While the general support in the Tribune for the work of community development corporations in Chicago is welcome, your advice for non-profit developers to stick to bricks and mortar is not (Editorial, Oct. 31).
For too long, CDCs (as they are called) have focused on becoming proficient developers of affordable housing. But even with all of their accomplish-ments (more than 10,000 units of affordable housing over the last 15 or so years), many of our poorest neighborhoods seem to get worse, rather than improve, with this investment in housing.
One lesson we have learned through this experience is that people make up communities, not just bricks and mortar. Only by attending to the needs of the individuals and families, in a holistic, comprehensive way, can we hope to cure the ills of our most troubled communities.
CDCs do not need to provide all of the necessary services. But to promote community health and community development, they must make sure that the needs of safety, education, job training, health care, drug prevention and youth development are all happening in conjunction with their real estate ventures.
This may mean direct provision of social services, or a CDC may partner with social-service agencies and faith communities to provide these services. What many members and attendees of the Futures Committee are advocating is not to shift the focus from real estate but to broaden the focus to become more people-centered, more responsive to the needs of the grass roots and less enamored of deal-making for deal-making’s sake.
Fortunately, there are many excellent community groups in Chicago that have successfully made this transition–or “back to the future,” as someone remarked in the proceedings.
This broadening of scope will require new approaches, energy and funding sources. And for that, we can be grateful that the Futures Committee has begun the dialogue.
