54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless - Overview

VIII. Help To End Homelessness

51. Write To Organizations

In 1973, members of the Church of the Savior in Washington D.C., approached businessman James Rouse for help in finding the restorations of run-down apartment buildings. At first he suggested they try governmental programs instead. But they persisted. Impressed by their dedication, he agreed to put up the $625,000 they needed. With 50,000 hours of volunteer labor from the community, the church was able to rehabilitate the buildings.

Their success led Rouse in the 1980s to establish the Enterprise Foundation, a non-profit organization that links developers and investors for low-income housing projects.

Corporations help in other ways:

The Nehemiah Plan began in East Brooklyn when five pastors from Roman Catholic, baptist, and Lutheran churches created a coalition of 52 local organizations with more than 30,000 members. Their purpose: to build housing for low and moderate income families. The result: local banks and corporations joined the effort which produced thousands of attached houses and apartments. And they are still going strong.

A similar story in North Philadelphia, which looked like a war zone in 1968. That transformation--with new solar townhouses and hundreds of renovated units--was sparked by the National Temple Baptist Church and the non-profit corporation they created. Their partners? American Express, the Catholic Church, The Ford Foundation, Pew Trust, Mellon Bank, and the local Initiatives Support Corporation.

List of all 54 Ways

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