Using multiple data sources

Originally published May 2024

Sometimes you know exactly what you’re looking for and where to find it. But most of the time, we have a more general idea of what we want to say or what case we’re trying to build, and then we go looking for helpful data. However, when you’re on the hunt for data, don’t stop at the first source you find.

When you stop at the first source, you might be missing out on:

• A second or third source that confirms the first to make your case stronger.
• A more local source with more localized insights.
• A less obvious or known option that can be disaggregated to give you better insight for your use case.
• A source that your audience or funders prefer.

For example, we get a lot of data requests about homelessness. If you google for something like “how many homeless people are in Atlanta,” you’ll likely see results that reference the Point-in-Time (PIT) count.

PIT data is probably the most commonly used data on homeless individuals and families. Being a standard source is useful in its own right as it makes comparison across communities easier. And because it’s what local Continuums of Cares (CoCs) and HUD rely on, it makes a lot of sense to use this data for federal grants and to inform policymaking.

But, there’s another great source out there! Thanks to a federal act, public schools collect data on student homelessness (2023 numbers here, and can be requested from GaDOE here). Depending on what you’re trying to do, GaDOE’s data has some clear advantages. It has a wider definition of homelessness and a more systematic collection method that may make it better for program design to support homeless and at-risk families with children.

Digging even further, you can find local organizations’ annual reports that show they are serving more individuals than are counted in some of these official reports. Sometimes, it really takes some triangulation, assumptions, and a clear understanding of what you’re trying to communicate in order to pull data and narrative together in a compelling, meaningful way.