified as core, structural barriers to effectively ending homelessness, and that inequities are clearly a result of design.

Read the full article about 2018 Funders Institute by Brian Paulson at Funders Together to End Homelessness