Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending …Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending...
Transcript of Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending …Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending...
Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending
Homelessness
2015 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness
February 19-20. 2015 San Diego, California
Kay Moshier McDivitt Technical Assistance Specialist National Alliance to End Homelessness [email protected]
1.5 Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending Homelessness
Faith-based groups play a key role in ending family homelessness as they provide many resources including shelter and permanent housing assistance. This workshop will highlight strategies for Continuums of Care (CoC) to engage faith-based providers in their work, as well as strategies for faith-based groups to work with their CoCs in a more coordinated way
Our Speakers
Jim Amstutz, Lead Pastor of Akron Mennonite Church and Co-Chair of the Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness in Pennsylvania
Steve Brubaker, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, Philadelphia, PA
Lisa Gustaveson, Director of the Faith & Family Homelessness Project, School of Theology & Ministry, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Kay Moshier McDivitt, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Washington, DC (Moderator)
• Common Agenda
• Shared Measurement Systems
• Mutually Reinforcing Activities
• Continuous Communications
• Backbone Support Organizations
• Common Agenda
• Shared Measurement
Systems
• Mutually Reinforcing
Activities
• Continuous
Communication
• Backbone Support
Organizations
...individuals and families
who become homeless
return to permanent
housing within 30 days.
…homelessness will be
rare, brief, and non-
recurrent.
• Common Agenda
• Shared Measurement
Systems
• Mutually Reinforcing
Activities
• Continuous
Communication
• Backbone Support
Organizations
• Reduce the number who
become homeless
• Reduce length of
homelessness
• Reduce return to homelessness
Crisis Response System Systemic Approach
This takes work to include all homeless service providers,
including the faith based and non-federal funded providers
WHY?
1. Collective Impact
– Together we accomplish more
– Broader perspectives creates broader solutions
– Those we serve benefit
2. HEARTH Act requires systemic inclusion of all providers
3. Working together tells the bigger story; complete data is critical
4. Right thing to do
Getting Started
• Identify FBO’s in your continuum to be brought to the table
• Identify the right “convener”
– Negotiator vs. Champion (trusted by both secular and faith providers)
• Know circles of influence with that organization
– Who do you already know/work with
– Start with front line staff
– Persons of faith working in “secular” organization
• Develop the sell for each organization, do your research-a different plan for each one
Challenges
• Be prepared for bumps along the way
– Staff changes within organizations may mean starting
the process over/re-educating
– Philosophical shift from traditional models to “housing
first” or “rapid exit” system model
– Faith based providers reconciling local CoC strategies
vs. directives from national affiliations
• Don’t assume there will be resistance
– Sometimes our perceptions get in the way
• Focus on the win/wins for everyone
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Jim S. Amstutz, Co-Chair
Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness
The Role of Faith-Based Providers
Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness
Why join the Coalition?
What’s in it for us?
Potential Barriers
Organizational mission may be challenged
Cooperation not the same as Compromise
No single provider can serve everyone
Staying true to identity and core values
Look for compatible connections
Why participate in HMIS?
Add to collective and consistent data base
Assist with community Point In Time count
Coordinated Assessment
Different Organizational Cultures
No HUD, State, or Local funding
Faith-based funding has community buy-in
Freedom to add faith dimension without making
it a barrier
Can fill gaps with underserved populations
Often appropriate in rural/suburban
communities
Deep financial and people resources
Potential Gains Strength in partnerships
Peer learning from other providers
Share best practices
Recognition of own limitations
Contribute to the collective good
Avoid silo mentality and ministry
A vital voice along the Continuum of Care
Moral companion to civil society
Lancaster City/County 2014 PIT
Type Faith
Based
Federal/State
Government
Funded
Totals
Emergency
Singles
122 10 132
Emergency
Family Units
21 20 41
Transitional
Singles
59 86 145
Transitional
Family Units
38 44 82
Getting from There to Here
Beyond Good Intentions
Beyond Pray and Pay
Beyond Fix-It and Forget-
It projects
A Framework for
Understanding poverty
Build a Local Theology
Holistic approach to
disconnectedness
Connecting with Faith Based Partners
Listen to their story. Seek to understand.
Start with where they are
Invite them to the table as partners
Seek out points of convergence while taking
seriously points of divergence
Help make mutually beneficial connections
Validate their place along the Continuum
Nurture deep change as the opportunity arises.
Co-create a community-wide collaboration
Thank You!
Our Vision
…a world where the cycle of family homelessness is broken
through the creation of new relationships, platforms and
models for successful faith-based responses.
Our Top 5
1. Be Patient
2. Find the “Leaders”
3. Don’t be Afraid of Prayer
4. If You Build it They Will Come
5. Each Congregation is Unique
Communicate
The Big 3
Translate
Bridge Best & Promising Practices What’s Next for Your Congregation
Poverty Workshops Continuum of Care/10YP
UGM Pilot Jewish Family Services
Church Council Homeless Bill of Rights
Yesler Terrace Collaborative SFM: Journalism & Spirituality
Blog:14,000 views Facebook Page:250 likes
Mailing List: 500+
Tools You Can Use #1
Sponsor Events Share Stories Create Experiences
Tools You Can Use #2
Get their attention
Get to Work
Tools You Can Use #3
Meet the Needs
Share Good Ideas
Lisa Gustaveson | [email protected] To Learn More: Faithandfamilyhomelessness.com Projectonfamilyhomelessness.org Facebook: facebook.com/seattleustmFFH facebook.com/SUProjectOnFamilyHomelessness Twitter: @lisagustaveson @chinrichsen_su
Faith-Based Groups: Important Partners in Ending Homelessness
Ending Family and Youth Homelessness
National Alliance to End Homelessness
San Diego, CA
February, 2015
Advantages of the Continuum of Care (CoC) and the Faith-based Organization (FBO) in Partnership •Need – No one entity alone can resolve
homelessness
•Breadth/Reach – Each organization reaches different demographics, pockets of need, etc.
•Resources – Each organization brings unique insight, capacity, people, expertise
• ‘Hybrids’ – Those with a ‘foot in both worlds’ can be leveraged to bridge any divide between the CoC and the FBO
Cultivate relationship
From the CoC Perspective • Find points of common
concern
• Listen for what an FBO values
• Educate re: the CoC
• Collaborate about who needs to be at the table
• Identify need/gaps in service, etc.
• Define a clear, mutual goal
From the FBO Perspective • Guard against ‘knowing it
all’ • Get to know those in the
‘homeless business’ • Serve on a relevant
committee • Listen for what the CoC
values • Work to understand the
big picture (10-year plan, etc.)
Things to keep in mind
For the CoC: • Do not expect the FBO to
change long-held mission/vision/values
• Have examples of successful collaborations
• Remember that FBO’s can’t use usual funding streams
• Remind that the goal is not to solicit the FBO’s donor base
• Be okay with trying something and failing
For the FBO: • Remember that people
outside your faith journey are well-intentioned, caring and competent
• Salt and light only work when used
• Look for a common issue where resource can be applied
• You will not be expected to sacrifice M/V/V
• Be okay with trying something and failing
Moving the Partnership Along …
• Use a subcommittee – smaller, less threatening, more focus
• Establish co-chairs, one from the CoC, one from the FBO
• Regularly remind of respectful candor in conversation
• Keep clarifying organizational identity (M/V/V)
• Use a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) – when agreeing to disagree
Examples of Good Partnership
• Point-in-Time Count • Goal: get an accurate count of unsheltered homeless
• A unique aspect: the school district, the police, the faith-based community connected well
• Church-based revolving winter shelter • Goal: provide safe, overnight shelter for those choosing not
to be part of the shelter system • A unique aspect: the local synagogue provided initial
management expertise
• Day shelter for ‘hard-to-shelter’ homeless • Goal: provide a low-demand connection place for the
chronically homeless • A unique aspect: an FBO provided space; a non-FBO provided
management
Discussion and Sharing
1. What are some partnerships you have formed in your communities?
2. What has been the most significant thing you have done to create those partnerships?
3. What are some challenges and how have you addressed those challenges?
1.5 Faith Based Groups Important Partners in Ending Homelessness