Building Changes Expands Reach With $1M Federal Grant

Building Changes Expands Reach With $1M Federal Grant

As a recent recipient of a two-year $1 million federal Recovery Act Strengthening Communities Fund grant, Building Changes is now positioned to expand its consulting and grant making work across the state’s 31 neediest counties.

“What many people don’t realize,” says Building Changes Consulting Services Manager Mark Putnam, “is that there is a close link between job loss and homelessness. This grant supports the work we do in emphasizing jobs and increased income for people experiencing homelessness.” Not only that, but Building Changes will use it  to reach a broader group, such as single adults and teenagers, in addition to families.

A portion of this award will go toward grant making that helps small agencies providing services to the neediest clients expand their capacity.

In addition to focusing on things like leadership, stronger state-wide networks, and how agencies sustain themselves financially, support from Building Changes could come in the form of a technology grant that allows case workers to run through self-sufficiency calculators with their clients and make a realistic plan to help them get back on their feet. Or, Building Changes may provide expert advice on how clients can access local job training programs—programs in which homeless people are frequently excluded.

While difficult to quantify so early in the process, Building Changes projects that this increased focus on capacity building delivered through grant making and expert advice will impact as many as 50 nonprofit agencies, who, in turn, could more effectively service up to 5,000 individuals statewide.

Beyond projections, however, Building Changes will get an accurate assessment of the program’s impact through its long-time partner Clegg & Associates. In addition to assisting with some of the training efforts, the firm will conduct an outcome-based evaluation.

And in order for them to have something to evaluate, Building Changes is already hard at work planning the extensive outreach needed to create a pool of 500 plus agencies. From this pool Building Changes will select those that will benefit the most from this type of assistance.

There will be plenty of other tasks as this effort gets underway, not least of which will be determining how to sustain this effort after the two-year grant period is up. Program sustainability will likely include support from donors and partners who see the long-term value of such an investment.

Read the Press Release and FAQ to learn more about Building Changes' Strengthening Communities Fund award.