Characteristics of African American church-affiliated organizations successful in securing HUD Section 202 housing funds, 1986-1990, with comparative data from nonchurch-affiliated organizations
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Date
1993
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Abstract
Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, administered by HUD, has enabled a number of African American church-affiliated organizations in the United States to develop low income housing for the elderly and disabled of their communities. The primary purpose of this study was to identity the common characteristics of African American church-affiliated organizations which were successful in securing HUD Section 202 funding from 1986 through 1990. In some areas, comparative data from nonchurch-affiliated organizations were analyzed to consider differences and similarities between the two types of organizations. The investigation attempted to determine: (1) if any one or a combination of certain factors (church size, age, pastoral participation, educational achievement of the pastor, previous involvement in community development endeavors and political contacts) contributed to the success of church-affiliated organizations in securing HUD 202 funding; (2) what motivated the church-affiliated nonprofit organizations (NPO's) to undertake the projects in the first place; and (3) the nature of problems which were encountered during the development stage. Questionnaires were sent to each of the 129 African American nonprofit organizations which administered Section 202 programs during the period from 1986 through 1990 to identify those which were church-affiliated organizations. It was determined that of the 29 responding organizations, 16 were church-affiliated and 13 nonchurch-affiliated. Comparing responses from the church-affiliated NPO's with those from the nonchurch-affiliated NPO's reveals some similar experiences by both groups during the application process and similar suggestions for application process improvement. Analysis of the data from the church-affiliated organizations indicated that success tended to come to organizations that shared similar combinations of certain characteristics: church age, established linkages with local, state, and federally elected and appointed officials; college educated ministers; and politically active church members. Size of church membership varied and was not a factor. Additionally, all successful church-affiliated organizations had previous experience with sponsorship of community development projects. The study indicated that African American church-affiliated organizations that were successful in obtaining HUD Section 202 funds during 1986-1990 were able to negotiate both the formal application process and the informal, unwritten, more politically-based aspects of that process.
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Major urban and regional science