Housing groups cohabitate

Five community housing groups have moved in together in an effort to save money during challenging times.
The Housing Network of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, the Housing Action Coalition, the Corporation for Supportive Housing and the Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island have consolidated their physical offices into one at 1070 Main St. in Pawtucket.
The organizations said the shared space will increase their ability to work collaboratively across organizations, prevent duplication of effort, and allow access to inter-organizational skills, experience and expertise. Besides sharing physical space, the organizations will also merge some back office functions such as payroll.
“The need for collaboration and coordination is as strong today as ever in both the public and private sectors,” Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline said in a statement. “The administrative and programmatic efficiencies these five organizations are creating will serve as a model for other nonprofits and for public officials as we all work to balance budgets and use resources as wisely as possible.”
The five nonprofit organizations jointly serve approximately 13,000 Rhode Islanders statewide. Together, they have 28 staff members, and nearly 80 years of experience among them.