In Your Eyes: Client's Perspectives Regarding the Effects of a Community Led Program Aimed at Reducing Poverty

Scientific background: People who live in poverty and who cope with economic distress and social exclusion are the main target population of social services in Israel. A major organizational infrastructure of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs that deals with poverty and exclusion in Israel is the Otzma Center, a government program operating in many localities throughout the country. The Center aspires to reduce economic distress and social exclusion among clients living in poverty through a variety of methods that integrate casework and community work at all stages of activity. To date no studies have been conducted in Israel to examine the contribution of community development projects for people living in poverty and social exclusion.

Research aims: The study had two main aims: (1) To understand from the clients of the program how they perceive their experience of poverty and exclusion; (2) to learn about the experience and perceptions of clients participating in a community development program at the Otzma Center regarding the program and its aims.

Method: Fifteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with two men and 13 women aged 40-56 years living in two cities in the central and southern regions of Israel, who are known to the welfare authorities and participate in a community development program at Otzma Centers. Participants were recruited through the social service bureaus in the two localities. Transcription of the interviews and data analysis were conducted by the investigator. Data analysis was conducted at the levels of content and format, and included identification of the main themes that concern the participants.

Main findings: (1) the kaleidoscope of poverty; poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon; (2) the role of change, learning, and participation in a community development program; (3) agency, efficacy, and growth among parents living in poverty.

Conclusions and insights: Analysis of the findings elicited several insights. The first insight relates to the role of poverty as a multidimensional social problem experienced at several levels, including the economic, emotional, familial, and institutional levels. The second insight relates to the importance of learning and change that allowed for personal growth, enhanced self-esteem, and reduced exclusion. However, according to the participants the aim of reducing poverty was not achieved. In addition, the principle of involvement, which is a core principle of the community development model, was only partially addressed by the participants and there is a need for it to be expressed in more ways.

Contribution of the study: We anticipate that the study will enhance existing theoretical knowledge about people living in poverty and exclusion, and that this knowledge will be applied toward formulating policies for the provision of services to assist them as well as toward the development of community programs that are consistent with the perspectives and needs of that population.