Case Summary

In 2005, the Toronto Client access to integrated Services and Information Project (CAISI) was constructed to aid the increasing number of the homeless in Canada. By creating a software program that integrated information from various shelters and hospitals, volunteers hoped to make a difference for the homeless.

Business Challenge

The Toronto client access to integrated services and information project (CAISI) was created in order to fight the rising number of the homeless in Canada. As of March 2001, Canada had over 14,000 homeless living on the streets, and many homeless shelters and hospitals found it increasingly hard to help those in need when client information and statistics were kept by the various shelters; this lead to inappropriate and ineffective treatment for those in need of shelter or medical attention. If the different organizations managed to get a hold of the information, it turned into hours of tireless paperwork. The goal of CAISI was to integrate all cliental information between shelters and hospitals in order to increase the efficiency for helping clients.

Approach Taken

In 2005, the CAISI project utilized the OSCAR McMaster as its information technology software. This program provides shelters and hospitals with:
• Open source information by tracking clients and their treatments as they moved from hospital to shelter.
• Statistics of mental illnesses and disabilities within a given homeless population.
• A blog to generate feedback from clients, potential clients, outside experts and interested civilians

Results Achieved

Through the use of the integrative technology CAISI managed to cut down on the hours it took to make statistical program sheets into minutes. Moreover, all of the facets of the organizations can be managed on a single software program instead of shuffling through paper work and effectively cuts down time so shelters can work on actually helping the needy. The tracking of the clients allows for an improved service plan for the clientele and when they come in for help, they don't have to sit around and wait for paperwork to be processed. Once they are already in the system, officials can determine what kind of help they have already received and what kind they will need. Finally, the suggestion blog provided by the software facilitates an ever evolving community by taking suggestions from professionals and former patients. The success of CAISI in 2007 landed them the CIPA silver award for Excellence in Efficiency Operations.

Lessons Learned

Employing this kind of integrative technology drastically improved the conditions of numerous shelters and organizations by simply integrating all of their information. The main success of CAISI is not solely from an open source of information but also a collaborative technology that allows the organization to continue to help in more efficient ways. They can listen to their cliental and modify the inner workings of the infrastructure to better serve those they are trying to help.