b'Continuous CommunicationBackbone Support Organization In order to develop trust, effective coordination, andEffective collective impact initiatives must establish aSet Collective GoalsListen and Adapta sense of common motivation among participatingbackbone support organization made up of dedicatedA clear and unified set of goals is necessary for effectiveThe ability to be adaptive and amenable to course organizations, agencies, and corporations, collectiveadministrative staff who can provide technical andmutually reinforcing activities. If partners are not incorrections is a critical quality for creating the foundations impact initiatives must hold consistent, structured,logistical support and manage the efforts of theagreement about the goals, priorities, and the overallof any organization, but it is particularly important in in-person meetings over a protracted period (Kania collaborating partners (Kania & Kramer, 2011).mission of an initiative, the work of individual partners willthe development of a collective impact model. Listening & Kramer, 2011).The USC Price Center for Social Innovation has severalbe uncoordinated and unaligned instead of reinforcingto and acting on feedback from policymakers, funders, In line with this component of the collective impactstaff members who are funded to coordinate HPRI researchand complementary. A shared understanding of goalsand research committee members ensures long term framework, HPRI holds monthly research committeeand activities, including the Director of External Relationsand priorities is not easy to achieveit requires ongoing,sustainability of relationships vital to success. HPRI adapted meetings where committee members become familiarwho manages research translation, communication,consistent meetings with representatives from all partnerits structure based on partner feedback in the creation of with each others work and learn about new opportunitiesand resource allocation, and a project manager whoorganizations present. Building a stable bridge to thethe race equity working group. for collaborative research. Additionally, HPRI sends aoversees monthly meetings, rapid response researchpolicy community involves fostering trust, transparency,During HPRIs first year, the disproportionate representative to monthly Home for Good Policy Tableand collaborative research. Further, HPRIs Director andand open communication with the policy arm of Home forprevalence of homelessness within communities of color meetings, sometimes presenting substantive contentAssociate Director act as liaisons between the researchGoods collective impact network.was elevated by researchers, policymakers, and through and other times simply listening to identify high prioritycommunity and policymakers and funders on a regularthe work of LAHSAs Ad Hoc Committee on Black People policy issues. HPRI also hosts quarterly research symposiabasis. HPRI staff also frequently interact with the backboneEstablish Working Groups Experiencing Homelessness. Simultaneously, stakeholders attended by key policymakers and practitioners, offering asupport staff of the larger Home For Good collective impactBreaking down collaborative tasks and responsibilitiespointed to the historic lack of diversity in the research forum for a more extensive discussion on active researchinitiative through monthly meetings to discuss fundraisinginto working groups and committees helps to designcommunity as a contributing factor to continued racial projects and/or timely policy topics. The quarterlyand high-level research and strategy items.specialized processes and allows partners to takeinequities in the population experiencing homelessness. In symposia provide the research and policy communitiesownership of specific issues. This practice embodiesresponse, HPRI established a race equity working group to with a comprehensive understanding of the currentLESSONS LEARNED the mutually reinforcing activities component of thepromote a race equity lens in homelessness research and to landscape regarding homelessness research in the greaterPrioritize Authentic Collaboration collective impact framework and also allows for improvedelevate the voices of researchers of color, service providers Los Angeles region.coordination. In its first year, HPRI established a steeringand people with lived experience as critical leaders in Continuous communication does not come withoutEvery part of HPRI consciously works toward fosteringcommittee that included six members of the research collaboration, which is also a key component of the collectiveending racial inequities in homelessness. its challenges however; in some cases, urgent matters orcommittee and a Home For Good staff member to projects need to be discussed between monthly meetings,impact framework. A collaborative relationship betweenguide the overall direction of the Institute. Several otherPursue Collaborative Funding Opportunitiesand because membership is voluntary and unpaid, it isresearchers, practitioners, policymakers, and fundersworking groups were also established to create a researchFollowing the lead of Home For Goods Funders often difficult to connect with people who are occupiedgenerates new ideas informed by a variety of perspectives andagenda and protocols around the Institutes activities.Collaborative, which between 2012 and 2016 aligned over with other work. Digital interactions between leadershipallows for collective action that would have been previouslyThese working groups included: an RFP working group,$1 billion in public and private philanthropic resources and committee members are crucial to help bridge the gapimpossible without sustained cross-sector coordination.a research accelerator working group, and a researchtoward permanent solutions to homelessness (Home For in communication between monthly meetings.Authentic collaboration is the result of transparency, goodagenda working group, all of which honed in on particularGood, 2017), HPRI has been exploring collaborative funding Further, in a traditional academic setting, researcherscommunication, and lasting intentional relationships, not of aaspects of HPRIs overall mission. opportunities for research. For example, HPRI researchers often have to compete for resources to support theirone-time upfront investment in an initiative.recently submitted two different collaborative proposals individual work and institutions. This sometimes createsAlthough HPRI is committed to fostering authenticto evaluate LAHSAs new transitional housing program for tension among HPRI members who must balance theircollaboration, challenges have arisen around competition fortransition aged youth. Importantly, LAHSA awarded the commitment to collective impact while also satisfying theresearch projects and funding. HPRI has worked to addresstwo HPRI teams the highest scores of all of the proposals needs of their own work. While HPRI has increased thethese challenges by giving researchers the opportunity tosubmitted, demonstrating the policy communitys appetite level of funding available for homelessness research in Losopenly discuss their concerns and recognizes that trust in itsfor collaborative research. Angeles County, it will require more time and collaborationstaff, members and the collaborative process will continue to building for some members to find this balance. build over time. 4 5'