1. Point in Time Count Workshop
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. Instrumental use 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. Understanding the local context1
Understanding the local context
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

18. Data analysis

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

20. 2
Tracking progress
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

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. Support local planning3
Support local planning
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

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
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

29. Reporting
out

30. Dealing with the media

31. Community engagement
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

32. Enhance understanding at a5
Enhance understanding at a
NATIONAL LEVEL
1. Collaboration: Provide opportunities for collaboration among the diversity of groups and researchers involved in homelessness across Canada.
2. Knowledge Mobilization: Make existing research on homelessness more accessible and reduce the geographical, sectoral, and socio-economic divisions that impede knowledge exchange.
3. Public Engagement: ‘Make research matter’ by exploring ways that research can more effectively engage the general public, policy makers and other decision-makers in the homelessness sector.

33. Aggregating Data NATIONAL REGIONAL LOCAL
The more communities that participate, the more effectively we can tell the story of homelessness at a
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
LOCAL
level
Knowing who the homeless are, where they can be found, and what their socio-demographic, health, housing, and systems interaction needs are can significantly increase a community’s ability to take action to ending homelessness
An estimated 150, ,000 Canadians are homeless (Laird, 2007); though no national count has ever been implemented;
Only X cities are implementing counts currently;

34. Comparing Results The benefits of
Knowing who the homeless are, where they can be found, and what their socio-demographic, health, housing, and systems interaction needs are can significantly increase a community’s ability to take action to ending homelessness
An estimated 150, ,000 Canadians are homeless (Laird, 2007); though no national count has ever been implemented;
Only X cities are implementing counts currently;

35. Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous Governments
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. National Strategy Supporting a
Knowing who the homeless are, where they can be found, and what their socio-demographic, health, housing, and systems interaction needs are can significantly increase a community’s ability to take action to ending homelessness
An estimated 150, ,000 Canadians are homeless (Laird, 2007); though no national count has ever been implemented;
Only X cities are implementing counts currently;

39. Questions
or comments?