Sarasota/ Manatee MSA’s efforts exemplify the approach. 

Housing is on every business owner and residents minds as they look to the future of our community. I was encouraged to read an article addressing this issue in the Winter 2025 issue of Columbia Magazine.

Rosanne Haggerty, a Columbia University alumna and president of the nonprofit Community Solutions, has been instrumental in implementing data-driven strategies to combat homelessness in various U.S. cities, including Denver. Her approach focuses on real-time analytics, reducing bureaucratic obstacles, and innovative financing for affordable housing.

In Denver, Rosanne Haggerty played a pivotal role through her organization, Community Solutions, in advancing strategies to reduce homelessness. Her approach emphasized collaboration with local governments and organizations, employing data-driven methods to identify gaps in services and optimize resource allocation. Denver’s successes included a significant reduction in chronic homelessness through initiatives like Housing First, which prioritizes immediate access to stable housing paired with supportive services.

Haggerty’s leadership helped to focus efforts on system-wide changes, breaking down bureaucratic silos and creating a coordinated network of providers. By leveraging her expertise in community-based solutions and advocating for innovative financing models, she enabled Denver to not only house individuals but also sustain their stability, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining academic insight with practical implementation.

Sarasota/Manatee MSA has adopted similar methods to address homelessness. As just one example in 2014, the city of Sarasota implemented a Housing First strategy, providing immediate housing without preconditions which has led to a significant reduction in homelessness. This is just one of many programs the community is addressing. Many more programs and efforts will need to be created to address this issue.

These initiatives demonstrate that with comprehensive, data-informed strategies, it is possible to make substantial progress in solving homelessness. This problem is by no means solved, but step by step our community can come forward with a solution. I was proud to see Columbia University’s faculty provide insight into homeless solutions.

https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/how-end-homelessness-rosanne-haggerty-community-solutions