The Forbes Fund Strategic Alliance SeminarAugust 30, 2011

“Life After Restructuring: Real Stories”Lois Mufuka Martin

The Dream…1981

Residential & Supportive Services for Homeless

Women ThroughCommunity

Collaborations

Increased Capacity with Visionary Leadership,

County & State Funding, Earned Income and

Strong Board Fundraising

Residential & Supportive Programs

30 Shelter Beds

20 Transitional Housing Beds

16 Permanent Housing Beds

The 902 Mental Health Clinic

Project Employ

About 60+ Employees

Collaborative Partners

Health Care for the Homeless Health & Wellness Clinic

Wellsprings Mercy Behavioral Health

The Human Resource Collaborative (Bethlehem Haven, POWER, CVVC)

Allegheny County Department of

Human Services

Merger with Miryam’s - 2007

• 20 Transitional Housing Beds

• 10 Permanent Housing Beds

• The Day Program

• Aftercare Services

• Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force

• Health Care for the Homeless Clinic Site

• About 30 Staff

Merger with Miryam's Cont.

• Combined “92” Staff in 2008

• Staff Involved Committee Led Development of New Mission & Values

• Natural Staff Attrition

• Little Awareness of What Led to the Merger

• Founding Program Directors & Long Term Staff

• Program Specific Letterhead

New Post Merger Collaborations & Programming

• Services Overseen by LSW, LCSW professional

• Centralized Intake & Benefits

• Housing Resource Coordination

• Local, State and Federal Advocacy

• Duquesne University School of Pharmacy

• NIH/University of Nebraska Lincoln Research Project

The Struggle…

• Combining Financial Systems

• Unanticipated Expense of Acquiring old Building

• Change in Economy and Federal Funding Requirements

• Eliminating Staff Redundancies

• Maintaining Quality Programming

• Managing Internal and External Expectations

Lessons LearnedPre Merger - Legal Counsel is Key

You don’t know what it is you don’t know

Communication Starts with Board Support

Set the tone early – the CEO is Authorized by the Board

Financial Preparedness is Not Enough

Mergers Cost Money - Expect the Unexpected

Invest in Your CEO as a Change Agent

Executive Coaching, Admin Support, Capacity Building

Invest in Your Staff as Most Valuable Resource

Inform, train & retrain as often as needed!

Never Underestimate the Power of Celebration!

Celebrate Your

Success With Staff!

Light Up the Night!

Celebrate

Success with

your Board!

Volunteer Appreciation Tea

Celebrate Success with Volunteers!

Contact Information

Lois Mufuka Martin

Executive Director

Bethlehem Haven

Fifth Avenue Commons

905 Watson Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Office: 412-391-1348 ext. 231

lmartin@bethlehemhaven.org  

www.bethlehemhaven.org

 

Thank You!