Blog: Homelessness Ends Here

In a recent speech to several hundred of the nation’s most influential community foundations, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan referenced ongoing discussions with Funders Together as a leading example of how HUD is integrating feedback from the philanthropic sector in its research and knowledge sharing strategies:

"On countless issues, we have already benefited enormously from discussions with groups like the Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, Funders Together to End Homelessness and the Living Cities collaborative. 
Just this week, we had a HUD team in Phoenix examining Recovery Act investments with the Arizona Community Foundation and local partners to examine what lessons we can draw from this historic commitment of public funds.

I know some of you participated in an interactive session we held at the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s annual conference in July as part of the Funders Together to End Homelessness.  The feedback from that session and another last month at HUD is already informing our upcoming study on the Impact of Housing and Services on Homeless Families."

Secretary Donovan’s speech described four core ways that philanthropy and government must work together to help bring about new models of social innovation:

Improve the quality of data and place-based research

"Improving the quality of data and place-based research is essential to evidence-based policymaking – to learning what’s working, what isn’t and what we need to do the job better, not just in Washington, but the communities we serve."

Promote knowledge-sharing and convening

"Too often, the public sector can be insular and self interested – fearful that it will be criticized by the press or the very people its policies impact. We’re determined not to make that mistake at HUD and believe HUD can be a “hub” for knowledge sharing as well. But having served at the local level myself, I know that the need for objective, honest brokers outside of government can’t be overstated. Working together, the Federal government and foundations can ensure the crucial lessons you’ve learned from your data and research efforts are shared and replicated widely."

Catalyze innovation

"Foundations can test new ideas that government couldn’t on its own.  With our statutory and regulatory constraints, there is a fishbowl we operate in.  Trying new things can be hard even for the most innovative governments. You bring speed, and take risks government can’t – or won’t."

Break through the silos

"Local governments may know place – but community foundations know how to connect place to people, institutions and ideas. It’s no secret that the Federal government tends to operate in silos – from one program to the next.  It’s really community foundations who have a unique vantage point to see where gaps exist and how programs can best be overlaid and blended – to work together. And with the flexibility you have, regional foundations often provide the glue needed to make place-based policies work in a way that government often can’t."