Sizing

Whether we are talking about the private sector or the public sector, it’s important to understand the size of a market (or a problem). Knowing the size of the addressable market you are about to enter or the size of a problem you are trying to solve is an important first step. Consultants are great at sizing a problem at the outset of a case study. When thinking of distributing sleeping bags to the homeless during the winter or cold bottles of water during the summer (and expanding our cell phone initiative), we must be thinking along these lines.

A few weeks ago, I received a mailing from So Others Might Eat (SOME), a large and well-established nonprofit that helps the homeless of DC. The mailing included some updated numbers on DC’s homeless population. I thought I should share them:

“A 2010 government survey documented 11,770 homeless persons in the DC metropolitan area, with the highest number, 6,540, located in the District. This number includes over 800 families with 1,535 children who are living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, cars or emergency shelters. The count would be even higher if the survey counted people who are doubled-up and even tripled-up in housing, living with family members or friends.”

That’s a lot of sleeping bags, bottles of water and cell phones to give out. Clearly, Be the Change in DC is not in this alone. In fact, we have and will continue to work with other organizations to fill in the gaps of services that are provided to the homeless. We could always use more help and at least we have a sense for the size of the problem.