Relief, Rehabilitation and Relief, Rehabilitation and DevelopmentDevelopment

Some Issues/IdeasSome Issues/Ideas

Webinar 2Webinar 2

October 7, 2009October 7, 2009

Tackling the Impact of Predatory Tackling the Impact of Predatory Lending from Multiple AnglesLending from Multiple Angles

ReliefRelief Provide some subsidy to help with certain billsProvide some subsidy to help with certain bills

Individual/Household DevelopmentIndividual/Household Development Put the person/household through a financial literacy Put the person/household through a financial literacy

programprogram Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

Develop and pass out info flyers on dangers of pay day Develop and pass out info flyers on dangers of pay day loansloans

Work with local lending institutions, esp. community Work with local lending institutions, esp. community development credit unions to offer alternative loan productsdevelopment credit unions to offer alternative loan products

AdvocacyAdvocacy State: Reform usury lawsState: Reform usury laws National: 36% interest cap on pay day loansNational: 36% interest cap on pay day loans

http://ga3.org/campaign/36_percent_cap

Key Issues in Relief-Rehabilitation-Development

Question: What about doing relief to build relationships as a bridge to sharing the gospel?

-Doing relief in a “non-crisis” is harmful What is a crisis?Example from Philippines' church savings group(WHH pgs 107-08)

-Can be difficult to move from relief to development with the same individual/community

Key Issues in Relief-Rehabilitation-Development

Question: How can we help our church move beyond relief to get involved in development?

-Teach the harm of inappropriate relief

-Find out what programs/resources already exist in your community/area.

Asset Mapping

-Need to focus. It might be ok to not be involved in relief

Key Issues in Relief-Rehabilitation-Development

Question: I want to work more relationally and developmentally with people but how do I get started?

-Work with Needy and Receptive people/communities

Working with Receptive Working with Receptive Individuals and Individuals and CommunitiesCommunities

Receptivity to Change ContinuumReceptivity to Change Continuum

• There is no problem There is no problem – Satisfied with things as they are, sees no problem, Satisfied with things as they are, sees no problem,

no reason to changeno reason to change

• There may be a problem but it is not my There may be a problem but it is not my responsibilityresponsibility– Person believes cause of problem and its solution Person believes cause of problem and its solution

lie with otherslie with others

Much time and energy will be needed to try Much time and energy will be needed to try and help people change these attitudes and and help people change these attitudes and there is little guarantee that change will there is little guarantee that change will occuroccur

• Yes, there is a problem, but I have my Yes, there is a problem, but I have my doubtsdoubts– Person skeptical about proposed solutionsPerson skeptical about proposed solutions

• There is a problem, but I’m afraid of There is a problem, but I’m afraid of changing for fear of losschanging for fear of loss– Person has fears, often well founded, about Person has fears, often well founded, about

social or economic losssocial or economic loss

These attitudes reveal the need for more These attitudes reveal the need for more understanding by outsiders of how people understanding by outsiders of how people are evaluating risks and rewards and/or are evaluating risks and rewards and/or better methods of communicating better methods of communicating

• I see the problem, and I’m interested in I see the problem, and I’m interested in learning more about itlearning more about it

• I’m ready to try some actionI’m ready to try some action• I’m willing to demonstrate the solution to I’m willing to demonstrate the solution to

others and advocate changeothers and advocate change

These 3 attitudes are increasingly open and These 3 attitudes are increasingly open and confident and come from people who are confident and come from people who are receptive to engaging in the change processreceptive to engaging in the change process

Key Issues in Relief-Rehabilitation-Development

Question: How to move beyond doing relief when working with illegal immigrants?

-Avoid Paternalism “Habitually providing resources that a person can provide for themselves. Habitually doing for someone what they can do for themselves.”

Note some varieties of paternalism (resource, labor, knowledge ,spiritual, managerial)

Creating Your Benevolence PolicySome Questions to Ask

Whom to you want to help?– Church members/regular attendees– Friends/family of church members– Neighbors of the church– Target group of church outreach– Referrals from agencies– “Cold calls”

Geographic boundaries? % of benevolence budget that will be used for relief…

for development? How often will you consider helping someone?

Creating Your Benevolence PolicySome Questions to Ask

Different limits of assistance for members... Non-attendees?

Always help with___ Never help with ___ When will you require a Plan of Action?

– See Guidelines for Benevolence http://www.diaconalministries.com/resources/documents/guidelinesforbenevolence.pdf

Policies are publicized to the church body by ___ and to the public by ___

Questions?