Community playbook

How other nonprofits can help

Use your existing mission and capabilities to solve one piece of the problem without duplicating homeless-service organizations.

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Use what you can actually sustain. Choose the parts of this guide that fit your role, resources, risk level, and community.

Quick start

Four principles to keep in mind

Legal, literacy, arts, transportation, health, technology, youth, and civic groups all have different assets.

Let a homeless-service organization tell you what it cannot currently solve.

A narrow repeatable contribution is easier to sustain than mission drift.

Know what your organization can handle and where to send needs outside your scope.

You may already provide something useful to people experiencing homelessness even if homelessness is not your primary focus.

✓Legal organizations may help with identification, benefits, family law, records, fines, or other legal barriers within their scope.
✓Literacy and education groups may help with GED preparation, reading, computer skills, forms, or job applications.
✓Arts, recreation, and community organizations may provide structured activities, social connection, classes, or a place to build confidence and routine.
✓Transportation, health, disability, veteran, youth, domestic-violence, immigration, or reentry organizations may solve specialized barriers that general homeless-service programs cannot.

A clear referral agreement is more useful than telling clients to “try this organization.”

✓Tell partner organizations exactly who you serve, what documentation is required, and how to make a referral.
✓Ask what information you need before sending someone to a partner so the person is not bounced between organizations.
✓Designate a contact person for difficult cases or recurring referral problems.

Starting a new pantry, clothing closet, or outreach program may feel productive but can fragment limited volunteers and donations.

✓Check whether another organization already provides the service and needs more capacity.
✓Consider contributing volunteers, space, technology, fundraising, or expertise to that program instead.
✓Start a new service when there is a documented gap and your organization can realistically sustain it.

Next step

Before building a new program or making a major commitment, see what already exists, what is verified, and where the gaps appear to be.