House of Hope story
My name is Megan Smith and I am an outreach worker with the House of Hope CDC. House Of Hope is a nonprofit that provides a spectrum of housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, with the mission of preventing and ending homelessness in Rhode Island. Toward this end, my role consists of collaborating with community partners to engage individuals not well-served by the current homeless service provision system. We’re specifically focusing on those who are staying on the streets and are experiencing significant mental health and substance use challenges.
Rhode Island recognizes the crucial importance of street outreach and coordinates these activities through the Statewide Outreach Committee facilitated by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Interdisciplinary teams go out in multiple cities on a nightly basis to make contact and ensure the safety of those they engage.
Street outreach
As part of this initiative, I conduct street outreach in Providence four times per week with a diverse team. Our group includes formerly homeless individuals, undergraduate students, medical and social work students, coworkers, a psychiatrist, and volunteers. This work has two main goals: to witness the lived experiences of street homeless individuals and connect them with support services. These services include in-house programs and community-based resources that provide housing, medical care, and social assistance.
For the past ten years, capturing data effectively has remained a persistent challenge in outreach efforts. Outreach workers recognize the need for accurate records to improve care and strengthen coordination between service providers. Keeping detailed records ensures continuity of care for individuals engaged in outreach services. It also promotes accountability among outreach teams and improves collaboration across different organizations. Additionally, proper documentation helps agencies and funders understand the importance of street outreach and its effectiveness in reaching underserved individuals.
Working with Fulcrum
I was introduced to the Fulcrum app through Allison Woodworth, the co-coordinator of the Brown University student group on homelessness, Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), and an outreach worker herself. I was immediately struck by its adaptability and ease-of-use. While I consider myself competent with technology, I am by no means a “techy” person, and this was my first foray into custom apps.
I created the initial version of the RI Outreach Pilot app in less than an hour. I intentionally kept the information sought basic, as quickness and user-friendliness is crucial for it to be usable during outreach. The options for services provided were taken from the codes I established when manually tabulating the services provided during my outreach in 2014 (the full list is not captured in the screen shot; there are a total of nineteen non-mutually-exclusive options, as well as an “other” category).
The yes/no question “VI-SPDAT?” refers to whether the contact has a completed Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decisionmaking Assessment Tool in HMIS, the Homeless Management Information System; there is currently a statewide initiative to have all individuals experiencing homelessness complete this tool. The yes/no question “PATH Eligible?” refers to whether the contact meets the criteria for services through the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant through which my position is funded.
Results of two-week field test
I have been field-testing this app for two weeks and have found it extremely easy to use. It requires less time to enter data while capturing more complete information, especially the geographic location of each contact. The app is also relatively non-obtrusive during outreach interactions.
A few individuals have asked why I am using my phone more than usual, but most have responded positively. The majority of contacts over the past two weeks have been with individuals I know from previous outreach. In general, they have been open to my explanation of the app and interested in my reasons for using it.
After two weeks, our three-person team has logged 108 outreach contacts with 73 individuals. Data completeness for contact location and individual names is 100%. The type of service provided has 97% completeness, with 40% of entries including additional contact notes. Responses to the “follow-up scheduled?” question are 71% complete, while the “PATH eligible?” question was not consistently answered. In piloting the app, I have not focused on entering perfect data for its own sake. Instead, I have recorded data as I normally would to reflect real-world use.
Benefits of using Fulcrum
I have found the app extremely useful for documenting contact patterns, including repeat interactions and scheduled follow-ups. It has also helped me stay accountable for my outreach efforts by providing a clear record of my work. To improve coordination across teams, we are encouraging other outreach workers to adopt the app. The RI Outreach Pilot group currently includes twenty-seven members, and we hope to expand participation further.
As the pilot progresses, I am keeping a list of ways to optimize the app’s functionality for our specific needs. The Fulcrum team has been incredibly supportive and receptive to feedback throughout this process. I look forward to continuing our discussions on maximizing the app’s utility and expanding its use in Rhode Island. I am deeply impressed by the Fulcrum team’s dedication and excited about the potential this collaboration holds for our outreach efforts.