2023-2024 Community Homelessness Report Summary

Brantford-Brant 2023-2024

The Community Homelessness Report (CHR) is an annual Reaching Home reporting deliverable that supports communities to prevent and reduce homelessness using a more coordinated, systems-based and data-driven response. The CHR was designed to support local discussions and decision making, using all of the information about homelessness currently available at the community level. Communities are encouraged to use their CHR data to develop clear plans of action that help them to reach their homelessness reduction targets and to leverage the collective efforts of service providers working across the community, regardless of how they are funded.

This is a summary of the CHR for the 2023-24 reporting cycle. It shows the community’s self-assessment of Reaching Home implementation, which includes the following key components:

meaningful collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners (see Section 1);
community-level governance, coordinated service delivery (Coordinated Access) and use of a Homelessness Management Information System or HMIS (see Section 2); and,
an Outcomes-Based Approach (tracking community-level outcomes and progress against targets using person-specific data; see Section 3).
If the community was able to report on outcomes and targets, this CHR Summary also includes results for each of the five core outcomes of Reaching Home (see Section 4).

Section 1. Community Context – Collaboration between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Partners

a) Specific to Coordinated Access, the HMIS and the Outcomes-Based Approach, has there been ongoing, meaningful collaboration between the DC CE and the IH CE and IH CAB, as well as local Indigenous organizations, including those that sit on your CAB, over the reporting period?

Coordinated Access: Yes
HMIS: Yes
Outcomes-Based Approach: Yes

Describe this collaboration in more detail.
As the CE, we understand from the OFIFC that there is an IH funding stream, however the City as the CE is unaware of the funding amounts, and the memberships related to the IH CAB. As the CE, we would like to develop a relationship with the IH CAB, and understand the needs related to Indigenous homelessness within the City of Brantford and work towards a better partnership.

The CE continues to prioritize liaising and building strong relationships with the Indigenous community and the Indigenous CAB in order to better serve the Indigenous homeless population. Indigenous partners from the following organizations were asked to review and provide feedback on the CHR: Brantford Native Housing, and Brantford Regional Indigenous Support Centre.

The City of Brantford Encampment Network has provided an opportunity to collaborate with Brantford Native Housing in an effort to support individuals living rough. Through our PiT Count Data, we were able to recognize that a large portion of our homeless population identify as Indigenous. Our Encampment Team provides supports to all individuals, and if the individuals are Indigenous, they are connected with Indigenous organizations to provide culturally appropriate supports.

The City of Brantford will continue promoting conversation and offering support to the lead of an Indigenous strategy, Brantford Native Housing, while it is being developed. Indigenous community partners were also invited to share feedback and input regarding the implementation of the Registry Week event and Point in Time Count. This resulted in the amending and adding of questions to the Point in Time Count survey to better engage Indigenous members of the community during the data collection period and obtain meaningful and representative data where possible.

Indigenous community partners were in attendance at the Registry Week Event and were provided funds to order and distribute smudge kits and tobacco ties to attendees.

Specific to the completion of this Community Homelessness Report (CHR), did ongoing, meaningful collaboration take place with the IH CE and IH CAB, as well as local Indigenous organizations, including those that sit on your CAB? No

Describe how this collaboration will happen over the coming year in more detail.

As the CE, we would like to enhance the relationship with the IH CAB, and understand the needs related to Indigenous homelessness within the City of Brantford and work towards a better partnership.

The City of Brantford intends to explore participation in community research alongside Indigenous-led community partners to better understand the experiences of urban Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness. The CE will also be engaging Indigenous partners in conversation to seek advice on the development of recommended practices for meaningful engagement. In addition, members of this team will make efforts to attend local Indigenous events, community gatherings and formal annual meetings to help build strong relationships between local Indigenous agencies and non-Indigenous community partners.

Did the IH CAB sign-off on this CHR? No

Explain why IH CAB sign-off was not obtained and describe how engagement will take place with the IH CAB during next year’s CHR process in more detail.

As the CE, we would like to enhance the relationship with the IH CAB, and understand the needs related to Indigenous homelessness within the City of Brantford and work towards a better partnership.

Section 2. Coordinated Access and Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) Self-Assessment

Section 2 Summary Tables

The table below provides a summary of the work your community has done so far to meet the Reaching Home minimum requirements for Coordinated Access and an HMIS under the 2019-2024 Reaching Home funding cycle.

Summary Table
	Completed	Started	Not Yet Started
Number of minimum requirements	18	0	0

The table below shows the percentage of minimum requirements completed for each core Coordinated Access component.

Summary Table
Governance and Partnerships	HMIS	Access Points to Service	Triage and Assessment	Resource Inventory	Vacancy Matching and Referral with Prioritization
100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

Highlight efforts and/or issues related to the work your community has done over the last year related to the Reaching Home minimum requirements for Coordinated Access and an HMIS.

This community is sustaining a successful Coordinated Access system and has achieved a quality By-Name List to continue identifying high-priority individuals experiencing homelessness. The HIFIS system continually undergoes modifications to improve the quality of data with a current effort focused on reducing the high rate of inactivity status changes by identifying profiles with housing history gaps and ensuring a successful merge of duplicates when they occur. The Housing Stability team will be including community partners at the Built for Zero improvement advisory meetings in the future to promote engagement from service providers and highlight the importance of addressing system barriers and data quality concerns.

Section 3. Outcomes-Based Approach Self-Assessment

Section 3 Summary Tables

The tables below provide a summary of the work your community has done so far to transition to an Outcomes-Based Approach under the 2019-2024 Reaching Home funding cycle.

Summary Table
Step 1: Maintain person-specific data	Step 2: Maintain real-time data	Step 3: Maintain comprehensive data
Yes	Yes	Yes

Summary Table
Dataset was in place as of January 1, 2024 (or earlier)	Can generate monthly data	Has set targets	Has an Outcomes-Based Approach in place
Yes	Outcome 1: Yes	Outcome 1: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 2: Yes	Outcome 2: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 3: Yes	Outcome 3: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 4: Yes	Outcome 4: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 5: Yes	Outcome 5: Yes	Yes

Summary Table
Dataset was in place as of April, 2023 (or earlier)	Can generate annual data	Has set targets	Has an Outcomes-Based Approach in place
Yes	Outcome 1: Yes	Outcome 1: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 2: Yes	Outcome 2: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 3: Yes	Outcome 3: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 4: Yes	Outcome 4: Yes	Yes
Yes	Outcome 5: Yes	Outcome 5: Yes	Yes

Summary Comment

Highlight efforts and/or issues related to your community’s work to implement, maintain or improve the Outcomes-Based Approach under Reaching Home.

Our community has put an emphasis on improving our Coordinated Access system, mainly through standardizing policies and procedures for all providers. This allows us to accurately track outcomes consistently throughout our community, as well as provide more real-time information specific to clients.

Once new information is available about a person, on average, how long does it take for changes to be updated in the database for the following:

Interaction with the system (e.g., changes from “active” to “inactive”)?
-       Within a week
Housing history (e.g., changes from “homeless” to “housed”)?
-       Within a week
Data that is relevant and necessary for Coordinated Access (e.g., data used to determine who is eligible and can be prioritized for a vacancy)?
-       Within a week

Describe the process(es) used by service providers to collect and enter data about people currently experiencing homelessness into the database.

Service providers collect client information and document in HIFIS in a consistent manner. Service providers enter SPDAT responses directly in HIFIS in real time. Standard Operating Procedures are in place to support standardized approaches to documentation and data collection, ensuring compliance with service agreements.

Section 4. Community-Level Outcomes and Targets – Monthly

Outcome #1: Fewer people experience homelessness (homelessness is reduced overall)

People who experienced homelessness:
March 2023:    487
March 2024:    369
Target:             243.5

What is your baseline year: 2023

Overall homelessness will decrease by 50% between March 2023 and March 2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from March 2020 to March 2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context on your data.
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County.

Outcome #2: Fewer people were newly identified (new inflows to homelessness are reduced)

People who were newly identified (that month)
March 2023: 61
March 2024: 41
Target: 30.5

What is your baseline year: 2023

New inflows to homelessness will decrease by 50% between March 2023 and March 2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from March 2020 to March 2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. Fewer people were newly identified in this reporting period as compared with previous year. This was due to data cleaning and HIFIS training activities conducted for service providers, leading to merging of newer client profiles with already existing profiles on HIFIS, thereby assisting in having better de-duplicated client data on HIFIS and thereby reduced newly identified individuals on BNL.

Outcome #3: Fewer people return to homelessness (returns to homelessness are reduced)

Returns to homelessness (that month)
March 2023: 20
March 2024: 13
Target: 10

What is your baseline year: 2023
Returns to homelessness will decrease by 50% between March 2023 and March 2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from March 2020 to March 2023 changed from your previous CHR?
No, none of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Outcome #4: Fewer Indigenous peoples experience homelessness (Indigenous homelessness is reduced)

Indigenous peoples who experienced homelessness for at least one day (that month)
March 2023: 107
March 2024: 79
Target: 53.5

What is your baseline year: 2023
Indigenous homelessness will decrease by 50% between March 2023 and March 2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from March 2020 to March 2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Were Indigenous partners engaged in the process of setting the baseline, setting the target, reporting on the outcome and/or interpreting the results?
No

Outcome #5: Fewer people experience chronic homelessness (chronic homelessness is reduced)

People who experienced chronic homelessness for at least one day (that month)
March 2023: 163
March 2024: 235
Target: 81.5

What is your baseline year: 2023
Chronic homelessness will decrease by 50% between March 2023 and March 2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from March 2020 to March 2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. The BNL client data has streamlined since late 2022, as although we did see an influx of folks coming into the system (reasons include pandemic) in the early part of the reporting period, however this inflow has slowed down in the last year. Thus, although the total individuals experiencing homelessness has decreased (487 clients in March 2023 vs 369 clients in March 2024), the chronically homeless clients have increased (163 clients in March 2023 vs 235 clients in March 2024). The aim is to reduce the chronically homeless clients on a priority basis in the coming year.

Section 4. Community-Level Outcomes and Targets – Annual

Outcome #1: Fewer people experience homelessness (homelessness is reduced overall)

People who experienced homelessness for at least one day (that year)
2022-2023: 1396
2023-2024: 1147
Target: 698

What is your baseline year: 2022-2023
Overall homelessness will decrease by 50% between 2022-2023 and 2027-2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:z
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and in Brant County. The BNL client data has streamlined since late 2022, as although we did see an influx of folks coming into the system (reasons include pandemic) in the early part of the reporting period, however this inflow has slowed down in the last year. Thus, the total individuals experiencing homelessness has decreased (1396 clients in 2022-2023 vs 1147 clients in 2023-2024). However, the chronically homeless clients have increased. The aim is to reduce the chronically homeless clients on a priority basis in the coming year.

Outcome #2: Fewer people were newly identified (new inflows to homelessness are reduced)

People who were newly identified (that year)
2022-2023:    900
2023-2024:    517
Target:            450

What is your baseline year: 2022-2023
Overall homelessness will decrease by 50% between 2022-2023 and 2027-2028

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. Wider outreach activities (e.g. encompassing encampments, etc.), followed by consistent de-duplication and data cleaning activities coupled with HIFIS trainings for newer staff at service providers, is expected to lead to fewer people being newly identified as homeless for the upcoming years.

Outcome #3: Fewer people return to homelessness (returns to homelessness are reduced)

Returns to homelessness (that year)
2022-2023:    146
2023-2024:    96
Target:            73

What is your baseline year: 2022-2023
Returns to homelessness will decrease by 50% between 2022-23 and 2027-28.

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 changed from your previous CHR?
No, none of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. 55% of the clients who returned to homelessness were chronically homeless in 2023-24 as compared to 34% of returning to homelessness clients in 2022-23. Considerable efforts in providing consistent housing retention activities for the individuals is the current priority for this year to reduce clients who are returning to homelessness from housed status.

Outcome #4: Fewer Indigenous peoples experience homelessness (Indigenous homelessness is reduced)

Indigenous peoples who experienced homelessness for at least one day (that year)
2022-2023:    241
2023-2024:    236
Target:            120.5

What is your baseline year: 2022-2023
Indigenous homelessness will decrease by 50% between 2022-23 and 2027-28.

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. Indigenous clients in 2023-24 represent 21% of the overall total individuals experiencing homelessness as compared to 17% in 2022-23. We do consider this percentage an undercount, and aim to work with Indigenous partners to access HIFIS, and join Coordinated Access. With better and increased coverage of Indigenous communities with housing placement activities, the aim is to further reduce homelessness within Indigenous individuals to 50% by 2027-28.

Outcome #5: Fewer people experience chronic homelessness (chronic homelessness is reduced)

People who experienced chronic homelessness for at least one day (that year)
2022-2023:    392
2023-2024:    638
Target:            196

What is your baseline year: 2022-2023
Chronic homelessness will decrease by 50% between 2022-23 and 2027-28.

How was this Outcome generated?
HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report

Has the data you reported for this Outcome from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 changed from your previous CHR?
Yes, some of the date has changed.

Has the target you set changed from your previous CHR?
No, the target has not changed.

Was “N/A” used for one or more data points?
No, N/A was not used for one or more data points.

Please comment to provide context for your data:
Data provided in last year's (2022-23) Year-End reporting has been changed now. This is due to the fact that last year we used our own custom HIFIS By-Name List (BNL) data for reporting the outcomes. Within that yearly BNL data, we did not count clients with "Unknown" housing statuses at that time, leading to under-reporting of overall numbers for this outcome. This time, however, we have utilized the HIFIS Reaching Home Community Outcomes report provided by HIFIS, that has provided a better picture of the client homelessness data in Brantford and Brant County. The chronically homeless clients in 2023-24 represent 56% of the overall total individuals experiencing homelessness as compared to 28% in 2022-23, which is a significant increase in the number of chronically homeless clients. The current aim is to reduce the chronically homeless clients on a priority basis in the coming months.