Challenge

In 2012, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts selected the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) to be the intermediary for a “Pay for Success” initiative aimed at individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in the state. MHSA needed help thinking through the strategic and organizational implications of the Pay for Success initiative, which has the potential to increase MHSA’s funding significantly and expand the organization’s impact.

Overview

Root Cause helped the leadership of MHSA think through leveraging this new opportunity and how to lead their organization through it. Root Cause conducted an organizational assessment that included group interviews with MHSA staff to hear their perceptions of the opportunities and challenges the Pay for Success initiative would bring. From the assessment, our consultants helped MHSA define the key questions that needed to be answered to make the most of the new venture. In addition, we provided leadership coaching to the executive director to discuss challenges as the Pay for Success project was being developed.

Root Cause prepared a final memo for MHSA that outlined the key issues that needed to be addressed in order for the organization to fully leverage the opportunity presented by this new initiative. The memo covered organizational capacity, how MHSA focuses and develops programming, and how MHSA communicates about their work to donors and funders. The document became a key resource to MHSA as they embarked on the Pay for Success initiative.