In Diocese, CCHD funding houses needy

In 1974, United Tenants of Albany (UTA), the non-profit organization for which the couple worked to improve housing conditions and safeguard tenants' rights, received a $40,000 grant through the CCHD.

This year's CCHD collection will be taken up in parishes throughout the Albany Diocese on Nov. 21-22. "Helping People Help Themselves" is the theme for the campaign.

More help

Mr. Markovics is grateful that the Campaign has enabled him and his wife to provide the quality of services to Albany's residents that they have since the 1970s.

"It provides essential money and staff for good ideas to actually develop," he said.

Empowerment

The Campaign's goal is community empowerment through helping individuals and families to help themselves out of poverty and its downward cycle. Community-controlled organizations that create jobs, businesses, affordable housing and child care are among the groups that benefit.

Grants are awarded on the basis of need, not religious affiliation; and they often serve as seed money to help low-income organizations attract support from other sources, such as churches, foundations, businesses and individuals.

Self-help

"The notion behind CCHD is that it's an opportunity for people to solve the problems they face in their community," he said.

Solving problems is exactly what the Markovics have been doing, thanks to CCHD grants. They formed the non-profit United Tenants of Albany in 1972 as a way to improve physical conditions of housing and defend tenants' rights for security and equity.

After deciding to apply for a CCHD grant to further their work, they received $40,000 that allowed them to develop and establish UTA in the community.

Aid to poor

Out of the UTA arose:

* the Capital District Community Loan Fund, a non-profit group (founded in 1985) that bridges the gap between socially concerned investors and community groups in need of capital by financing community projects that otherwise would be hard-pressed to receive financial backing. Among the first lenders to this organization were the Albany Diocese itself and several religious orders.

* the Albany Community Land Trust (formed in 1988), which holds land for the benefit of Albany residents, and provides and preserves affordable housing on this land. The organization received three consecutive CCHD grants of $30,000 each in the early '90s, enabling it to purchase properties and implement anti-displacement projects and homeless prevention programs.

Mr. Markovics emphasized that CCHD helped UTA and the Albany Community Land Trust to grow by providing the necessary means of growth and fruition. "It gives you the staff to do the weeding, pruning and cultivating," he said.

(11-19-98) [[In-content Ad]]