East Bay Coalition for the Homeless - Roger Williams University

Situation Analysis
Organizational Analysis
From the very beginning, the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless has depended on the local East Bay community to
support it in its efforts. The program was started 1989 when community leaders and church groups joined together
to devise a strategy to meet the needs of the homeles.
Currently, the EBCH is a program of the East Bay Community Action Program. The organization owns and operates
18 apartments for homeless families. Consistent with the “hand up, not a hand out” idea, the EBCH’s programs are
focused on providing eligible families safe, affordable housing as well as support and services to help them become
financially stable so that the families can manage their own housing needs for the long term.
EBCH’s annual operating budget is $500,000, including $130,000 in cash assistance that goes directly to households
to prevent homelessness. The major source of funding for its housing programs are Federal Funds from HUD at
$58,000, State funds, private grants and fundraising activities. Funding for the majority of services has remained level
since the early 1990s. More recently, however, the EBCH has lost $90,000 in donations and funding because of the
current economic downturn. The EBCH would like to recapture at least $50,000 of that.
These economic realities mean that the organization does not have the budget to dedicate to marketing and communications
as some competing organizations do. Nevertheless, the EBCH has a small but dedicated staff who exhibit a
real passion and dedication for their work and the organization offers a unique set of services.
Current Marketing Efforts
The East Bay Coalition for the Homeless currently has its own website which provides information on upcoming
events, how to volunteer, services offered, and who the board members are. The EBCH also has also expanded its
presence on several other sites including Shelterlistings.org, WhyHunger.org and Rhode Island United Way 2-1-1.
Currently, marketing efforts focus primarily on what the organization does and the services it offers along with
fundraising efforts through events.
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