Collaboration is one of the most effective solutions for every complex problem. The following read explores collaboration for the homelessness challenge.
The ecosystem of housing the homeless people
Many organizations are working hard to support people who are experiencing homelessness. Some organizations are finding or developing affordable housing, some are providing education and job skills so that people can find higher paying jobs, some supporting the process of finding jobs, some are doing advocacy work, etc.
All of the organizations have limited funds and time.
Housing for homeless people is a complex ecosystem that has many moving parts. Let’s first focus on people who are experiencing homelessness. They are the center of this ecosystem. Their challenge, homelessness, is the main reason for various organizations to exist. People experience homelessness for many reasons and every single person has a unique story and journey.
One solution does not fit all.
Additionally, there are various external factors that impact each organization’s impact in this complex ecosystem. Think about how each organization is influencing other organizations and the people they serve. Are there parallels in work and overlaps that are not helpful? What role do stop-gap solutions play, that could result in worse homelessness in a couple of years? What about the role of the employment and job market on homelessness? Other cost of living? The role of family and education?
To find effective solutions, understanding the ecosystem is necessary.
One way to increase understanding of the ecosystem is to actively engage with other organizations and stakeholders. Collaboration is one of the only effective ways to grow to the size of the ecosystem to see it as a whole and understand it.
Collaboration is an underutilized asset for effectiveness and growth
The Collaboration Process
Solving problems together takes longer than solving them alone. However the truth is that the only effective and sustainable solutions are created in a group effort. Below is a review of one sample process that a host organization or an advocate may use to make the collaboration happen.
- First meet with your team and ask: What are the barriers to achieving your goals as an organization? Summarize the conversation in a few paragraphs.
- List five organizations that can benefit from your specific goals or/and organizations that share similar challenges.
- Think about their needs and see how you (your organization) can support them in their needs. Common pains and goals are great motivation for collaboration.
- Reach out to the identified organizations to have a conversation about collaboration. Prepare to show how they can achieve their goals through a common effort. Remember to think and plan for things that may concerns the partner in collaboration.
- If you can set up the collaboration space, go for it. If not, hire facilitators and Designers who are expert in doing so. Manage the cost of collaboration by collaboration. Perhaps each organization can pay a fee to hire the experts.
- Attend hands-on collaboration workshops with other stakeholders.
- Make sure to include people who are experiencing homelessness in the process of collaboration and conversation. Make solutions with people not for people.
Tangled Joy 