The effect of merging mandated collaborations on performance in homeless services

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mandated collaboration forces a tension, where organizations must work together to create a strong collaboration while pursuing their organizational missions. Merging these mandated collaborations can increase collaboration, but at the cost of local responsiveness. We ask whether merging mandated collaborations improves performance at the community, collaboration, and organization levels in the case of homeless services. We find merging CoCs did not significantly decrease homelessness or increase service provision, although collaboration increased. Additionally, chronic homelessness increased by an average of 30%. Our findings suggest merging mandated collaborations differentially affects performance depending on the level examined.