Homeless in America

Introduction

The overall purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for improving the efforts of the NHC to amplify service provision and move people out of homelessness. We review the literature for theoretical and empirical studies of collaboration, with particular focus on how such collaborations can be improved. The specific research topics include the theoretical approach that lends the most credence for collaboration and the factors that best predict successful collaborations, especially those that are mandated. We close with an analysis of the composition, historical stages, work load demands, and the effect of a recent crisis in the coalition on NHC's organizational structure and operation, with an eye to how further changes can improve its effectiveness (Miller, 1).

Literature Review

Both Canada and the USA are in the midst of major programs for addressing homelessness using collaboration to ensure that continuums of care are developed for comprehensive service delivery systems. Canada's effort began legislatively in 1999, whereas in the USA it began in 1996. Canada's early use of new public management was primarily limited to strict contracting with voluntary agencies, whereas in the USA it was more comprehensive, toward mandated collaborations, contracting, and devolution. A thorough review of factors important for collaborations is provided by Bentley (2004) in his review of Canadian homeless service programming. He begins by stressing the importance of trust that is developed through social bonds and commitments to a shared purpose. With trust as a foundation, people will be willing to share their own resources. Lasker et al. (2001) see transformative synergy flowing from trust, promoting creativity in problem solving. Bentley describes the reasons trust is able to improve collaborations: there is reduced social complexity due to rule compliance expectations; the trust allows for building social solidarity, promoting further participation; and greater connectedness occurs through personal ...