The Role of a Coalition for the Homeless (continued)
Helpful Hints
Strong coalitions make attendance a priority. That means lots of phone
calls, reminders, and gentle prodding to get policy makers within
local agencies at the table. Always make the meetings short, but
worthwhile. Well-organized meetings leave people feeling that they
have used their time well. Always start on time and end on time.
Policy makers in homeless service providers can not afford to waste
time. And, finally, decide on procedures and stick to the rules.
No one likes feeling cheated or manipulated. That is one of the
reasons that it is important to take the time and use consensus
to write a mission statement and put together by-laws.
Building Effective Coalitions
Like most group activities - a home, an organization, and a team - effective
coalitions seem to be have a combination of elements that contribute
to their success:
There is a need for continuity - a community coalition must have a core
group that keeps it moving ahead, provides it with a sense of
history and stability, and serves as the anchor of lasting networks
for change.
There is a need for flexibility - a community coalition must be ready
to adapt to changes and circumstances, avoid rigid bureaucratic
structures, and set expectations that make sense in these changing
times.
There is a need to look outward -- a community coalition must actively
seek new members with fresh perspectives, join forces with existing
and emerging organizations, come to understand the concerns of
the entire community, and recognize and tap the full capacities
within the community.
What do these ideas tell us? That creating an effective community coalition
entails combining characteristics that may seem in conflict. At
once, we are asked to give structure and remain flexible, embrace
new members and keep old ones at the table, maintain perspective
while always seeking additional ideas.
These are the characteristics of successful coalitions. The key seems
to be embracing the overarching ideas noted above and realizing
that simply having one, without the others, is not enough to be
effective.
Qualities that contribute to successful community coalitions cluster around
three ideas: continuity, flexibility, and openness.
Being inclusive. People in the community must be able to see their views
and values reflected within the coalition.
Being able to come and go. There must be a sense in the community that
there are always opportunities to become part of the coalition,
even if some groups are not currently members.
Looking outward. The members of the coalition must focus on the needs
of the community, not just their own needs.
Building connections to existing community institutions. The coalition
will benefit by drawing on the resources, skills, and experiences
of existing community organizations and traditional leaders.
Maintaining continuity. The coalition must maintain enough of the same membership
over time to develop institutional knowledge, develop lasting
networks, and instill a sense of responsibility for the coalition
and its work.
Having the legitimacy to act. There must be a sense that the coalition
has the authority to take action-within the coalition and the
eyes of others in the community.
Establishing realistic expectations. Citizens need to understand what the coalition
can accomplish. Realistic expectations are essential so that the
coalition is not doomed to failure.
Making incremental progress. The members of the coalition need to be
able to see the fruits of their labor. They must be able to point
to tangible accomplishments in order to sustain involvement in
the coalition and build credibility with citizens.
Creating a steering committee. The coalition needs a recognizable group
to take responsibility for maintaining progress and action within
the coalition.
Maintaining a flexible structure. There is no template for building successful
coalitions. Without the flexibility to change, the main purpose
for coming together and the benefits of collaborative effort can
be lost in strict procedural guidelines.
Recognizing and tapping the different skills of its members. Each member of
the coalition must be seen as having skills to contribute to the
long-term success of the group. For example, some members might
be better at getting projects going while others can do the day-to-day
work. Leaders of the coalition need to give direction, then move
aside and let the members use their skills.
Tapping the capacities of the community. The coalition must recognize
that citizens have roles to play in addressing issues. They must
seek to find ways for people to assume these roles.
