Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/LangleyCKeyes

City governments play a pivotal role in helping community developers to revitalize low-income neighborhoods. This research shows that city governments, often criticized for their inefficiencies and thought to be resistant to reform efforts, can improve the way they carry out their community development responsibilities, and there are concrete ways in which national, state, and local funders and supporters of community development can encourage city governments to take steps toward streamlined and effective delivery of neighborhood revitalization programs.

This report explores how the community development system--relationships among providers of finance, expertise, and political influence needed to carry out community development functions--has begun to move into activities other than housing. It concludes that in moving to scale in other arenas, three functions are critical: a capable national or local intermediary with strong relationships throughout the system and a willingness to move beyond its current players; individual CDCs working collaboratively--or at least using shared approaches--across neighborhoods; and new players at the city-wide level joining to meet the needs of the new activity.

This study details successful strategies for confronting drug trafficking in federally subsidized, inner-city housing developments. It also examines the qualities of mind and spirit that enable some people to operate creatively and successfully in an environment where drug trafficking and its consequences are an ever-present threat.

This study details successful strategies for confronting drug trafficking in federally subsidized, inner-city housing developments. It also examines the qualities of mind and spirit that enable some people to operate creatively and successfully in an environment where drug trafficking and its consequences are an ever-present threat.

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