Chapter 2
The field of community development can be traced to the Progressive Era (early 20th century).
One of the first efforts to promote community development was the Settlement House (the
Hull House in Chicago). The Country Life Commission was established to identify the
appropriate interventions in rural areas, with an emphasis on linking technical assistance with
for public housing. In many cities, the government used eminent domain to take private
property for public purposes. The Area Redevelopment Act of 1961 also focused on providing
more regional planning to economic development efforts.
The War on Poverty established a new approach to community development. There were
three critical programs: Community Action Program, Model Cities, and Special Impact
The Bush administration focused on the faith-based initiative, which attempted to move
government programs to faith-based organizations.
The Obama administration inherited the Great Recession and immediately passed the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided a stimulus to the economy. It also established
programs specifically for communities, including the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and the
Promise Zone Initiative. The Affordable Care Act also had implications for community–
development programs with its emphasis on community health centers.
Three persistent themes in the history of community development are: the proper role of
community participation, the continuing importance of race and class in addressing poverty,
and the extent to which practitioners and funders provide support versus control in programs.
Discussion Questions
Ch. 2
1. What are some of the key roles that the government has played historically in promoting
community development? What do you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of
government intervention in community development efforts?
2. Looking at the evolution of community development programs, what do you think are the