Matt Harrison. Deputy CEO, Homeless Link writes....
In the homelessness sector, data is far more than numbers - it is the foundation of understanding, accountability, and change. Each record tells part of a person’s story, helping us see what support works best, where the gaps are, and how we can improve services for the future.
Good data helps everyone.
Frontline teams use it to tailor support and coordinate care. Leaders rely on it to plan services and demonstrate impact. Funders and commissioners need evidence that their investment is making a difference and government (both local and national) depends on accurate data to design effective policy and allocate resources where they’re needed most.
But collecting and using data well isn’t easy. For many homelessness charities, stretched resources and multiple reporting requirements make it difficult to capture consistent, meaningful information. That’s where In-Form helps.
In-Form
Developed by Homeless Link, In-Form is a case management system built specifically for the homelessness and supported housing sector. It enables organisations to record, manage and report on client data securely and efficiently, helping you to evidence impact, collaborate across services, and improve support.
We’re incredibly proud of In-Form, and we want all our members to benefit from it, not just the larger charities. That’s why we offer the free In-Form Community and the off-the-shelf In-Form Essential version, designed to give smaller organisations access to the same powerful tools.
We’ve seen the real value In-Form brings to all sizes of organisations. Over 100 members use In-Form Essential, and their feedback shows how it transforms their ability to understand and demonstrate the difference they make. But we also recognise that, in the current economic climate, it can be hard for smaller charities to justify any additional cost. We’ve seen this reflected in Essential sales in recent years and it’s something we’re committed to addressing so that data-driven practice remains accessible to all.
The pandemic showed just how important that access is. When face-to-face contact was limited, organisations using In-Form were able to continue supporting clients thanks to secure, online access to their data. Many of our members chose to adopt In-Form during that period because they saw first-hand how vital it was to have client information available anytime, anywhere.
Understanding the Sector
Looking ahead, we’re deepening our understanding of the sector through initiatives like the HOME study and the Strategic Insights Tool in London, which draw on In-Form data to help us build a richer evidence base for what works in homelessness services. To do this effectively, we need insights from organisations of every size - not just the largest. The more voices and experiences reflected in our data, the stronger our shared evidence becomes.
Ultimately, data is about people. It’s about making sure every individual’s experience informs better decisions, stronger services, and lasting change. With In-Form, we’re helping the homelessness sector use data not as an administrative burden, but as a powerful tool to improve lives - together.
New Bursaries
To help us all with this work we are launching the In-Form Bursary scheme in 2026 to provider smaller member charities with a £2,500 discount off the implementation costs for a new In-Form system. Exclusively for Homeless Link members with a turnover of less than £500,000 this bursary scheme will help ensure that all our members can take advantage of the power of data in ending homelessness.
