Case Study — Built for Zero
A national initiative helping communities reach and sustain "functional zero" homelessness using real-time data.
SDG 1 No PovertySDG 11 Sustainable Cities & CommunitiesWhat is it?
Built for Zero is a national initiative, led by the nonprofit Community Solutions, in which local teams use real-time, by-name data to drive homelessness toward “functional zero” — a state where homelessness is rare and brief for a defined population, such as veterans or the chronically homeless.
Why does it matter?
It demonstrates a shift from counting homelessness annually to managing it continuously, and shows that measurable reductions are achievable when communities coordinate housing and services around a shared, current list of people.
How does it work?
Participating communities build a by-name list of everyone experiencing homelessness, update it in real time, and use quality-improvement methods to reduce inflow and speed placement into housing — largely following Housing First principles.
Who benefits?
People experiencing homelessness benefit from faster, coordinated housing placement; communities gain a management tool and accountability for outcomes rather than activity.
Who may be disadvantaged?
Results depend on housing supply and sustained funding; a community can improve its process yet stall if affordable units are unavailable. Reductions in one subpopulation can be hard to sustain amid rising overall need.
What evidence exists?
Community Solutions reports that dozens of communities have reduced or reached functional zero for veteran or chronic homelessness. As an initiative-reported and quasi-experimental record, its strongest claims are about process and coordination rather than randomized proof.
What tradeoffs exist?
By-name data and continuous coordination require investment in data systems and governance. Focusing on a defined population can produce clear wins but may not by itself reduce total homelessness.
Common misconceptions
“Functional zero” does not mean no one ever becomes homeless; it means homelessness is rare, brief, and reliably resolved for the tracked population.
What you can do next
Review the Housing First approach it operationalizes, and consider how by-name data could complement the annual Point-in-Time count in a local system.