2021 Winners of The Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

Title:

Wayne Densch Center

Challenge:

To prevent the closure of the Wayne Densch Center and address the shortage of permanent supportive housing in Central Florida.

Innovation:

With an eye towards long-term sustainability, the project developed a property management plan that ensured financial viability, avoided resident displacement, and added 11 units to the Center.

Overview:

Based in Roseville, CA, the Advent Health Foundation, in conjunction with Ability Housing, Inc., the Central Florida Foundation, Wayne Densch Charities, and Orange County, Advent oversaw the acquisition and rehabilitation of The Wayne Densch Center transitional housing facility located in Orange County, Florida. Completed in August 2020, the project has provided permanent supportive housing to “75 low and very low-income households, 58 homeless households, and 31 persons living with a disability.”

Partners:

Wayne Densch Center, Wayne Densch Charities, Ability Housing, Inc, The Central Florida Foundation, Orange County

Download the Award Information

Title:

Northview Heights Community Safety Partnership

Challenge:

To improve public safety in the Northview Heights housing community.

Innovation:

Convening local stakeholders, Buhl established the Northview Heights Community Safety Partnership with the goal of, “transitioning from ‘re-active policing’ to ‘pro-active public safety’,” through sustained dialogue and collaborative effort.

Overview:

As part of its place-based strategy called One Northside (ONS), the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Buhl Foundation conducted a “Community Census” of the 18 neighborhoods covered by ONS. The results of that survey led to the creation of the Northview Heights Community Safety Partnership, “a multi-sector collaborative to solve safety and quality-of-life concerns,”. Comprised of the Housing Authority of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Police Department, and residents, the partnership resulted in a community policing strategy that includes increased cooperation between Northview Heights residents and staff, and the Pittsburgh Police as well as the Calvin M. Hall Public Safety Center, “a police substation and a community hub.”

Partners:

Housing Authority of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Download the Award Information

Title:

Healthy Beginnings at Home

Challenge:

To address elevated infant mortality rates in Franklin County, Ohio.

Innovation:

Through a comprehensive approach to partnerships, and targeted housing stabilization services and rental assistance, the project works to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Overview:

The CareSource partnered with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, CelebrateOne, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the Homeless Families Foundation to launch the Healthy Beginnings at Home pilot program. In an effort to, “strengthen the evidence regarding the impact of stable housing in addressing infant mortality, prematurity, and improving health outcomes for women and their infants,” the pilot involved a two-year research study and culminated in a public policy summit in July 2020.

Partners:

Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, CelebrateOne, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Homeless Families Foundation

Download the Award Information

Title:

City Accelerator

Challenge:

To enhance public policy’s ability to reach historically underserved communities.

Innovation:

Providing a combination of technical assistance and flexible financing, City Accelerator competition offers policymakers a platform to test new approaches in a collaborative environment.

Overview:

Launched in 2014 in conjunction with Living Cities, the foundation’s City Accelerator program focuses on, “administrative, financial, political or cultural innovation efforts that produce stronger outcomes for residents and help cities run more efficiently, effectively, and equitably.” Since inception, 27 cities have participated in the program resulting in innovations from public sector procurement to civic engagement.

Partners:

Living Cities

Download the Award Information

Title:

Commons at South Cumminsville

Challenge:

To address the lack of affordable permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities or who have experienced homelessness.

Innovation:

Partnering with multiple stakeholders to both fund construction and operate the Commons, the project includes on-site social workers providing supportive services and National Church Residences’ Make it Happen program, “an employment engagement initiative.”

Overview:

Based in Columbus, Ohio, The National Church Residences Foundation developed Commons at South Cumminsville with a combination of public and private financing to provide 80 units of permanent supportive housing as part of an 11-year effort to fill a gap in housing options for those with disabilities or experienced homelessness.

Partners:

Strategies to End Homelessness, Working in Neighborhoods, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, The Home Depot Foundation, and Key Bank Real Estate Capital

Download the Award Information

Title:

COVID-19 Community Response Fund

Challenge:

To address the community-wide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Innovation:

With financial support from across the community, the fund provided nonprofit organizations with, “rolling rapid response grants,” to address the needs of those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Overview:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation partnered with the County of San Diego to raise $65M from over 3,700 donors for its COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The partnership resulted in more than, $58M in grants, “to help stabilize and bolster the nonprofit community.” Over 200 non-profit partners have received grants, ensuring vulnerable communities receive the support they need in the form of internet access, childcare, food security, financial assistance, medical support, workforce training and other pandemic related emergent needs.

Partners:

San Diego County, San Diego Gas & Electric, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, NEWS 8, and Alliance Healthcare Foundation

Download the Award Information