Insights & Stories: Transforming Social Services
Insights from the frontlines of social innovation—where empathy, technology, and community collaboration meet.
770,000 Harris County residents struggle to make ends meet. Better access to public assistance could bring them much-needed relief.
In a county of almost 5 million people, 16.4% live at or below the federal poverty line and struggle to meet their basic needs. Yet, public assistance is difficult to get — and keep. Arduous application processes, a lack of awareness about available benefits, and social stigma all contribute to gaps in use. Community-based organizations, schools, and healthcare […]
Connective’s 2023 Year in Review
It’s been a tough but hopeful year across the Greater Houston Area. As the area has ebbed and flowed with challenging events over the years, so have we– responding to disasters, connecting communities, discovering new ways of delivering social services, and fortifying our partnerships and collaborations. As we reflect on 2023 and what lies ahead, […]
Eviction Court is Exhausting. Empathy Can Help.
Eviction isn’t just a legal notice — it’s a profoundly challenging experience that hits families hard, turning lives upside down and trapping them in a cycle of poverty. In places like Houston and Harris County, thousands face this struggle yearly due to high rents, low wages, and a lack of affordable housing. Facing an eviction […]
Public Benefits Are So Tough To Navigate That People Don’t Use Them
Finding, determining eligibility for, and going through the application processes of multiple public benefits programs is time-consuming and burdensome. As Annie Lowrey concludes in The Atlantic, many people cannot afford the heavy “time tax” associated with signing up for these programs, some of which are intentionally designed to discourage enrollment. As a result, eligible families and individuals miss out […]
Coordinated Surveying Belongs In Your Emergency Kit
Most communities learn the hard way that getting assistance to those in need after a disaster is a confusing, challenging process. Unfortunately, disasters also produce difficult, low-visibility conditions for survivors, service providers, and funders trying to understand the needs and assistance available. The best time to connect with folks impacted by a disaster is during and […]
Power in Partnership: What We Achieved Together in 2022
Since our founding, and especially this year, we’ve proven that working together is the best way to have the most significant impact. Our collective knowledge — and the collective action we take to better our communities — is our best asset and most significant opportunity. As we reflect on 2022 and what lies ahead, we’re […]
The Benefits of Public Benefits
Social aid programs in the United States have filled policy gaps and supported millions of individuals and families since their creation in 1935. Utilizing public benefits generally increases overall well-being, has a positive ripple effect on families, and makes the average family receiving public benefits in the United States more stable. Unemployment Benefits After an […]
Connective Summer Recap 2022
As summer officially ends, despite the local temperatures, we’re reflecting on a season spent in conversation and collaboration with partners, friends, and leaders. We’re energized and optimistic about the accomplishments of our community and know that we’ll finish the year strong with several significant projects in their final stretches. We’ve also spent more time together […]
An Equitable and Coordinated Disaster Response is Possible: Q&A with Elaine Morales
Climate change is at our front door. Winter storms, hurricanes, wildfires, and floods are our new normal. Recovering from overlapping disasters is now a way of life, and Gulf Coast communities on the front lines of dangerous climate risks must prepare for and adapt to their new realities. The Nonprofit Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) is […]