Hearts and Homes:
Housing Non-Profit 

Anonymous

Background

An area non-profit called Hearts and Homes focuses on developing housing solutions for low-income individuals throughout the community of Lamicall, New York. They are currently going through a leadership change due to the retirement of their Director of 8 years.

The Dilemma

A new director has started their position at Hearts and Homes. Affordable housing is a key issue for many low income individuals throughout Lamicall. The new director is meeting with key partners throughout the community including city leadership, area foundations and major employers in town. They also met with each team member of the organization to get to know everyone. It is becoming apparent that previous leadership created some tension throughout the community with area leaders and workers within the organization. The new director has taken to heart many comments on what has been done in the past and has decided to implement changes on how the organization is not only ran but their outreach to the community.

Decision-Making Process/The Decision

For the organization some changes that have been implemented include additional staff meetings, flexible work schedules and team-building events. The new director has also been more active in community outreach and volunteering opportunities with other organizations to rebuild relationships of key partners. Throughout time the new director has been able to restore key partnerships and establish a tithing program for organizations to participate in the building and restoration of homes in the community. After two years with the organization, they have had the most home placement, donation and volunteers they have seen in the past 12 years.

Outcomes

Short-Term: Foster positive partnerships throughout the community and within the organization.

Long-Term: enhance the mission of the organization and helping low-income families into affordable housing units.

Discussion Questions

1. How did the new director’s methods influence success within the organization?
2. How did the new director’s method influence success outside the organization?
3. Based on Transformational leadership methods how did the new director’s relationship approach to key partners affect the future of the organization?

License

This case study is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.