New London — A consultant with expertise in linking nonprofit agencies is working with the Covenant Shelter and Homeless Hospitality Center to determine if there should be more collaboration, or possible consolidation, of the two organizations that work with the homeless.

"It struck the leadership of both boards that maybe there could be more efficiencies," said Ron Steed, chairman of the board of the New London Homeless Hospitality Center. "There is already collaboration between the two, but there could be more, and we are kind of exploring that. We are at the very earliest stages."

"What we are really looking at is how we can best support each other," said Lee Cornish-Muller, chair of the board at the Covenant Shelter. "Given our close proximity, geographically, and the fact that we do the same thing, we want to see if we can form a stronger alliance."

The Covenant Shelter, in operation since 1983, is housed in property owned by St. Mary Star of the Sea Church on Jay Street.

It was founded as a joint project of St. Mary and St. James Episcopal Church to provide emergency shelter to those in need.

Today, with an annual budget of about $600,000, it features five family rooms, 14 beds for single men, and three beds for women, according to Phyllis Cappuccio, the interim executive director.

The Homeless Hospitality Center, located on State Pier Road since 2013, was started in 2006 after a homeless man died in the woods on the city's border with Waterford one week after New London's winter shelter closed.

The HHC has 40 beds, is for adults only and, in addition to the shelter, operates a daytime hospitality center, several supportive housing programs and manages four buildings that provide quality, low-cost housing. One of those buildings is used as transitional housing for veterans.

The HHC's annual budget is about $1.2 million.

Through an existing agreement between the two shelters, Covenant also operates a warming center, or overflow space, for 15 to 17 women, and HHC offers similar accommodations for men.

Those spaces open when all beds are filled and there's a need to shelter additional guests.

Both nonprofits provide emergency shelter, but work to find permanent housing and connect the homeless with social service agencies and medical, mental health and substance abuse services.

Rapid rehousing, or moving people from a shelter to housing as quickly as possible, is a priority for both Covenant Shelter and the HHC.

Cappuccio, the Covenant Shelter's interim executive director for the past month, said it is too soon to say what the consultant, Jane Arsenault of the Rhode Island-based Fio Partners, might recommend.

"I personally think this is a great opportunity for both shelters," she said.

"We are exploring ways to collaborate, or partner. We're looking at economies of scale. It makes sense to look, we both do the same thing," said Cappuccio, who has worked as a grants writer and private consultant for nonprofits and previously worked as director of service development for Easter Seals Goodwill Industries and director of outreach for Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries.

"There are restrictions on funding availability, and a statewide need for collaboration between nonprofits," she said.

Catherine Zall, executive director of the Homeless Hospitality Center, said the two shelters already work together, processing guests who require shelter and determining the best placement for them.

And, she said, there have been prior discussions about the potential for more interaction.

"Each time there is a transition with executive directors at Covenant, we approach them to see if there are more efficient ways that we can collaborate," she said. "I do see where there could be real advantages of a merger, but this is the kind of strategic decision that boards really have to make."

While both Cappuccio and Zall spoke about the difficulty of funding for nonprofits these days, Zall said the current focus "is not about saving money, it's about how we can do better."

Steed, the Homeless Hospitality board chair, said the fact that the two boards have agreed to bring in a consultant is an indication of their seriousness about more collaboration.

Maryam Elahi, president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, which has funded both the shelters, applauded the decision to retain the consultant.

"It is absolutely terrific," she said. "All of us know that there is a shrinking economy and tremendous human needs and more and more nonprofits need to come together and collaborate."

When a private business hires a consultant to make itself more efficient, it is applauded, she said, and the same should be true for nonprofits.

"When you engage a knowledgeable person in this field, who knows the kinds of questions to ask ... this is not a simple you put two doors together and get a house, really, it is a thoughtful process, and kudos to them for doing it," she said.

a.baldelli@theday.com

Twitter: @annbaldelli