Project: Team Consulting Project
Role: Project Manager
Timeline: Sep - Dec 2024
Tools: Google Docs
Brief
My project team, through Reach Consulting Group, took on a project to conduct technical research about the process of integrating real-time data tracking on the Florida Resource Map.
Through communicating with our client and identifying the key points of research, we created a comprehensive report about the current technical capacities of human resource centers as well as the process of implementing a real-time data tracking method.
Introduction
Real-time capacity tracking enhances accessibility to food, shelter, financial, and health resources by continuously updating availability through IoT devices, AI analytics, and cloud-based dashboards.
This system is valuable for homelessness and resource accessibility, allowing shelters and food banks to efficiently allocate limited resources.
Integrating real-time tracking into platforms like the Florida Resource Map could improve large-scale communication and user accessibility.
However, challenges such as inconsistent data, technical disparities among resource centers, and manual updating methods hinder widespread adoption. Standardizing data, ensuring accuracy, and securing approval from shelters require significant effort, but overcoming these barriers could greatly improve resource distribution.
Interviews
To understand the challenges and opportunities of real-time capacity tracking, we cold-emailed several homeless shelters and food banks in South Florida.
Crest View Area Shelter, the only homeless shelter in its community, provides both immediate outreach and long-term residential support through a low-barrier model. However, it lacks a real-time data management system, relying on Facebook updates and an externally managed website, limiting accessibility to up-to-date shelter availability.
In contrast, the Food Bank of Manatee, the largest hunger relief network in Manatee County, operates diverse community programs and uses an internally developed Agency Information Management System (AIMS) for resource tracking. While its in-house website management allows for real-time updates, occasional delays highlight the need for improved automation.
These interviews underscored the importance of modernizing data systems in shelters and food banks to enhance accessibility and efficiency for vulnerable populations.
Research
The report examines challenges and opportunities in real-time capacity tracking for shelters and resource centers, focusing on interviews with the Crest View Area Shelter and the Food Bank of Manatee. Both organizations face inefficiencies due to manual data management systems, limiting real-time updates and resource allocation.
Comparisons to Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) highlight the benefits of automation, which could improve transparency, service delivery, and user experience while reducing staff burden.
Solutions such as automated databases, real-time updates, and adaptable tracking tools could enhance efficiency. The report underscores the need for long-term partnerships, data-driven insights, and emerging technologies to create scalable, user-friendly solutions for homelessness response.
Mock-Up of Implementation
Takeaways
This was my first time being a project manager for a consulting project. It allowed me to efficiently lead a team while being the point of communication for both my team members and the client.
The topic of the project was also a step out of my comfort zone as I was able to explore skills outside of UI/UX design.
Some key takeaways from this project were...
The importance of real-time data
Implementing real-time capacity tracking can significantly enhance service efficiency, improve transparency, and streamline resource allocation for shelters and resource centers.
Challenges of Manual Systems
Many organizations, like the Food Bank of Manatee and Crest View Area Shelter, rely on manual data entry, which leads to delays, inefficiencies, and communication gaps. Upgrading to automated systems could alleviate these issues.
Funding and Infrastructure Limitations
Smaller shelters often lack the financial and technical capacity to implement real-time tracking systems. Sustainable solutions, such as the phased adoption of cost-effective digital tools, are crucial.
These takeaways emphasize the need for thoughtful, accessible, and scalable technological improvements to enhance human resource services while maintaining a human-centered approach.