Investing in the Community

The Human Services Fund represents a new direction for the City of Boulder and its spending for human services. With the development and approval of the Human Services Master Plan (HSMP) in 1994 and the subsequent establishment of the Human Services Fund to implement that plan, the City is fundamentally changing the way it spends its human services dollars. The HSF is supported through the 2006-2015 Housing and Human Services Master Plan

In addition to its role as a direct service provider, the City traditionally saw its contracting role in human services primarily as a funder of agencies providing services to Boulder's residents. The City accepted and funded proposals which outlined the various activities and services which agencies would provide to help meet the needs of residents. The City's primary responsibility in this arrangement was one of distributing money to agencies. Adoption of the original Human Services Master Plan changed this model in two major ways.

In funding programs, the City has altered its mission from funder of human services to investor in the community. This distinction goes beyond semantics: instead of being primarily concerned with distributing money, the City is now more focused on what happens after monies are distributed. The City expects a measurable return on each investment it makes (individual programs) and on its portfolio of investments (the Human Services Fund itself). Through an emphasis on measuring outcomes of services provided, the City expects to be able to report the results and benefits of services it funds and, in time, show a measurable improvement in the system of human services and quality of life in Boulder.

Last Updated on Friday, 24 February 2006 04:19