Project Description

Project Scope:

The City of Albuquerque needs a centralized bed management system that could track real-time availability, manage check-ins, and automatically synchronize with city data sources. The key objectives included:

  • Developing a Django-based web application for managing shelter beds and tracking occupancy
  • Implementing real-time bed availability tracking by bed type (family, couples, male, female, youth, respite)
  • Integrating automated daily updates from Albuquerque’s ArcGIS data feed
  • Creating an interactive map interface for visualizing shelter locations and availability
  • Building a check-in system using HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) IDs for tracking
  • Supporting multiple shelter types including regular shelters and halfway houses
  • Implementing filtering and search capabilities for finding available beds

Custom Solutions Delivered:

  • Django-based bed management system for tracking shelter capacity and occupancy in real-time

  • Automated data synchronization with Albuquerque’s ArcGIS FeatureServer, updating shelter information daily without manual intervention

  • Google Maps integration providing interactive visualization of shelter locations with real-time bed availability displayed on markers

  • HMIS ID check-in system enabling shelter staff to log admissions while preventing duplicate check-ins per day

  • Multi-bed type support tracking availability for family, couples, male, female, youth, and respite beds separately

  • Google Places API integration for automated address geocoding and place information retrieval

  • Scheduled task system using Django-Q for reliable daily data updates from city systems

  • Filtering and search functionality allowing users to find shelters by location, bed type, and availability

  • Multi-step wizard interface for creating and managing shelters with address autocomplete and validation

  • Halfway house management supporting Oxford House-style facilities with vacancy tracking

Key Outcomes

  • Real-time visibility* into shelter bed availability across the city, enabling faster placement of individuals in need
  • Automated data synchronization eliminated manual data entry and ensured accuracy by pulling directly from city systems
  • Improved operational efficiency with streamlined check-in processes and automated capacity calculations
  • Enhanced coordination between multiple shelters through centralized bed availability tracking
  • Geographic visualization helped staff and administrators quickly identify shelter locations and availability patterns
  • Reduced administrative burden through automated updates and intuitive management interfaces

The result is a robust, scalable platform that simplifies shelter bed management for the City of Albuquerque. The system now provides real-time visibility into shelter capacity, automates data synchronization with city systems, and enables efficient coordination of emergency shelter services across multiple facilities.