As part of its efforts to assist unsheltered individuals, the city of Reno, Nev., is launching a new app that will help outreach workers more effectively support the unsheltered community.
The city worked with ServiceNow and NewRocket on the new DROPS (Direct Resource Outreach and Placement Service) mobile app.
“DROPS is a game-changer for our city. By empowering our outreach team with this innovative technology, we are taking a major step forward in our efforts to tackle the challenge of homelessness,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “This app will help us make more informed decisions directly with the community we’re serving and ensure resources are provided when they are needed most.”
The new app includes a range of features designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of outreach efforts, including:
- Profile Collection: Mobile entry of demographic data creates shared knowledge resulting in deeper insights about the unsheltered community. This feature enables outreach workers to quantify the impact of their efforts and better understand the needs of those they serve.
- Encounter and Journey Tracking: DROPS allows workers to capture a history of interactions with each unsheltered neighbor, creating a consolidated, digital case file. This feature provides real-time context and the ability to review the impact of early interventions.
- Case and Task Management: Workers can tap into a catalog of common actions and integrations with third-party services to deliver the right services at the right time. Individualized plans create a shared task list, increasing accountability and maximizing impact.
- Reporting and Analytics: This feature transforms data collected by outreach workers into actionable insights, enabling better decision-making, and trend analysis. This information helps the city quantify its impact on homelessness and identify areas where additional support and funding are needed.
Looking to the future, Reno leaders said that future iterations of the app may include more integrations with third-party services and a version of the mobile app specifically for use by unsheltered individuals.
