Why Resource Hubs Might Not Be The Answer We’re Looking For
Over the past year I have worked with several clients that wanted to explore the idea of a service hub. What one looks like, what it would take to be successful, and how to go about it. From my perception, the core of this desire is a response to years of working within social systems that consistently produce barriers and friction for clients, particularly during moments where time and capacity to manage obstacles is somewhat of a luxury. Among nonprofits it seems to me that there is a real yearning for smoothness. A longing for revamped networks that eliminate hoops to be jumped through and barriers in need of breaking.
Out of that sentiment emerges this idea of a resource hub. A “one-stop-shop,” if you will. A centralized place for individuals to seek assistance of various forms, and receive that support in a timely manner.
And as lovely as the hypothetical hub sounds, I am consistently left pondering why large scale collaborative projects of this nature scarcely seem to exist, let alone work effectively and sustainably. The more conversations I have with community leaders in the area, the clearer the picture has become for me (though pixelation still remains). The reality of creating a model of this sort, while it is not impossible, is difficult to achieve both logistically and systemically. There are so many concerns around client confidentiality, information sharing, securing/sharing funding streams, and mission misalignment that stand in the way of the dream coming to fruition. Depending on the news cycle, many of these things can feel out of our control on any given day, and sometimes just putting our heads together for creative solutions to operational challenges doesn’t cut it.
In light of the dwindling feasibility of this wonderful concept (at least for now), I have spent time ruminating on the core desire that lies at the heart of these conversations. I think there is a world where organizations can play into these dreams without tasking themselves with the creation of a conglomerate that acts as everything to everyone.
The way I see it, partnerships and ecosystem building bring us closer to that same goal. I urge our clients, friends, and fellow community members to think about small scale ideas that can address one small reason as to why a resource hub would be so beneficial. Maybe it’s bypassing intake between organizations through a deeply connected and well maintained referral structure with partnering agencies. The underlying theme here is collaboration, which I know for a fact can be built and nurtured on all levels, from C suites to front desks. Perhaps your organization’s contribution to the collective dream of a centralized resource hub is being able to provide a handful of services extremely efficiently, thanks to a partnership that is continuing to deepen on all sides. Rather than venturing down a path where we may be biting off more than we can chew, I urge my clients to pick a small part of a large dream and leverage their superpowers to absolutely master it.