BUILT FOR ZERO: ENDING HOMELESSNESS
The Tennessee Valley Coalition is redefining possibilities in the movement to end homelessness.
Built for Zero is a methodology, a movement, and proof of what’s possible. The movement consists of homeless providers within the 12-county region that have committed to measurably ending homelessness, one population at a time. Using data, our communities have changed how local homeless response systems work and the impact they can achieve.
Together, we are proving that moral courage, data-driven thinking, and a system-wide approach can build a future where homelessness is rare overall and brief when it occurs.
Problem
No single actor is fully accountable for ending homelessness in a community. Each local agency or program holds a small piece of the solution, but no one has an eye on how the pieces fit together.
Solution:
An integrated, command center team. Key agencies, like the Continuum of Care, the housing authority, local government, and the VA, work together every week toward a shared definition of zero.
Problem
Funders evaluate success on the performance of individual housing programs, not on whether a community collectively reduces homelessness. But single programs don’t get us to zero – whole communities do.
Solution:
Community-level measurement. Built for Zero communities measure success by the total number of people experiencing homelessness, not by program outcomes. Data enables communities to rapidly test new ideas and understand if those efforts are working.
Problem
Housing supply paralysis. Expanded housing resources are crucial, but many cities have dramatically expanded housing supply without making a dent in homelessness. The reason? They never fixed the housing system.
Solution:
Strategic, data-driven housing investments. Build for Zero communities use real-time data to secure the housing resources they need and target them for the greatest possible reductions in homelessness.
Problem
A once-a-year count of a problem that changes nightly. Annual street counts are a snapshot; your community needs a video. Getting to zero takes the line of sight into how people move through your system over time.
Solution:
Comprehensive, real-time, by-name date. Build for Zero communities know everyone experiencing homelessness by name, in real-time. The result is more tailored solutions for individuals and a clearer picture of the system as a whole.