Temporary Emergency Services, Inc.

For 50 years, Temporary Emergency Service (TES) has partnered with community organizations to provide basic emergency services to more than 6,000 families, elderly, disabled, homeless, and unemployed people annually.

In 2010, TES was one of six organizations selected by United Way of Central Alabama to participate in an OAS assessment. TES undertook a strategic planning process in which they took stock of their activities and how to best use their resources going forward. The assessment was especially useful as they considered their technical systems, including data collection and measuring outcomes.

The assessment was very timely as the process and the report was helpful for their response to the 64 tornados which ripped through Alabama in the spring of 2011.

"NeighborWorks gave us information about best practices and how we could apply and implement them. The wealth of knowledge and support provided in this process gave our board and staff appreciation for what we accomplish now and how to reach our goals for the future. The assessment’s emphasis on technical systems, including data collection and measuring outcomes has been so valuable in coping with our changed circumstances."

— Karen Thompson, Executive Director, Temporary Emergency Services, Tuscaloosa, AL