Work Sheet 36
Strategic issues
Shelter is one of the most basic needs that people have and as such, everyone should have a place to stay. Even though it is a basic need, a number of individuals do not have shelter due to varying reasons. One reason may be that they are not able to afford it due to the high costs of living or lack of income or funds to own a home or shelter. This is therefore related to resources. However, others lack shelter due to other reasons leaving finances aside. This includes drug addicts, those who have recovered or are recovering from substance abuse, those having mental problems, and those living with HIV/AIDs. Additionally, others may be homeless due to natural calamities such as floods or tsunamis. The need to provide shelters for such people made it of the essence to have such organizations like Making A Way Housing. Inc. The organization being a non-profitable organization aims at providing shelter for those who are not able to afford to pay for housing, those who have homeless due to calamities, those who are homeless due to mental health problems, as well as those who are recovering from substance abuse.
Specific goals
Being a non-profit organization, the aims or goals of the organization are based on benefiting the citizens as much as possible without costing them. The main goal of the organization is to provide shelter for the homeless. This would be achieved in two phases. The first phase is to provide house that are cheap enough for the public as a whole. As stated earlier, one of the problems or issues that the organization aims at solving is the housing cost problem. Some people are homeless because they cannot afford to pay the rent which may be high due to different reasons. Housing cost is usually determined by the owners of the rentals and as such, this cost may be unaffordable to people thus rendering them homeless. The organization in its first phase would provide housing at affordable cost and this may trigger the lowering of rent by the owners of the apartments thus solving the housing problem. The second phase would aim at providing shelter for those recovering from drug and substance abuse, those who have mental health problems, as well as those who have HIV and AIDs. In this case housing would be provided at zero cost. The above named individuals lack shelter because they tend to be neglected or disowned by their family members. For instance, those recovering from drug and substance abuse may be disowned by parents or those they live with. These people might have been in a rehabilitation centre and after their rehabilitation program is over they lack a place to turn to. They end up in the streets and become street people. In the case of people having mental health problems, they are usually disowned by their people and even they don’t see any difference when they live in the streets. As such, the organization would also accommodate such people. People leaving with HIV/AIDs also tend to be homeless as they may be isolated by their family members and disowned. There is therefore need to consider such individuals.
Alternative
Apart from the above discussed plan, there exists an alternative that would still ensure that our goals are met. The most suitable alternative in this case is establishment of housing centres in every state. In this case, the homeless would be admitted and as such given a place to reside. This would actually be better due to the fact that it would form something like a community. This is so since the homeless would be together and shelter is provided for them and all they would have to do is provide themselves with the other basic needs. Additionally, this would make it much easier for monitoring of the individuals. Shelter would be offered until the time one gets better off and are able to provide housing for themselves.
Barriers
In planning and execution of a plan, several challenges exist which make it difficult for the attainment of the set goals and objectives. Several problems may arise from the start point which is planning to the end which is implementation. These are discussed below;
Inadequate planning-this may occur in the case that the manager has no adequate background in planning.
Lack of commitment to the planning process-whilst the development of a plan requires hard work, some of those in charge of implementing the plan may not be hardworking and as such the plan may fail.
Lack of sufficient information-this is in the case of information about the problem you require to solve. If you do not have adequate information in regards to the subject in question, the plan would fail.
Focusing at the present at the expense of the future-this is a problem that is experienced in many plans. Many tend to see the short term rather than the long term. Doing so may see the plan working out smoothly in the earlier years and it may then crumble later.
Too much reliance on the organization’s planning department-planning departments does research, conducts study, project the expected results but they don’t implement plans. As such, the organization as a whole should take part in the implementation of the plan.
Concentrating on controllable variables.
The organization can attain its goals by overcoming the above stated barriers. Even though they affect the implementation of the plan, they may be overcome in several ways. To begin with, the planning process should be done in an effective manner so as to ensure that the plan does not fail from the first step. Creation of the plan is considered to be the most essential aspect. The other barriers would be overcome when the organizing department is keen as well as individuals of the organization being committed.
Key actions
Some of the key actions include identifying all the homeless and giving them a temporary place to reside while the project is underway. This would be achieved by providing land and tents where they may put up their tents and live while waiting for the housing to be provided.
Steps
The above stated steps can be followed and carried out within the next six months. Evaluation would be based on work done and performance. Donors would play a big part in appraisal and approval of the plan.
Worksheet 42
Mission
The organization’s mission is to ensure that the housing issue around the country is solved within five years from the time the project starts. This would be achieved through effective planning based on attaining the set objectives as stated earlier. The provision of housing for those who are homeless would bring public value to greater extents. Several problems experienced due to the existence of the homeless would be cut out. The problem of having street children as well as adults would be solved. Many of those living in the street commit crime and as such providing them with homes would reduce the number of crimes which are as a result of them. Additionally, helping someone out in a way that they could not help themselves shows a lot of humanity as well as dignity and togetherness among the people. The reduction of crime as a result of providing homes for the homeless and also having everyone in the country with the basic need of shelter provided makes the world far much better.
Core values
The organization being a non-profit one has several values and philosophies in place which play a big part towards the attainment of the organizations goals. One of the key values that the organization has is the equal treatment of all without any form of discrimination. Additionally, the organization would serve effectively and efficiently in accordance with attaining the set goals and objectives.
Strategies
Identify the number of those that are homeless in the society.
Obtain sponsors who would fund the project since it is a non-profit organization carrying out a project to help the society.
Implement the project to the latter.
Allocate all that lack shelter a place to live while those who cannot afford for rent to be given homes at affordable rent prices.
Performance criteria
Performance would be evaluated or determined from different perspectives in terms of what has been achieved. Firstly, performance would be based on the homes built and their quality as well as the total number of houses built. It is expected that the project builds houses of good standard and they should be enough to accommodate all those that are homeless. Secondly, performance would be based on the numbers provided of those that are homeless. The project has to solve the problem of individuals being homeless by at least 75% so that it may be said to be performing well.
Decision rules
For there to be effective decision making, decisions made would not be on individual basis but would be done by a set committee which would oversee the progress of the project. Some decisions such as those that affect the project directly are decided centrally by the top management. Others are delegated such as implementation decisions. Expectations on their part are handled by not raising the expectations of the public too high but through maintaining a low profile.
Ethical standards
All employees are required to act accordingly without any demise. The employees have to adhere to all the standards set forward as per what they signed for before their employment. Respect is among the key things and being fair and just to everyone that an employee comes across is paramount.
Vision statement
Providing shelter as a basic need, for the betterment of our society.
