Tech Solution Streamlines Shelter Access in Oakland County

Hi Reader,

As we move toward spring (at least we can hope, even though it snowed yesterday in Madison), here is another bumper crop of good news to share. In today's issue:

Four—count'em, four—"What's Most Goods" that address issues of opportunity for NGN subscribers.
An update on making your AI less sycophantic.
Three Quick Hits focused on compliance, the lubrication for an effective nonprofit.
An AI prompt to help you evaluate potential new initiatives.

Tech Solution Streamlines Shelter Access in Oakland County

Here's one for you subscribers who deal with housing insecurity: A new website called Shelter Oakland is helping shelter seekers find open beds in real time. Launched in 2025 by the Alliance for Housing and tech collective ReciproCity, the online tool functions like a “hotel booking system” for emergency shelters. In its first months, the site processed over 3,000 shelter requests from more than 700 households, matching people to available beds across four shelters. Shelter staff say the system has removed burdens for both clients and providers, offering a daily snapshot of open beds and streamlining intake—before this, “there was no system” at all. The platform quickly proved invaluable; developers expanded it based on user feedback.

Shelter Oakland’s success is drawing interest from communities nationwide. It demonstrates how a simple tech innovation can solve coordination challenges in homeless services. It’s a highly replicable, low-cost model for cross-agency data-sharing that can improve shelter access and efficiency in many communities. With modest funding for a shared tech solution, any Continuum of Care can modernize its referral process, reduce waitlists, and better identify gaps—a model that can be copied far beyond Oakland County.

If you want to connect, reach out to Leah McCall, Executive Director, Alliance for Housing (LMcCall-Alliance@oaklandhomeless.org). I haven't spoken with her yet, but this idea seems like a real keeper.

Inclusive Farm Community Expands to House Adults of All Abilities

Does your nonprofit have a farm or other potential rural gathering place? At Peacehaven Community Farm in Whitsett, NC, an 89-acre farm for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a new expansion is integrating housing with community life. After a decade of success with a single group home built with Habitat for Humanity, Peacehaven is constructing a community center and planning 50–60 housing units for about 200 people. Residents will live, work, and learn together in this “model community." The farm already attracts hundreds of volunteers each year, showing that impact can grow without major funding.

“We believe that ... we can build a model that can be replicated ... and see a lot more of these types of places popping up,” says CEO Phelps Sprinkle. By leveraging volunteers, partnerships, and existing land, Peacehaven’s inclusive living model provides a low-cost, community-driven blueprint for other nonprofits to offer supportive housing for people with disabilities.

Microshelters Provide New Start in Birmingham’s City–Faith Partnership

Birmingham’s city–faith collaboration is providing dignified microshelter housing for unhoused residents. The city contracted with Faith Chapel Care Center to install 15 small "pallet shelter" units on church property and operate them 24/7 with wraparound services. Each microshelter offers a bed, heating/cooling and a lockable door—a safer alternative for those who struggle with traditional group shelters due to mental health or addiction issues. “We will be targeting those that are unable to stay in congregate housing,” said Faith Chapel’s Rev. Debra Blaylock of the pilot serving people who can’t use regular shelters. The Home For All project, backed by about $1.2 million in city funds, expects to house its first residents by April. The model can be copied elsewhere—modest public funding for ready-made micro-homes, combined with nonprofit partners for staffing, can quickly create temporary housing and help transition unsheltered people toward stability.

LA’s Unarmed Crisis Teams Become Permanent After Diverting 17,000 Calls from Police

In an era of militarization of the police, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to make permanent an unarmed emergency response program that dispatches mental health clinicians instead of police to certain 911 calls. Since launching citywide in 2024, the Unarmed Model of Crisis Response (UMCR) teams run by nonprofit mental health partners have handled more than 17,000 crisis calls—96% of those incidents were resolved without police involvement. City data shows it costs about $35 per hour for a UMCR team versus $85 for an LAPD response.

The Council’s action permanently integrates the 24/7 teams into the city’s emergency system beyond the pilot phase. LA’s model shows other cities can successfully divert non-violent mental health crises away from law enforcement. This formula of city–nonprofit “care-first” response can be adopted by other jurisdictions to improve outcomes and cut costs in their crisis response systems.

De-Sycophantize Your AI - Update

I have noted a decrease in flowery language from ChatGPT since implementing the fix I suggested in last week's newsletter. If you want AI to act less like these guys, give it a try.

This week's Quick Hits address compliance, since solid compliance makes everything smoother.

Do a "990 Risk Scan" So Next Year Is Easier

The IRS notes that penalties can apply for late, incomplete, or incorrect filings—and using a paid preparer doesn’t remove organizational responsibility. So have someone on your team do the following:

Scan for mismatches: mission language, board/officer list, key policies, related-party disclosures.
Create a “fix list” for your preparer and set a date to resolve each item.

Success metric: Next 990 cycle starts with an agreed corrections list (reducing scramble + rework).

Success bonus: The 990 is one of the documents potential funders pull. Correct information in the 990 creates a smoother donation cycle.

Build a One-Page Compliance Calendar with Owners and Reminders

This is a silent, existential risk: the IRS states that organizations that fail to file required 990-series returns for three consecutive years automatically lose tax-exempt status. But 990s are just one type of compliance deadline. So assign someone in your nonprofit to do this:

List every recurring filing/renewal: Form 990, extensions, state charitable registration renewals, annual corporate filings, any filings relating to funders (e.g., grant reports, etc.)
Assign an owner + backup for each.
Add reminders at 60/30/14 days and store all logins in your credential manager.

Success metric: No compliance deadline depends on a single person’s memory.

Run a “Where are we soliciting?” State Registration Spring (top 5 states only)

The National Council of Nonprofits notes that 40 states require registration before soliciting, but online donations can create obligations you didn’t intend. So what should you do?

Export donor locations for the last 12 months and list your top 5 states by donation volume.
Confirm registration status in each state where you actively solicit.

Assign next steps (register, confirm exemption, or consult counsel—this is legal compliance).

Success metric: A documented “registered / exempt / action needed” status for the top 5 states.

A Second Opinion

We all need supportive but detailed analysis as we consider committing resources to new initiatives at our organizations. Here's a prompt that can help:

Prompt: Act in the role of an expert in implementing new initiatives for nonprofits. I need to evaluate this idea: [NEW INITIATIVE CONCEPT]. It relates to my organization, founda at [URL]. Please conduct a comprehensive analysis that:

1. Tests the core assumptions underlying the business model

2. Identifies overlooked market factors that could impact success

3. Suggests 3 alternative business models that might better leverage the core value proposition

4. Evaluates competitive threats beyond obvious direct competitors

5. Proposes unexpected customer segments worth exploring

6. Recommends clear metrics to validate or invalidate key hypotheses

7. Identifies potential pivot opportunities if initial assumptions prove incorrect

Focus on challenging conventional thinking rather than standard business plan elements.”

(Modified from Superhuman, February 12, 2026.)

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That's all for this week. Send your ideas for potential areas of research!

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Ted