There is a need for greater
consideration of the moral and ethical dimensions of legislation,
decisions, priorities, spending and practices by governmental,
business, private and religious entities at the national, state,
and local levels. At the same time, Church encouragement and
resources are needed as a part of broad partnerships for
supporting local development initiatives, particularly in the
area of job creation, housing and mixed income residential
development.
Redevelopment will require constructive efforts to deal with
the prevention and treatment of drug abuse, and support for the
victims of crime, as well as the rehabilitation of persons in
prisons. Parishes also have a key role to play in supporting
community building activities within their neighborhoods.
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Form a talent pool for
organizing, directing and supporting local groups in parish-based
and ecumenical neighborhood, city-wide and regional development
initiatives.
- utilize church-based community organizing efforts
- consider models such as a skills bank or volunteer corps
of retired persons
- encourage wider use of existing neighborhood development
services.
Provide training, technical
assistance, and the use of existing resources in support of
parish-based and ecumenical neighborhood redevelopment and job
creation initiatives to:
- support leaders from the neighborhood
- arrive at strategies to deal with specific issues of
neighborhood distress and take action to transform areas
into stronger, more vital communities
- utilize a process of visioning, planning and action to
address housing,
- jobs and economic development as well as violence, drug
abuse, and other issues
- identify potential partners for outside help and support,
including suburban parishes
- provide centralized resources for training and technical
assistance utilizing people with successful development
experiences
- identify particular parishes/clusters or neighborhoods
that have the readiness to pilot the above process.
Develop the role of the diocese
and parishes as key partners in the planning and development of
economic empowerment zones.
Address fair employment, job
creation and job training by working with existing
organizations and agencies (also see Part IV - Analysis and
Advocacy).
- convene and support area seminars on job opportunities
and just wages/benefits
- encourage partnerships and networks involving government,
business, labor unions, churches and synagogues, and
other community organizations.
Support existing and new housing
initiatives.
- support county and city programs in developing efficient
landbanking programs which increase the availability of
properties for housing development by private and
non-profit developers.
- sustain and increase the diocesan linked deposit program
from current levels to assist non-profit housing
development corporations to establish more units of
affordable housing in Akron, Cleveland and Lorain/Elyria.
- support the establishment of local housing trust funds
to assist non-profit and private housing developers in
establishing low-cost, affordable housing.
- coordinate with the efforts of the LeBlond Housing
Corporation to provide housing for senior adults.
- encourage urban housing development efforts which
support home ownership and scattered site housing instead
of the continued isolation of low-income people in
publicly subsidized rental properties.
- coordinate with labor unions to utilize pension fund
investments and union resources to provide funding, labor
and job training assistance for new urban housing and
rehabilitation, including support for other listed
projects.
- encourage suburban parishes to become involved in
programs such as Habitat for Humanity in partnership with
urban parishes, focusing upon the relationships that are
fostered between suburban and urban people.
- support banking practices that provide housing
opportunities for lower-income persons.
Address drug prevention, as
well as drug treatment for existing users, by encouraging and
supporting community and neighborhood initiatives.
Utilize the experience and
tradition of churches in providing community building activities
and services in the following areas:
- food and clothing distribution
- family activities and social gatherings
- youth programs
- credit unions
- cooperatives for food buying, day care and home/car
maintenance tools
- health care programs.
Encourage and support programs
to assist victims of crime.
- victims assistance programs
- prison ministries
- community re-entry programs.
Investigate a proposal for a
community supported, church based agricultural project
partnering urban gardeners with suburban consumers, and suburban
gardeners with urban consumers.
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For questions or comments, please send messages to: citc@igc.apc.org URL =
http://www.citc.org/citc/
1996 The Diocese of Cleveland, Cleveland Ohio (216) 696-6525
ext. 350