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Faith-Based Housing Capacity and National Denominational Affiliates Author: Laura Pangallozzi Dissertation School: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Pages: 17 Publication Date: 02/2007 Availability: Access Number: 5027 Abstract: Faith-based housing provision has been one of the least studied elements of community development. Community development corporations (CDCs) that have their origins in churches—particularly the largest CDC in the country, the New Community Corporation (NCC) in Newark, New Jersey—have received much study but rarely has the focus been on their religious character and how—or whether—it affects their housing efforts. In light of efforts to expand the capacity of faith-based organizations (FBOs), such a gap in our understanding of FBOs assumes importance. Since the implementation of Charitable Choice in the welfare reform act of 1996, much of the public debate about expanding the role of religious organizations has focused on churches, synagogues, and mosques and their potential role as providers of housing and other social services at the local level. At present, however, probably fewer than 20 percent of local congregations participate in housing development and many of these efforts are sporadic (Vidal, 2001). Further, the legislation that allows direct funding of congregations by the government—where expansion in faith-based provision is most hoped—faces court challenges that are not fully resolved (Newman, 2005). For now, the most substantial contribution of FBOs to housing lies outside the local congregational sector. One source of models, however, for FBO capacity building may be found among the national religious bodies that have long played a role in low-income housing. These are the social service arms of national congregations and their networks of local affiliates such as the United Jewish Federation, Lutheran Social Services, and Catholic Charities that provide the bulk of religious housing for low-income populations. Study of these providers, who are already in the housing game, offers a solid approach to finding ways to expand the capacity of FBOs of all kinds. Unlike local congregations, many of which have small staffs devoted chiefly to the spiritual life of the congregation, national denominations are characteristically large, capable bodies with professional personnel. The interactions of these national organizations with federal, state, and local governments and, most importantly, with their local affiliates gives a sense of how faith-based housing providers operate in the real world. This can help determine whether affiliates provide a model for other faith-based efforts. This study looks at housing facilities run by local affiliates of Catholic Charities in New York City and Newark, New Jersey, in order to ascertain their capacity. It also analyzes local interactions with the national organization Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) since it is the perceived competence and influence of the national organization that has led policymakers to study denominational affiliates as a way of ameliorating the declining federal commitment to social welfare, including housing (Skocpol, 2000). How do local employees, as they provide housing and social services, interact with the national organization, CCUSA? How much (or how little) technical assistance and funding does the national group provide to its local affiliates? The answers address an important debate in organizational theory and policy. In addition to questions about national and local interactions, we still need to understand at the most basic level what CC does. What is the nature of the housing that they provide, and what kinds of services supplement the built environment? What is the impact of the religious affiliation of the group provision? Answers to these questions address a significant gap in our understanding of the existing faith-based system. |
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