Given GOP control of Congress, Loebsack is concerned there will be “downward pressure” on resources going to human resources programs. Data will help him convince lawmakers and policymakers to look at the problem rationally.

“They don’t have to look at it rationally. Just give us the money,” Jessica Peckover, Johnson County Jail alternatives coordinator, joked.

“And we’ll take it from there,” added Iowa City City Councilwoman Susan Mims.

“The problem is, there are a whole lot of people in Washington who want to give you nothing,” Loebsack said. “They believe, I think wrongly, that these programs don’t work.”

“I hate to suggest that whatever you do is driven mainly, let alone completely, by potential grant funding or money from the state or from the feds, but that’s got to be a part of this because you have to demonstrate success.” Loebsack said.

Matthew Tamayo, who represents a Silicon Valley software firm called Loom, explained that the groups represented around the table plan to meet Thursday to develop plans for gathering and tracking data across their agencies to provide Loebsack with the hard data he needs.