By-Name List. |
Simcoe County BNL
Once the Common Intake has been completed, people are added to the By-Name List: a real-time, up-to-date list of all people experiencing homelessness who have accessed services through Simcoe County’s Homeless Services and Supports System.
The BNL helps community partners know every person experiencing homelessness by name, understand their unique needs, and then prioritize them for the most appropriate and available housing supports. Communities around North America working to reduce chronic homelessness use By-Name Lists to share individual information and track changes and progress in the community. |
The BNL is used both for community-level data (non-identifying information) and individual-level data (confidential personal information).
We use the information to:
We use the information to:
- Track how many people are coming into homelessness, moving into housing, changes and trends over time
- Measure Simcoe County’s progress towards functional zero of chronic homelessness
- Collect concrete evidence for the types of services we need more of to best meet community needs
- Together with HIFIS software, share client information between service providers to reduce duplication of work, and avoid individuals having to re-answer the same questions multiple times
- Prioritize individuals for Housing First case management program using objective decision-making. Over time as we build a coordinated access system, the BNL will be used to prioritize individuals for different types and levels of services and housing
BNL Guide for Frontline Service Providers
Simcoe County’s By-Name List is starting out as a list in spreadsheet form, then will become an integrated part of HIFIS. Housing-specific service providers who are trained in HIFIS are the first group to use the new BNL. This includes County-funded emergency shelter, motel voucher, transitional housing, and housing support programs. In the future other service providers will be encouraged to contribute to the BNL.
Service Providers are responsible to add currently homeless clients to the BNL and keep their information up to date every 30 days. Regular updates from service providers are the most important part of a quality and useful By-Name List!
Service Providers are responsible to add currently homeless clients to the BNL and keep their information up to date every 30 days. Regular updates from service providers are the most important part of a quality and useful By-Name List!
Forms and documents
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Script to use with Clients (Updated Dec 2020)
Form Fill Guide for Common Intake Form and BNL Update Form
Housing First Program Overview
Housing First Referral Process for HIFIS and non-HIFIS Agencies
BNL Overview One-Pager
BNL Training Powerpoint Slides
Script to use with Clients (Updated Dec 2020)
Form Fill Guide for Common Intake Form and BNL Update Form
Housing First Program Overview
Housing First Referral Process for HIFIS and non-HIFIS Agencies
BNL Overview One-Pager
BNL Training Powerpoint Slides
Contacts for support
Please get in touch with the CA Coordinator/BNL Support with any questions, concerns or suggestions:
Jenn PLexman
bnl@communityconnection.ca
For all HIFIS manuals and support materials, see the HIFIS Support Page at simcoe.ca/hifis
For more information about collective efforts to reduce chronic homelessness, check out the
Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness at www.scateh.com
Jenn PLexman
bnl@communityconnection.ca
For all HIFIS manuals and support materials, see the HIFIS Support Page at simcoe.ca/hifis
For more information about collective efforts to reduce chronic homelessness, check out the
Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness at www.scateh.com