The problem of homeless people is not confined to urban areas. Volunteer organiza tions in rural areas are experiencing an increase in the demand for services. This study examines a needs assessment method to help volunteer organizations engage in collaborative planning. It specifically addresses the advantages of the Task Force Model in a rural setting and describes design changes in the needs assessment technique that were utilized to reduce the disadvantages.
This study examines the hypothesis that different types of prosocial behaviors are motivated by different ways of fulfilling the need to relate to life beyond one's self. Lifton's (1973, 1976) theory of symbolic immortality is used to generate predictions concerning relations between differences in the ways individuals express this need and differences in the frequency of various types of prosocial behaviors. In the study, 482 adult respondents in the Baton Rouge community filled out a questionnaire measuring their symbolic immortality needs and their time perspective, and estima ting the frequency with which they engage in a variety of prosocial and asocial behaviors. A factor analysis of the social behavior data revealed five prosocial factors (peace activism, nominal donors, proximal donors, family communication, and family security), and two asocial factors (nonconformist pleasure seeking, and illegal behaviors). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the motivational bases of these social behavior factors were quite different. However, the "nature mode" of symbolic immortality (e.g., identification with nature) was related to all five prosocial factors and none of the asocial factors. The results are discussed in terms of current research on prosocial behavior and applications to motivating volunteers in social organizations.
In policy circles, a response to meeting human needs through social networks and voluntary organizations is increasingly viewed as a substitute for publicly provided services. While prior research suggests that participation in these two types of voluntary activity may be related, the relationship is little understood. A secondary analysis of national survey data was carried out using bivariate and multivariate techniques to ascertain the relationship between indicators of voluntary organiza tion participation and close personal ties, as well as certain demographic charac teristics. Findings suggest that persons with a greater number of close personal ties will also participate in more voluntary organizations. Implications for policymaking are discussed.
This study investigates interrelationships between planning elements and measures of satisfaction in religious organizations. The paper identifies four surrogate mea sures of stakeholder satisfaction which are useful in assessing organizational effec tiveness in the absence of a profit measure. Using t-tests and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, five general hypotheses are tested. The findings suggest that the select use of individual planning elements (rather than emphasizing a "complete" or formal planning process) is sufficient, in many cases, to maintain stakeholder satis faction, and thus ensure a continued flow of needed resources into the relgious organizations.
in order to explore the concepts, use was made of the biographical method. The author argues that through the transmission of AA culture to its members, the negative self-image of the members can be transformed into a positive self-image. This culture includes the AA ideology, rituals and ritual roles in AA, AA symbols, and the subcultural use of language within AA. The study explains how AA has grown into an established helping institution for alcoholics. Use is made of the theory of institutionalization. It is unfortunate that the author had to confine himself to the institutionalization process of AA in the United
Federal legislation proposed to create enterprise zones throughout the United States included public participation in planning and implementation as a key component of neighborhood revitalization. A review of research on local revitalization efforts supports the efficacy of local participation in decisionmaking in this regard. However, a survey of laws and regulations generated to implement the enterprise zone concept at the state and local levels reveals wide variation in the degree to which the goal of grassroots or neighborhood-based participation has been realized. Approaches adopted in 32 states around the nation are reviewed, and model efforts are highlighted. Several basic components to insure effective local involvement are offered for consideration at the policy level.
Grassroots night shelters are becoming a common local reaction to the all too common experience of the homeless suffering and sometimes freezing to death on city streets. With government funds unavailable, many communities have turned to churches for leadership in addressing the problem. Frequently the result is a volun teer administered and staffed human service organization. One example is St. Mat thew's Night Shelter in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Seventeen churches and a variety of unaffiliated individuals direct and staff the shelter for three months each winter. St. Matthew's just completed the second year of operation. Nearly two hundred volun teers spent a night at the shelter each of the first two winters. Despite serving only homeless males, nearly 50 women volunteered each year. When analyzed, the nightly log and the survey data collected after the first year indicated an interesting pattern of differences between male and female volunteer experience. Men appear to focus on the simple purpose of the shelter, that is, keeping homeless men off the streets during the winter months. Women seemed to more often have a personal developmental experience as they got to know, to a small degree, the men of the streets. The paper argues that the differences are a natural consequence of different value systems which evolve from very different value patterns of male/female socialization in American culture.
This article calls attention to the needs of the homeless ill and the role of voluntary organizations in leading the way in providing quality health care for all homeless people. It describes and analyzes several health programs operating in the voluntary sector in an effort to present some viable models for planners and service providers. It raises some fundamental questions about where the responsibility for the provi sion of adequate health care rests and concludes that the public sector holds the major responsibility for such service. The article suggests that collaboration be tween the public and private sectors offers the greatest promise of providing suffi cient and proper care. The intent of the article is to underscore the need of homeless people for health care in addition to food and shelter and to recommend elements that should be incorporated in a comprehensive health care program for the homeless.
This guide should prepare volunteers to more effectively cope with the challenges presented by the homeless. It provides an overall picture of what it means to be homeless, guidelines for relating and assessing this population, and basic self- protection techniques.
Ann A. Abbott, Social Work Department, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey— Camden, NJ 08102. Both homelessness and voluntary action are aspects of life with long and varying histories. Unfortunately, at present, homelessness is a problem of increasing dimensions ; fortunately, voluntary action and private sector support also have continued to increase at a steady, constant pace in spite of changing employment patterns of volunteers and declining tax incentives for volunteering. In light of these possible impediments, the private sector has continued to pave the way for public sector support aptly facilitating increased levels of public involvement and financing. In 1983, the National Coalition for the Homeless (Bassuk, 1984) estimated 2.5 million people in that category, up 500,000 from the preceding year. Other sources suggest an approximate range from 200,000 to 300,000 homeless persons in the U.S. (Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1984). One more current source
Black youth growing up in northern central cities during the late fifties and sixties were relegated to enforced idleness due to an unemployment crisis that has persisted over time. This crisis eventuated in their homelessness, social problem that will continue through the next decade. Using data compiled from studies in three northern central cities, the author of this paper suggests that homelessness among today's black youth began four decades ago. This homelessness trend was precipitated mainly by the post World War II baby booni, black southern migration to northern central cities, the subsequent transition of those cities, and the changing technological, labor market demands for which black youth have yet to be prepared.
Analyses of survey responses from the executive directors of 184 human service organizations examined the relationships of board characteristics to board activities, and of board activities to organizational outcomes. Results indicated that board characteristics most predictive of board activities were the numbers of board members who were representatives of the client population, who had expertise in marketing, who were trained in the types of service provided by the agency, and who regularly performed volunteer work for the agency. Although in general board activities had few statistical relationships with agency outcomes, the board's involvement in working to enhance the agency's image in the community was related to a number of outcome measures.
An analysis of the beliefs and values of the popular movement for a nuclear test ban in the United States between 1957 and 1963. The movement's history is summarized. Advertisements in the New York Times placed by SANE are used as evidence of the movement's beliefs and values. The main values the ads advocate are found to be disarmament, the unity of the world's peoples, inter-government co-operation, and citizen activism. The most common factual belief found in the ads is that the world faces a vast danger. Differences between the values expressed in the Eisenhower and Kennedy years reflect perhaps a greater sense of political opportunities under Ken nedy. It is suggested that SANE's ads deflect charges of Communist sympathies partly by drawing on traditional American values like citizen activism.
This article describes current service obstacles and service problems encountered by people who are homeless and disabled in America. An analysis and discussion of self advocacy, one missing element in service models and rehabilitation program efforts, is presented. Optiotis and recommendations for including self advocacy in service programs, in public policy development, and at the community level also are offered for consideration.
Because involvement in specific organizations typically is part of a general pattern of social participation, understanding the effects of activity in a particular realm is difficult. A 1985 program designed to make the skills of retired professionals available to public service agencies provided an opportunity to follow volunteers during various stages of their participation. It also permitted an assessment of the impact of their volunteer work in this program on changes in their morale, self-esteem, and alienation as well as the extent of their participation in other voluntary activities. It was predicted that the effects of voluntary action would vary according to the participants' reasons for volunteering, their perceptions of their success in serving the agencies, and the number of opportunities they had for demonstrating their competencies. Analysis suggested that participants responded positively but not dramatically to opportunities for meaningful social participation.
An inventory of scale items for a tailormade semantic differential is developed to measure the image of nonprofit voluntary organizations. The sixty-three items yield twelve first-order factors. Second-order factor analysis provides unifying constructs within the domain of voluntary organizations’ image. Coefficient alpha reliability estimates indicate a highly reliable measurement scale.
Surprisingly, in this era of cutbacks and conservatism, a poor people's movement of great strength and popularity has surfaced. This paper charts the genesis and formation of the homeless movement analyzing its strategies and successes in light of current resource mobilization theories. Special attention is paid to the charac teristic use of litigation as a major advocacy tool. The mobilization of this disor ganized, disadvantaged, often disabled group is an inspiring story, one that may prove to be a blueprint for voluntary action in the 1980's.
A reexamination of certain tenets of Olson's logic of collective action suggests that it fails to explain some types of behavior found in voluntary organizations, especially mutual assistance groups. Specifically, Olson fails to account for non-coercive and non-individualistic factors and gives insufficient attention to the social context of voluntary organization life. A fresh applications of the prisoners' dilemma and the introduction of the concept of community expand our understanding of behaviors heretofore unexplained. Implications are discussed for the design and management of voluntary organizations under certain conditions.
