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    • Why Follow-Up is Hard (And How to Improve It)

    Posted by Makerble Templates 7 months ago
    Edited by Curated by Makerble 7 monthsago

    Makerble Templates's Idea:


    Purpose:     Realistic expectations and strategies for post-exit contact

    Content:

    Why Emergency Accommodation Follow-Up is Challenging:

    • People move frequently and don't update contact details
    • Phone numbers change or run out of credit
    • Many don't have email addresses
    • Trust issues - may not want services to track them
    • Chaotic lives make appointments difficult
    • Some deliberately avoid contact


    Realistic Follow-Up Rates:

    • 1-month follow-up: 40-50% response rate is GOOD
    • 3-month follow-up: 25-35% is typical
    • 6-month follow-up: 15-25% is realistic


    Strategies to Improve Response:

    1. Get Better Contact Details at Intake
      • Ask for 2-3 phone numbers (friends/family as well)
      • Social media contacts (Facebook, WhatsApp)
      • Where they usually hang out (for in-person follow-up)
    2. Make Follow-Up Easy
      • Use text message surveys (higher response than calls)
      • Offer incentives (£5-10 voucher for completed survey)
      • Meet people where they are (day centers, soup kitchens)
      • Keep surveys VERY short (5 questions max)
    3. Multiple Contact Attempts
      • Try 3 times at different times of day
      • Mix methods (call, text, in-person)
      • Space attempts over 2 weeks
    4. Be Honest in Reporting
      • Report "lost contact" as a separate category
      • Don't assume lost contact = rough sleeping (though some will be)
      • Note: "30% follow-up response rate" in reports so funders understand


    What to Track When You CAN'T Follow Up:

    • Exit destinations (you know this at the time)
    • Whether move-on was planned
    • Whether ongoing support was arranged
    • Focus reporting on THESE metrics rather than long-term outcomes you can't measure


    Tags:     Follow-Up, Data Quality, Realistic Expectations