Effective Collaboration & Coordination Can End Homelessness
With the foundation’s sustained commitment and leadership, our community has demonstrated that effective collaboration, coordination, and a focus on data can end homelessness. The most compelling proof point of this has been the 73% reduction in the rate of chronic homelessness across Cuyahoga County since 2006.
The foundation has focused its efforts in homelessness on building and sustaining effective collaborations through investment in an intermediary – or backbone agency. Beyond grant support, the foundation remains deeply engaged in the work and identifies opportunities to leverage technical assistance and other capacity building to strengthen the collaboration.
We focus our grantmaking on organizations that create quality, permanent housing with supportive services for homeless adults and families in Cuyahoga County. In addition, we support advocacy for policy reform to improve the continuum of care for those experiencing homelessness. We also recognize that sound housing policies, especially those that prioritize and protect those most vulnerable to experiences of homelessness, i.e. Black, Indigenous and other people of color and LGBTQ individuals, are essential to the systemic effort to end homelessness. Learn more about our work in housing policy on our Policy Advocacy page.
Strategic Goal
To end homelessness in Cuyahoga County by promoting systems change and organizational and partnership capacity.
- Through ongoing support and partnership, sustain the end to chronic homelessness in Cuyahoga County.
- Build data and collaborative capacity among partners to end youth homelessness in Cuyahoga County, with a focus on system-involved youth, youth of color, LGBTQ youth and young families.
- Leverage relationships and contribute to national movement building to bring technical assistance, resources and best practices to ending homelessness in Cuyahoga County.
Experience and Insights
- Our greatest impact is achieved through aiming at a narrow and focused goal.
- We must engage closely and regularly with our partner organizations.
- Effective partnership requires strong intermediaries.
- Investment in systems and coordination is critical.
- Alignment with federal frameworks, standards and benchmarks is crucial for garnering wider support.