Collaborative Committee members looked back at their one-year anniversary and discussed how services for people experiencing homelessness have improved after working together through the Alliance. These highlights from their conversation prove that working together works.
Client Benefits
The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance is based on a collaborative model, where agencies work together to share resources, expedite services, coordinate programs and create efficiencies; more effectively reducing homelessness in the Valley.
Community agencies are now all working together for a common goal. These improved relationships have helped prevent people from returning or moving into homelessness.
We’ve also seen growth and a learning process take place as more individuals learn how to take care of things themselves, which they would normally lean on staff to do.
Capacity Building
As we see more collaboration happening among agencies, we are working together to make all of our services available to each of our clients. All agencies are working together for the common goal. Specifically this year, Redwood Crossings was established and opened, and Sequoia Crossings is in the works.
System Development
Networking opportunities via committees were moved to virtual meetings, which reduced travel. We were able to serve more clients through virtual meetings and get more families housed.
Technology like this has also made our services more accessible for low-income families who cannot drive to their appointments.
Practice Improvements
The collaboration among agencies brought more awareness of homelessness and housing issues than in previous years.
Experiencing the COVID pandemic and Labor Day wildfires showed us how complicated it can be for individuals to access resources. We were challenged to figure out how we can get these resources out to those who were affected. While we have improved our systems and practices, we will continue to look for areas of improvement to make things more accessible.
Other nationwide events brought an important shift in how we communicate our services to clients — including diversity, equity, and inclusion. We do our best to recognize diversity in every project.
These partnerships have been instrumental in responding to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Our community has been streamlined to communicate collectively.
Who has directly benefited from all of us working together? Individuals, families, youth, people with disabilities, domestic violence survivors, and Veterans who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
Featured photo credit: Church at the Park