The Role of Data and Digital Technologies in Ending Homelessness

The UN NGO Working Group to End Homelessness, hosted a side event on Leaving No One Behind: The Role of Data and Digital Technologies in Ending Homelessness on February 9, 2021. The side event highlighted how data is crucial to understand and count homelessness worldwide to implement appropriate social protections. A strong connection was made between current available data and the necessity of a universally accepted definition of homelessness to provide more accurate data to inform global work to end homelessness.

Technology best practices to address and work towards eliminating homelessness were showcased with examples from WoodGreen in Toronto, Canada, End Street Sleeping in New South Wales, Australia, and Outreach Grid in California, United States. The challenges of technology and unequal access were shared by an expert with lived experience. This expert shared the difficulties to access technology and free Wi-Fi, while experiencing homelessness in the United States, and called for policies that ensure free Wi-Fi and technology services to support people who are homeless to find housing and access supportive services. In addition to the role of data, technology, and the need for a definition, the successful collaboration with UN agencies and NGOs was shared with calls to action for future partnerships to eliminate global homelessness.

The event featured expert panelists including:  

• Christophe Lalande – UN-Habitat 
• Iris Bailey – Life Sharing Experience and Faith Sharing Associates 
• Julia Wagner – Institute for Global Homelessness 
• Tracy Murdoch – WoodGreen HOME  
• End Street Homelessness – Video Feature 
• Outreach Grid – Video Feature