SHFS Guest Blogger John Hilley

We are pleased to post a blog from a guest blogger, John Hilley. He is a Safe Haven consultant and founder & president of Patmos, LLC.

Recently I featured Safe Haven in our Resiliency Profile as our “resilient organization” for actions management and board has taken to deepen its mission impact, increase its financial sustainability, examine its operations and scale critical services for families facing homelessness. My consulting firm, Patmos, LLC worked with them in developing the next phase of their strategic business plan and to help them prepare for the operational demands they would face when moving into their newly remodeled and expanded center this summer. My engagement required significant time on the part of staff and board members who were simultaneously busy working on construction issues, the final stages of the capital campaign all the while providing services to clients. Their commitment to the organization’s mission is clear as is their drive.  After I wrote the blog, I recalled the line from the well-known childhood story The Little Engine That Could.  “I think I can! I think I can!” is the line the little engine utters as it struggles under the weight of pulling the train loaded with toys to the children who lived on the other side of the mountain. Safe Haven is – and has been – the little engine that could. With a motivated and engaged board and with a passionate and caring staff they get the job done! Recognizing the opportunity before them for expanded services and an expanded role in addressing the growing issue of family homelessness in Middle Tennessee, they have recognized more will be required and have wisely used the first part of 2013 for the little engine to grow into a larger engine that will serve more people effectively– without losing the motivation, passion and caring of the little engine. I am proud to be associated with and support Safe Haven, just as I am sure you are! Read what they have been doing in my blog. (The full text of John’s original blog post is below. You can also click here to see the blog where originally published on mygameplan.org.)

Patmos is proud to profile Safe Haven Family Shelter (SHFS), located in Nashville, TN. SHFS is busy preparing to move into its renovated and greatly expanded shelter funded by a $3 million dollar capital campaign. They emerge from this building and program expansion campaign debt free and busy executing a recently developed business plan. But only four years ago, things were quite different for the organization as they faced high debt and a management situation requiring the board to be heavily involved in day-to-day operations. They are the feature of our “resiliency profile” for action taken by management and board to deepen its mission impact, examine its operations and scale critical services for families facing homelessness. Patmos was pleased to work with them in developing their strategic business plan and strengthening key elements of its organizational infrastructure in order to scale critical services.

Since 1984 Safe Haven Family Shelter (SHFS), a 501(c)3 nonprofit health organization has sought to close a vital gap in Nashville: provide shelter to homeless families. The only shelter-to-housing program of its kind in Middle Tennessee to accept the entire homeless family, Safe Haven provides comprehensive services, including therapeutic support and case management to connect children and adults to critical resources and skills. Through a successful track record providing shelter to families for a defined period of time, they have demonstrated their effectiveness in the numbers of families who have been able to obtain – and remain in – housing. Through a committed board and capable management SHFS has experienced momentum in fund development and building strong partnerships, and is widely seen as a highly reputable nonprofit throughout Middle Tennessee.

In recent years, they have expanded the housing options beyond shelter – a “safe haven” – to include transitional housing and rapid rehousing.  SHFS and its staff are being sought out for their best practices. Donors have confidence in its programs. But it wasn’t that many years ago that Safe Haven was struggling operationally and financially. Board members had to become very involved in day-to-day operations. With new management direction, committed staff, board leadership, financial disciplines in place and the financial commitment of key donors, rough waters were navigated. Entering the final phase of a capital campaign when they occupy the new facilities in June, Safe Haven will more than double the number of families that can be served in the shelter and exponentially increase the number of families served in rapid rehousing and in transition in place models.

With the expanded operations SHFS recognized there is a tremendous “scaling up” in terms of its reach of what will be asked of board to sustain the organization and of staff to deliver programs and manage operations. Ask Joyce Lavery, Executive Director of SHFS, what she attributes to this success in such a short period of time, and she will reply “a committed staff, an engaged board, the timely stepping up of key funders to provide needed momentum and a dose of good luck.” An engaged board and the support of key funders are two sure ingredients for nonprofit health. While it is good to be on the side of luck, it doesn’t provide a stable foundation. Observe Joyce at work and you will see another ingredient that has attributed to Safe Haven’s success.  Safe Haven is in the spotlight for their commitment to learn and pair the best practices in services that will reduce homelessness with management best practices.

Building critical capacities to support mission delivery

The following core elements are enabling SHFS to increase its mission impact:

Board’s commitment to grow and sustain the organization

With an expanded facility and program, the board recognizes the commitment required on their part for fundraising. They also recognize that such growth creates an opportunity for the organization to take a leading role in the community on the issue of homelessness. Board leadership understands a shift is required of them to have a greater strategic focus than what they have had before. In order to do so, they are becoming more intentional in board development issues through training and exposure to best practices, both in terms of governance and cutting edge practices in reducing homelessness as part of a board member strategy to be part of the “inner circle” of Nashville’s homelessness discussion. Currently, the board is working with key staff in developing a robust development plan and committing resources to ensure that the organization is executing effectively on new processes (e.g. operations, fund development, volunteers, case management).

A clear articulation of the organization’s theory of change

For the first time, Safe Haven has articulated its theory of change, and its theory of change informs its business plan. A theory of change articulates the assumptions about the process through which change will occur and specifies the ways in which all of the required early and intermediate outcomes related to achieving the desired long-term change will be brought about and documented as they occur. In understanding the “how” and the “with whom” and the “why” it goes about its work of addressing the community issue of homelessness and connecting this understanding to its fundraising and communications provides Safe Haven with a roadmap for sustainability. Safe Haven is doing the hard work of defining its social value proposition, developing benchmarks for assessing their social impact, and aligning them with their branding and messaging in communications and fundraising. In a setting where donors and foundations are demanding transparency, efficiency and measurable social outcomes — and where limited staff will need to be very intentional about where they place their time — a clear theory of change aids their fundraising and serves as a guide on where to focus staff energies.

A streamlined set of metrics to track progress

Board and staff are placing greater emphasis on developing, tracking, and assessing program and organizational goals. This involved a review of their current program objectives in light of the expanded center and best practice models such as rapid rehousing to decrease length of shelter stays.  Safe Haven Board and staff are using a dashboard at as an accountability tool for monitoring staff and board committee execution on priority areas.

A staffing and operational plan to support the growth

Working from a common work plan is better enabling SHFS to be structurally sound, fiscally prepared and more programmatically proactive, increasing the overall health of the organization. With growth in numbers served, Safe Haven examined where the gaps of service and vulnerabilities exist. With growth, Safe Haven is changing how it operates. The cultural shift for the staff is to see themselves less as a “family” doing whatever it takes to get the job done and more as a team where staff members are charged with particular tasks.

This is no easy pivot to make in a human service organization where the demand for services is high and life is chaotic. Having developed an annual operational or work plan, the agency is stating what it hopes to accomplish during the year. It is not relying on its present services or good name to continue along the same path. It is demonstrating internally and externally its priorities and how it will execute on providing services. The operational plan led by leadership is reviewed by both board and staff, representing the confluence of thinking of the board of directors and the staff.

Well done Safe Haven for your commitment to pair management best practices with learning and following best practices in program delivery!

At least once a week I have been visiting our new facility – usually to take a donor, potential donor or volunteer on a tour. Many people have passed by the 3rd Avenue South location and have commented how great the building looks – even though not yet complete. Our new shelter facility was constructed on our property – something we have owned for decades – in Chestnut Hill — where we are a neighbor and partner – and some of the original architecture was retained as a nod to its history.

The actual size only adds another 6,000 feet to our existing  11,000. We did not want to build an institution – but along with the original brick – retain our characteristic sense of community, home and family. Big enough.  Manageable.  Sustainable.  A home. I love seeing it from its many angles – but going inside takes my breath away.

The cupola and lobby:

I did not know this architectural term (cupola) before. We had skylights in our old facility. The cupola is the signature design feature and fills our entire facility with light. Artists are looking at potentially creating a large mobile structure hanging from the rafters.  The geometric shapes hide the stairs and will be filled with glass for our donor wall.

The kitchen and dining area:
A new larger space will allow cooking classes and continue our theme of community and privacy/self-sufficiency. Each family will have their own refrigerator and cabinets but evening meals will be enjoyed together as our nightly volunteer groups will continue to bring dinner and break bread with our families– build that community. This space will also make movie nights better than ever (and we will use the commercial popcorn machine donated by Skanska).

The CPU Learning Lab/Homework Station/Loft:

Our glass enclosed classroom (to the left) will be part of a collaborative effort to offer GED and computer classes. In the background you can see one of my favorite areas – a small loft with bookcases for our older children and teens. The wall to the outside is all windows with built-in storage benches. The homework station is hidden from view, but children will have dedicated space to work on school assignments with the assistance of tutors.
 

Two Indoor Children’s Play Areas:

  We have been designated as an official “Bright Space.”  Stay-tuned for more, but these two spaces offer two age-appropriate imaginative play spaces for younger children to have enriched experiences (yes, it comes with trained and loving volunteers!). The importance of having safe and developmentally appropriate space for children during this vulnerable time in their lives is one of the aspects of our new building that I am most proud.

These rooms are just a few of the features of our new building that has already inspired incredible support.  As many of our supporters have remarked – every inch of our new facility has been designed with purpose, intention, knowledge, and it is clear, that the well-being and safety (physical and emotional) of our families are priorities. Our team included EOA Architects and The Carter Group, LLC – both have been passionate advocates for our mission and invested in every detail the vision of our staff, board, volunteers – and families. Even the paint colors were selected by EOA’s interior designer and chosen from color theory – what colors inspire calm, serenity, spirituality (teals, purples). Our furniture (HST) has a twenty-year warranty – durability, aesthetics, safety, sustainability – and will be delivered in a few weeks.

A group of well-known artists will be providing beautiful and meaningful pieces to add to the beauty and meaning of our new space. The energy efficient systems installed will save funds over the many years of use and will pay for themselves. Our values of hope, dignity, hospitality, compassion, respect, self-sufficiency, community, understanding, support and encouragement are built into the brick and mortar – and the DNA of the design.

Stay tuned for more photos, press releases, grand openings and open houses. Staff and board are busy finishing up our capital campaign and planning for our growth financially and organizationally through a comprehensive business plan that has our program outcomes at its core. We are building something to last – that will sustain our spirits and those of our families – and that was built with the care, attention to detail, and will open up new program opportunities for service to our families and for our volunteers.  We had a dream; we had a vision; and along with the action of our staff, our board, volunteers, donors, and our generous community partners, we are almost home.

Joyce Lavery is the executive director and CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Once I stepped back and looked at the collage, I was overcome with gratitude. I am amazed at the caliber of volunteers we have at Safe Haven. Mother Teresa once said, “It’s not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.” It’s not about how much time you give. It’s about what you do with your time that’s important.

What an awesome group of folks we have serving at Safe Haven. From playing with the children, to preparing meals, serving as teachers in our classes, to being a listening ear for the families…we are truly thankful. I know I sound like a broken record, but without you, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our goals! So, thank you!

As we transition back into our new facility, our needs will grow. Are you looking for a way to plug into Safe Haven? Not sure how you can help?  Send me an email at stinnell@safehaven.org. We have a lot coming down the pike. In the meantime we recruiting volunteers to be on our social media message team and volunteers for the 9th Annual Hike for the Homeless. (If you are interested in the social media volunteer opportunity, please email snunnally@safehaven.org. If you are interested in volunteering for the Hike, please click here.)

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the volunteer program at Safe Haven. Hang tight and enjoy the ride with us!

Your volunteerism is truly a work of heart.

- Stefanie

Stefanie Tinnell is the Community Relations Manager at Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Paul Cho, co-founder of Illumination Foundation and Jena Kay, program director at IL program site

These motel families could not afford housing deposits, were not lease worthy and with minimum wages, they could not afford available housing. Children were often not enrolled in schools. As in most cities, family homelessness was cyclical and invisible – and for some of these Orange County families – they had lived in motels for a generation or more. Motel life was the only life many of these children (and adults) had known.

Last week I returned from Irvine, CA where I served as a grant reviewer and general observer of programs for homeless families of the Illumination Foundation (IF). It was an exchange of ideas, learning, and an opportunity to review new approaches. I took a tour with Paul Cho and their program director, Jena Kay, to several of their sites – residence and program – and they had the audacity and vision to not duplicate services, to make use of existing sites, to not invest in property and to invest instead in skilled staff (case managers) and make deals with the city and property owners to “rent” abandoned low income housing, take on master leases and transform a few motels and apartments into emergency shelter (short stays) and permanent housing. In one case, they are bringing a trailer on site to bring direct services to the residents of one such community. Connecting community-based medical, dental and behavioral health services with job training (they use computers and remote training) and housing, they are seeing a community impact using resources in a targeted and coordinated way to get homeless families quickly housed and provide needed services along the way.

Illumination Foundation has found a path that invests in services and since no shelter for families existed before – investing in that strategy when there is a crisis is not a good use of their limited funds. Reacting to the crisis of the overwhelming growth of homeless families in Orange County by bringing services where they are– was and is cost-effective – and just smart.

Orange County is not Nashville, however, and our homeless family population is not concentrated in motels or a few locations, but is a moving target. For our community, limited shelter makes sense, and Safe Haven has continued to invest in expanding our capacity in a sustainable manner without overreaching.  For us, shelter is a part of a continuum of care, but often it is just the beginning of a family’s exit into self-efficacy.

We salute the light that Illumination Foundation is bringing to Orange County’s most vulnerable families and we hope our partnership and learning exchange will enlighten us both. I also returned to Safe Haven with confidence that our strategy, while slightly different, rests on evidence-based practice, wise investment, strategic planning and partnerships, and broad collaborative efforts with other agencies toward providing better, more cost-effective programs that work for Nashville.

Joyce Lavery is the executive director and CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter.

The category of Dynamic Duo has special meaning for me. Trey Lipman is Safe Haven’s Special Projects Director, and we have worked together in two great organizations over a decade. I was her boss before I was her friend. Her work ethic, her heart of gold, her connections, her wisdom, her ability to put on a great party for a great cause won me over. After years of doing and sharing all the hard work a smaller nonprofit has to do to keep going, our bond as colleagues and as friends grew. When we are in the office, while still a trusted friend and colleague, she knows I am the boss, and I trust her respect. When we are able to share experiences as good friends, we laugh and share stories and support each other as cheerleaders and as good advisors. We traveled to Africa together last year. We buy each other the perfect gifts. We share the joys of having grown children we both adore. And when we are at work, she makes me better at what I do. And most importantly, that even when the work we do is very serious, we always find the occasion to laugh and find joy in the daily challenges of our work at Safe Haven.

Click here to see the video about the Dynamic Duo from the awards presentation.

Trey Lipman and Joyce Lavery, the Dynamic Duo

The winners are:
Judges Favorite: Meredith Libbey
Audience Favorite: John Dwyer
Online Favorite: Darrell Freeman

Thank you to all of our celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners. Celebrity dancers included John Dwyer, anchor News Channel 2; Darrell Freeman, founder and executive chairman at Zycron; Kate Herman, president and publisher at  the Nashville Business Journal; Meredith Libbey, assistant to the director Metro Nashville Schools; Vicki Yates, anchor/reporter Channel 5. Please click here to read more about the celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners.

We also honored longstanding supporters of Safe Haven and our community, Karen and David Conrad with the 2013 Hero Award. The Hero Award honors a volunteer who has exhibited extraordinary leadership, vision and dedication. Read more about the award and the Conrads here.

Thank you to our sponsors, judges, emcees, volunteers and all who attended, voted and donated! Thank you for making the event a success! It was a wonderful night full of dancing, good food and wonderful people!

Special thanks to our Dancing for Safe Haven presenting sponsor, HCA/Tri-Star Health and to all of our sponsors.

Please click here to see a list of sponsors.

To see the photos we have so far from the event, please click here.

As the nerves get higher and the competition heats up, we thought we would check in with some of our dancers, event chairs and judges to see how things are going…

Event Chairs Deborah Varallo, Bob Tuke and John Steele:

“We are excited and honored to be chairs for the 2013 Dancing for Safe Haven event. We have great celebrity dancers, professional dance partners, judges and emcees. Having all danced ourselves at a previous DFSH, we know all of the work, dedication and passion that goes into this event and understand the sheer bravery it takes for those dancing. We hope to see you all out at the event on March 2. And if you cannot attend, think about making a donation online.”

Judge Jana Davis on what she will be looking for from the dancers competing:

“Obviously skill is important – the steps, the rhythm and how two dancers relate to one another are a part of the total picture. But personality helps!! It’s a big room, and if a contestant can fill that room with energy, that contributes to the overall experience.”

Celebrity Dancer John Dwyer what it is like to prepare for the competition:

“This is a real process.  I’m humbled by the amount of coordination and strength you have to have to do this without out it looking like you’re trying.  There has to be a tipping point where the routine becomes second nature and you just have fun with it, but I’m not nearly there yet.  I have to say that my partner Anne-Marie is incredibly patient and has made rehearsal fun.  We are working on a routine that I have wanted to do (secretly) for years and after March 2, I can scratch this off my bucket list!  While my initial motivation to participate was because of relationships I have with Safe Haven leaders, it has turned into much more than that.  I can’t promise I will win but I do believe that it’s really a competition within yourself.  It’s like golf when you play the course and not your opponent.  I’m going to try my best and know that I will have succeeded.  Okay, I just reread that and I’m not buying it either. I’m in it to win it!”

Celebrity Dancer Kate Herman on why she is participating in Dancing for Safe Haven:

“I want to be involved in this event because it is a unique way to create awareness for an organization filling a need in the community.  Not only do I like that Safe Haven helps homeless families and keeps them together, but that they foster long term success through education and counseling.  This is an organization that gets a result.  This is what has motivated me to do something as challenging as learning dancing!  I have a lot to learn before March ^2!”

Celebrity Dancer Meredith Libbey on the best/hardest parts of competition and why she is participating:

“The best part has been having the opportunity to learn from Michael Hosale who is at the top of his game as a dancer and teacher. I was stunned by how much we covered in our first lesson and how much in every lesson since. Michael is very patient and an outstanding teacher who shares his love of music and dance readily. Fortunately, he also has a good sense of humor. He has certainly needed it with me. The hard part is knowing that I am likely taxing the considerable patience of a great teacher!  I am used to being a good student and am definitely not in this case. Still, I think the DFSH guests will be surprised by what a professional dancer like Michael can teach a novice like me in a short period of time.

As a Metro Schools employee, I know how important it is for children to have stability in their lives. When children move frequently, it disrupts their education, they may fall behind academically and may even get discouraged and drop out of school. The stability that Safe Haven offers children and families can not only prevent that, but can change the trajectory for the family. Safe Haven serves families at a pivotal point and the benefits will pay off for the family across generations. There are not many organizations that offer such a long-term benefit.
When Joyce Lavery and Trey Lipman ask, right-minded people must answer!”

Previous Celebrity Dancer and Event Chair Mike Pigott on the event:

“My wife Sharon and I have been part of some great dance events in recent years. No one does a better job of making both the audience and the dancers feel special than Dancing For Safe Haven. It is a first-class experience from beginning to end. And it’s for a great cause!”

More about the event:

It it not too late to vote for your favorite dancer online. The online voting will close March 1. It is a tight competition, so please vote. You can vote once a day per IP address. Click here to cast your vote now. Celebrity dancers include John Dwyer, anchor News Channel 2; Darrell Freeman, founder and executive chairman at Zycron; Kate Herman, president and publisher at  the Nashville Business Journal; Meredith Libbey, assistant to the director Metro Nashville Schools; Vicki Yates, anchor/reporter Channel 5. Please click here to read more about the celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners.

Can’t attend the event? You can still support Safe Haven and the event by making a donation. You can make a donation in honor of a dancer, judge, event chair, emcee or for Safe Haven, in general. You can also donate in honor of our Hero Award honorees, Karen and David Conrad. Click here to donate now.

Special thanks to our Dancing for Safe Haven presenting sponsor, HCA/Tri-Star Health and to all of our sponsors.

Please click here to see a list of sponsors.

This Superhero Quest consists of a series of superhero-themed fun and active challenges that teams complete on foot, across the downtown area, covering from 3 miles, up to 7 miles. Teams solve a minimum of 13 of a 20 clues. The more clues you tackle the greater the course distance.

The start line is located at Dan McGuinness Pub where teams receive their clue sheets and disperse out across the city at high noon. A variety of clues lead to stations, such as applying a superhero temporary tattoo or identifying super villains via a Viewmaster, solving riddles, answering trivia, IE “What newspaper does Clark Kent work for?” while others lead to unique photo challenges. Once teams complete their Quest, they cross the finish line and celebrate together at the victory party.

The Superhero Quest is a chance for friends and family to show off their skills and teamwork while having fun together while benefiting Safe Haven family shelter! Teams are encouraged to be superheroes in our community by donating suggested items* at race day check-in.

The Superhero Quest begins Saturday, March 9th at 12:00pm, at Dan McGuinness Pub, 1538 Demonbreun St. and is open to all runners and walkers alike, but recommended for ages 12 and above. The first team to cross the finish line in each category will win a prizes. However, all teams will be rewarded for their hard work with commemorative T-shirts. The race will go on rain or shine so dress accordingly! Costumes of any type are most welcome. For more information, please go to www.thesuperheroquest.com. We’ll see you there!

(Check out The Superhero Quest on Facebook and Twitter.)

* The Superhero Quest is partnering with Nashville’s Safe Haven Family Shelter to collect goods for local families in need as we all help to support their expansion. Safe Haven is the only family homeless shelter in Nashville, working to end homelessness by providing food, shelter, and comprehensive services that empower families to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. And that’s something we can all get behind!We would love for all of our participating heroes to bring something from the list below for those in need:

- Paper goods:Paper towels, toilet paper, disposable plates, paper cups, paper bowls, plastic silverware, tissues, diapers or baby wipes
- Home Goods:NEW twin or full bed sheets or blankets (consider a superhero theme in honor of the Quest), NEW pillows or towels
- Food Items: Juice boxes or crockpot soups
- Children’s Items: Crayons and coloring books

**please do not stray from this list**

Bring what you can to be a Superhero in Your Community!

This blog post was written and provided by Kari George. She is a volunteer with Safe Haven Family Shelter and coordinating the Super Hero Quest race in Nashville. Safe Haven appreciates Kari’s time, dedication and advocacy. Thanks, Kari!

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Here is the quote from the site:
“The celebrity lineup at Dancing for Safe Haven swept this category but it’s hard for us to decide who was our favorite. From John Steele’s booty slap to Chet Parlavecchio’s disco inferno to seeing Deb Varallo “soar” to new heights, we left this party with plenty of new moves to work on this year.”

http://nfocusmagazine.com/best-parties-2012-the-votes-in