A new spirit of cooperation among area social service organizations and other nonprofits – combined with a need to save money – has resulted in an increase in shared office arrangements throughout the region.

United Way of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven will share offices at 705 Boston Post Road in Guilford, the new Lighthouse Square complex. The move follows the April 1 relocation of United Way’s downtown headquarters from Orange Street into space at the 900 Chapel St., New Haven headquarters of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. United Way is also establishing a satellite office at the Soundview Family YMCA at 28 School St. in Branford.

United Way and Jewish Federation staffers plan to occupy the Guilford space in late June. “We look forward to sharing the space and growing our partnership with United Way, and providing more services and engagement with residents of the Shoreline and Connecticut Valley,” said Sydney Perry, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation.

Perry said the new arrangement grew out of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine program, an emergency fund-raising effort operated in partnership by United Way and The Jewish Federation the last two winters.

“We worked well together to alleviate some of the pain among those most vulnerable to the economic downturn in our community,” Perry said. “We found camaraderie and a sense of common purpose that led us to take the next step.”

The Jewish Federation, which is headquartered at 360 Amity Road in Woodbridge, has staffed a satellite office at The Women & Family Life Center in Guilford the past two years. The move from that site to Lighthouse Square marks the beginning of a larger commitment to serving Shoreline residents, Perry said. The new office will include space for community gatherings, committee meetings and other public uses, she added.

United Way began a partnership with the Soundview Family YMCA in 2009 when the organization pledged $100,000 over four years to complete a new building for the YMCA. “We are delighted to partner with organizations that share a passion for creating a better life for all,” said Jack Healy, President and CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven.

Sharing space with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce makes sense both strategically and financially, said Healy.

Chamber of Commerce President Anthony Rescigno agreed, saying, “It creates a very strong bond and partnership. This allows us to work very, very closely together.”

Rescigno said the Chamber and United Way have similar missions, noting that both organizations work with the school systems, push for job creation, and as nonprofits, work to benefit the community as a whole. The Chamber also houses the Regional Growth Partnership.  The Connecticut Tennis Foundation has offices at the Chamber half the year.

“The United Way has always been a partner, but they’ve become family now,” he said.