The Future is Collective Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 2025

4. Adapted from Ranney, K. (2024). Thurston County, Washington, Certified for Quality Data for All Single Adults Experiencing Homelessness. Community Solutions. https://community.solutions/case-studies/thurston-county-washington-certified-for-quality-data-for-all-single-adults- experiencing-homelessness/.Capability Activities Hosting learning communities and building capacityCodifying a methodology: Community Solutions has codified the “Built for Zero” methodology, which is used by communities to build sustainable systems that can make homelessness rare and brief for all. Capturing and disseminating learnings: Community Solutions develops case studies, white papers, documentaries, policy briefs and research to document and share the learnings of communities widely. Hosting communities of practice: Community Solutions convenes affinity groups and communities of practice around topic areas and job functions. Consulting, coaching and training: Community Solutions trains communities on the Built for Zero methodology and helps communities with specific technical tasks, such as setting up their real-time, by-name list, identifying key leverage points in the system, and adapting evidence- based practices such as coordinated case conferencing. Investing in systemic solutionsProviding flexible community investments: As dedicated funding is available, Community Solutions provides salary support for key system coordination roles in Built for Zero communities (for two years), provides grants for certain “catalytic” projects representing an innovation with potential network-wide benefit, and flexible funding to accelerate progress towards system outcomes for communities in the Built for Zero network. Developing financing solutions: Community Solutions recently secured $135 million for the CS Large Cities Housing Fund, a social impact private equity fund to acquire mixed housing projects including resources for individuals exiting homelessness.Collective action activities (continued) Thurston County, including the state capitol city of Olympia, Washington, achieved a key milestone towards eliminating homelessness in 2024: they reached “quality data” for all single adults experiencing homelessness. This comprehensive, by-name, real-time awareness of the dynamics of homelessness is key to transforming the community’s approach to this complex problem. Prior to joining the Built for Zero movement, supported by Community Solutions, incomplete, dated or duplicate records among service providers meant that no one had a complete understanding of what was happening, and which interventions were working across the county’s homeless response system. To achieve this milestone, the community created the Greater Regional Outreach Workers League (GROWL), a coalition of 18 outreach partners including traditional outreach teams, street medicine providers, the Department of Health and anti-trafficking organizations. GROWL meets biweekly to review the data and discuss specific action plans to move each individual or family towards a stable home. This unified approach has allowed them to use resources more effectively and better meet the needs of specific groups, such as those fleeing domestic violence. Thurston County is getting closer to ending chronic or long-term homelessness through this data-driven, collaborative approach. Reflecting on the role of data in serving vulnerable people, Alison Waters, Coordinated Entry Data Coordinator at Family Support Center of South Sound, says: “You can put people first and still collect good data.”4 Case vignette: Thurston County, Washington The Future is Collective: Case Studies of Collective Social Innovation 18