Case Study: Coordinating homelessness response in Connecticut

"Roundtable has made it incredibly easy for providers to keep track of and find essential resources, which was a struggle amid our countless emails. It has also rekindled peer connections and a sense of community among our providers across different geographical areas and levels within organizations. This platform encourages open conversations and fosters meaningful relationships, ensuring cohesive collaboration in our operations."

- Jessica Kubicki, Chief Initiative Officer

‍

‍

The Housing Collective (HC) serves as the backbone for Western Connecticut’s homelessness response system, leading the Coordinated Access Network in Fairfield County and Northwest CT. HC partners with hundreds of organizations in their mission to prevent and end homelessness, regionally coordinating homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, permanent housing, employment, advocacy, and service strategies across 151 partner agencies. With a focus on Western CT, HC has been instrumental in supporting thousands of adults and children experiencing housing instability and homelessness each year.

‍

KEY QUESTION

How can we support organizations working to prevent and end homelessness, ensuring stable, affordable housing for everyone?

‍

PROBLEM

Coordination challenges

• Difficulty in real-time coordination across 151 organizations within the Continuum of Care (CoC) network.
  
• Lack of access to real-time updates on new resources, policy changes, and upcoming training opportunities.

Fragmented communication

• Overwhelming volume of emails and scattered resources led to inefficiency and frustration.
  
• Providers struggled to find critical information, feeling isolated and disconnected.

Impact of the pandemic

• Shift to virtual meetings diminished peer connections.
  
• Weakened sense of community among providers, hindering effective collaboration.

‍

SOLUTION

Centralized communication hub

• Created a unified platform for all providers within the CoC network.
  
• Consolidated critical information in one easily accessible location.
• Simplified management of the complex network of working groups across regions and topics.

Improved resource management

• Enabled providers to efficiently track and find resources, reducing frustration.
  
• Fostered proactive sharing among providers with real-time updates on events, resources, and vacancies.
• Minimized communication noise, making important information more accessible.

‍

IMPACT

Enhanced coordination

• Streamlined communication and collaboration across the entire network.
  
• Increased efficiency in managing and accessing critical information.

Strengthened community

• Reinforced the sense of community and peer connections among providers.
  
• Highlighted the importance of integrated solutions in tackling complex social issues.
• Enhanced the overall impact and effectiveness of the support networks.