Effective Partnership StrategiesEffective Partnership Strategies to build Advocacy Capacity among Settlement to build Advocacy Capacity among Settlement

Service ProvidersService Providers

OCASI ConferenceOCASI Conference5 November 20095 November 2009

S. Gopi KrishnaS. Gopi Krishnaon behalf of the City of Toronto’s Immigrant and on behalf of the City of Toronto’s Immigrant and

Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC)Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC)

Scarborough Housing Help CentreScarborough Housing Help Centre416-285 5410 416-285 5410 s.gopikrishna@shhc.cas.gopikrishna@shhc.ca

This workshop will exploreThis workshop will explore

What is a Coalition?What is a Coalition?

How are coalitions born? Who are How are coalitions born? Who are Traditional Members of coalitions? Traditional Members of coalitions?

What challenges can a coalition face? What challenges can a coalition face?

What is the advantage of recruiting non-What is the advantage of recruiting non-traditional members? traditional members?

A. Birth of a CoalitionA. Birth of a Coalition

How is a coalition born?How is a coalition born?

What coalitions do? What coalitions do?

What are the benefits of a coalition?What are the benefits of a coalition?

What is a Coalition?What is a Coalition?

An alliance of people, factions, parties, or An alliance of people, factions, parties, or nations nations

from Latin coalēscere “from Latin coalēscere “to grow togetherto grow together” ”

a mutually beneficial and well defined a mutually beneficial and well defined relationship by people and organizations relationship by people and organizations to achieve common goalsto achieve common goals

How are coalitions born?How are coalitions born?

Response to immediate situation- usually a crisis Response to immediate situation- usually a crisis of some kind e.g. of some kind e.g. HRSDC funding crisis of 2003HRSDC funding crisis of 2003

A group of organizations/individuals looking to A group of organizations/individuals looking to increase their influence in decision making e.g. increase their influence in decision making e.g. Ontario Medical AssociationOntario Medical Association

Decision makers initiate consultations to get Decision makers initiate consultations to get community feed-back and buy-in e.g. community feed-back and buy-in e.g. Ontario Ontario Early Years Centre tables Early Years Centre tables

What do Coalitions Do?What do Coalitions Do?

Work of a coalition may focus on:Work of a coalition may focus on:

AdvocacyAdvocacy Information sharing/networking Information sharing/networking Strategic planning Strategic planning Partnership BuildingPartnership Building

BenefitsBenefits

Drawing attention to an emerging issueDrawing attention to an emerging issue

Research to identify impact on target populationResearch to identify impact on target population

Identify options and solutions to an existing Identify options and solutions to an existing challenge with a positive impact challenge with a positive impact

Lobbying governments /lawmakers to implement Lobbying governments /lawmakers to implement the best optionsthe best options

B. MembershipB. Membership

What is the traditional membership What is the traditional membership of a coalition?of a coalition?

How does membership impact the How does membership impact the work of a coalition?work of a coalition?

How do members interact? What is How do members interact? What is the decision making process? the decision making process?

What does traditional membership of What does traditional membership of coalitions consist of ?coalitions consist of ?

Membership usually consists of organizations Membership usually consists of organizations and/or individuals interested in a given topicand/or individuals interested in a given topic

In the context of the coalitions we work with, the In the context of the coalitions we work with, the membership largely consists of non-profit membership largely consists of non-profit organizationsorganizations

How does membership impact How does membership impact work of a coalition? work of a coalition?

Coalitions have few resources- funding is Coalitions have few resources- funding is always an issue for advocacyalways an issue for advocacy

Membership means everything to a Membership means everything to a coalitioncoalition

Members have to divide duties between Members have to divide duties between themselvesthemselves

Ability to negotiate and agree on a Ability to negotiate and agree on a common goalcommon goal

How do members interact? What is How do members interact? What is the decision making process?the decision making process?

Members meet regularly to discuss Members meet regularly to discuss

issues, exchange information, and make issues, exchange information, and make decisionsdecisions

Decisions are made usually through Decisions are made usually through consensus. If consensus is not possible, then consensus. If consensus is not possible, then decisions are made through a simple majoritydecisions are made through a simple majority

C. CHALLENGES C. CHALLENGES

What challenges can a coalition face? What challenges can a coalition face?

How can coalitions addressHow can coalitions address

challenges?challenges?

Internal ChallengesInternal Challenges

Getting members to agree on a Getting members to agree on a common goal common goal

Lack of speed can be frustratingLack of speed can be frustrating Lack of Resources Lack of Resources Concern about consequences of Concern about consequences of

advocacyadvocacy – – will I get into trouble? will I get into trouble?

External ChallengesExternal Challenges

Do the funders/community view it as aDo the funders/community view it as a legitimate legitimate body? body?

How quickly a coalition can react to a situation How quickly a coalition can react to a situation and how?and how?

Understanding of policy formulationUnderstanding of policy formulation Experience- why should a new voice be taken Experience- why should a new voice be taken

seriously?seriously?

Characteristics of strong coalitionsCharacteristics of strong coalitions

Coalitions that speak for a cross section Coalitions that speak for a cross section of the community are seen as legitimateof the community are seen as legitimate

Develop a common goal that reflects reality ( as Develop a common goal that reflects reality ( as opposed to a magical wish list) opposed to a magical wish list)

Understanding of policy perspectives- government Understanding of policy perspectives- government makes decisions based on financial makes decisions based on financial consequencesconsequences

How Coalitions Respond to How Coalitions Respond to ChallengesChallenges

Lack of progress can be frustrating-Lack of progress can be frustrating- Members Members should remind themselves that advocacy is not should remind themselves that advocacy is not micro-waving, it is slow and steady micro-waving, it is slow and steady

Will funders/governments punish organizations Will funders/governments punish organizations for advocacy related work? for advocacy related work? It is important to It is important to critique without being criticalcritique without being critical

D.D. NON-TRADITIONAL MEMBERS NON-TRADITIONAL MEMBERS AND EFFECTIVENESSAND EFFECTIVENESS

What is the definition of non-traditional What is the definition of non-traditional members? What are examples of this members? What are examples of this group?group?

How will non-traditional members How will non-traditional members increase capacity?increase capacity?

Where and how can we recruit non-Where and how can we recruit non-traditional members? traditional members?

What are examples of non-What are examples of non-traditional members?traditional members?

A non-traditional member is a party interested in A non-traditional member is a party interested in the same result as the non-profit sector but the same result as the non-profit sector but works in a different sectorworks in a different sector

Students and university professorsStudents and university professors Bureaucrats and fundersBureaucrats and funders Unions Unions Profession affiliation organizations Profession affiliation organizations

How can non-traditional members How can non-traditional members increase coalition capacity?increase coalition capacity?

Bring new perspectives in terms of strategyBring new perspectives in terms of strategy and policyand policy Experience and understandingExperience and understanding

Coalition is seen as being legitimateCoalition is seen as being legitimate

“ “Champions” – spokespersons Champions” – spokespersons insideinside the system the system ( e.g. government) as opposed to the ( e.g. government) as opposed to the outsideoutside

How can non-traditional members How can non-traditional members increase coalition capacity?increase coalition capacity?

Ability to provide funders with facts Ability to provide funders with facts and figuresand figures

Access to resources not available Access to resources not available presently- presently- research about how an research about how an issue has been addressed issue has been addressed elsewhereelsewhere

Where can we recruit Where can we recruit non-traditional members?non-traditional members?

To find “non-traditional members to To find “non-traditional members to champion your program, consider:champion your program, consider:

Civil servants who know policy worksCivil servants who know policy works Academicians and Students- Academicians and Students-

advocacy is a given in academic lifeadvocacy is a given in academic life Journalists/broadcasters - a voice to Journalists/broadcasters - a voice to

reshape public opinionreshape public opinion Unions supporting social causesUnions supporting social causes

HowHow can we recruit can we recruit non-traditional members?non-traditional members?

No magic formula for recruitment. No magic formula for recruitment. However, it is However, it is

important to have answers to the following:important to have answers to the following:

Identify the impact of policy on a group Identify the impact of policy on a group that you want to recruitthat you want to recruit

Do their skills and interest match and Do their skills and interest match and increase your capacity?increase your capacity?

What can you offer them in return?What can you offer them in return?

The IRHC storyThe IRHC story

A brief review of the experiences and practices of A brief review of the experiences and practices of

The Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee The Immigrant and Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC)(IRHC)

How did IRHC evolve?How did IRHC evolve? What is the membership of IRHC?What is the membership of IRHC? What challenges did IRHC face? How did it What challenges did IRHC face? How did it

respond to the challenges? respond to the challenges?

IRHC was born out of a consultation held by the IRHC was born out of a consultation held by the City to respond to an influx of refugees in 1992City to respond to an influx of refugees in 1992

It was originally called IRHTG (Immigrant It was originally called IRHTG (Immigrant Refugee Housing Task Group) but became Refugee Housing Task Group) but became IRHC (Immigrant Refugee Housing Committee) IRHC (Immigrant Refugee Housing Committee) in 2007in 2007

IRHC has been supported by the Shelter, IRHC has been supported by the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division Support and Housing Administration Division and meeting on a regular basis for over 15 yearsand meeting on a regular basis for over 15 years

Birth of IRHCBirth of IRHC

IRHCIRHCGoals:Goals: Supporting marginalized immigrantsSupporting marginalized immigrants Networking & collaboration Networking & collaboration capacity buildingcapacity building Public education & AdvocacyPublic education & Advocacy Research supportResearch support Inform public policy Inform public policy

IRHC’s responses to challengesIRHC’s responses to challenges

Pro-active approach in keeping members informed,Pro-active approach in keeping members informed,and rapid response to new issues; e.g.and rapid response to new issues; e.g.

Information on new resources & initiativesInformation on new resources & initiatives Response to increase in Mexican & Haitian refugee Response to increase in Mexican & Haitian refugee

claimantsclaimants

IRHC MembershipIRHC Membership

Over 24 non-profit organizations active in the Over 24 non-profit organizations active in the housing and immigrant serving sectorshousing and immigrant serving sectors

Academicians and Researchers Academicians and Researchers

City staff City staff

IRHC Minutes and announcements are IRHC Minutes and announcements are distributed to over 120 people on a regular basisdistributed to over 120 people on a regular basis

Challenges and IRHCChallenges and IRHC

Housing issues are linked to other Housing issues are linked to other legislations include immigration and legislations include immigration and social services social services

Responding to gaps in services for Responding to gaps in services for newcomers newcomers

Drawing attention to housing issues Drawing attention to housing issues faced by newcomers and refugeesfaced by newcomers and refugees

Lack of sufficient resourcesLack of sufficient resources

IRHC’s responses to challengesIRHC’s responses to challenges

Responded to existing gaps through Responded to existing gaps through coordination and planning of various services coordination and planning of various services e.g. e.g. IRHC designed the “First Contact” Program IRHC designed the “First Contact” Program and helped Red Cross implement the service.and helped Red Cross implement the service.

Red Cross’ First Contact Program offers holistic Red Cross’ First Contact Program offers holistic services to newcomer refugees as soon as they services to newcomer refugees as soon as they come to Toronto. come to Toronto. Services include 24 hours/7 Services include 24 hours/7 days Hotline and a Drop-In Centredays Hotline and a Drop-In Centre

IRHC’s responses to challengesIRHC’s responses to challenges

Creating credible reference material on the issue Creating credible reference material on the issue of housing- of housing- The IRHTG worked closely with the The IRHTG worked closely with the City of Toronto to produce the “City of Toronto to produce the “Refugee Refugee Housing StudyHousing Study” in (1992), the first study of ” in (1992), the first study of refugee housing issues in Canadarefugee housing issues in Canada

IRTHG made input to important policy IRTHG made input to important policy documents, such as the Mayor’s Homelessness documents, such as the Mayor’s Homelessness Action Task Force (1999Action Task Force (1999 ) )

IRHC Welcomes New IRHC Welcomes New MembersMembers

http://www.toronto.ca/housing/irhc.htmhttp://www.toronto.ca/housing/irhc.htm

Contact Azar Farahani, Agency Review Contact Azar Farahani, Agency Review Officer,Officer,

Housing Division, City of TorontoHousing Division, City of Toronto

( 416) 392 0068- ( 416) 392 0068- afaraha@toronto.caafaraha@toronto.ca