Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are essential to our social support network. Many have deep roots in their communities, offering invaluable services to vulnerable populations. Some focus on housing; others specialize in food security, employment assistance, or health advocacy. Their missions are admirable, and their teams are passionate. But when it comes to solving the critical issue of housing instability at scale, CBOs often face insurmountable challenges: fragmented services, limited funding, and outdated technology.
As a result, health plans that rely on CBOs to manage housing programs encounter roadblocks that undermine their efforts—and ultimately leave members without the support they need.
At Upside, we’ve worked with countless health plans and CBOs across the country. We’ve seen firsthand where things break down and, more importantly, how they can be fixed.
Most CBOs operate on thin budgets, relying on government grants or private donations. This funding model limits their ability to scale or invest in technology, leaving them short-staffed and overwhelmed. A single CBO may have just two case managers handling the housing needs of hundreds of individuals. The result? Delays, burnout, and people falling through the cracks.
CBOs are inherently regional, with varying levels of quality and expertise. While some excel at housing support, others focus on different areas like food security or job training. This inconsistency results in uneven member experiences. A member in one county might receive excellent housing support, while another in a neighboring county might get little or no meaningful help.
On top of that, working with dozens (or even hundreds) of CBOs across multiple regions creates a logistical and administrative nightmare for health plans. Each CBO collects and reports data differently—if they report data at all—making it nearly impossible for health plans to track outcomes or make informed decisions.
Once a member is referred to a CBO, health plans often lose visibility. Did the member secure stable housing? How long did it take? Was the solution sustainable? These questions are rarely answered because many CBOs aren’t set up for long-term accountability or cross-service coordination. Housing instability rarely exists in isolation, yet most CBOs operate in silos, leaving significant gaps in care for members with complex needs.
Many CBOs still rely on manual processes—phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets. These methods are prone to errors, delays, and security risks. Referrals get lost, communication breaks down, and members fall through the cracks. Without modern technology and centralized data-sharing, scaling solutions or ensuring consistent outcomes is nearly impossible.
Unlike for-profit organizations that are performance-driven, many CBOs aren’t financially incentivized to move quickly or deliver outcomes at scale. Their funding isn’t always tied to measurable success, which reduces the urgency to resolve housing crises efficiently. For health plans, this lack of speed often leads to higher costs and worse outcomes for their members.
We’re not here to replace CBOs; we’re here to complement and strengthen their efforts. Think of us as the housing quarterback—laser-focused on connecting individuals to stable housing quickly and efficiently. Our tech-enabled platform integrates seamlessly with health plans, ensuring referrals are tracked, outcomes are measured, and no one is left behind.
Here’s how we do it:
To illustrate the tangible impact programs like ours can have, consider the story of a determined mother struggling with housing instability. Despite working 50–60 hours a week and earning $2,500 per month, she and her teenage son found themselves living in a hotel, paying $70 per night. Previous complications with her Housing Voucher renewal left her in a precarious situation, and navigating the complex housing system on her own was overwhelming.
With the help of an Upside Care Guide, she received the personalized support she needed—assistance with housing applications, preparation for application fees, and connection to local organizations that donated essential furniture. Within a few weeks, she moved into a stable one-bedroom apartment, reducing her living expenses and providing her family with much-needed stability.
This story is a testament to how targeted interventions can lead to life-changing outcomes. It’s also proof that when programs focus on addressing social determinants like housing, they reduce downstream healthcare costs and improve overall well-being—creating real ROI for everyone involved.
CBOs have an essential place in our communities, but addressing housing instability at scale requires a new approach. By combining the deep local knowledge of CBOs with the scalable, tech-driven solutions that companies like Upside offer, health plans can deliver better outcomes—faster and more efficiently.
It’s time to move beyond fragmented systems and work together toward scalable, sustainable solutions.
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