In your eyes: Client's perspectives regarding the effects of a community led program aimed at reducing poverty

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.

The community development model, which has a central position in the realm of community method in social work, stands in the heart of dozens local initiatives with the clients of Otzma centers. This model goals when used with people who suffer from poverty are reducing self-blame and loneliness, strengthening efficacy, realization of personal potential and expending the economic and political capital in order to enhance ability to create personal and social change. This study aspire to learn about the way Otzma center clients in two major cities, Tel-Aviv and Ashdod, experience their participation in a community program based on the community development model as for it's contribution to their lives.

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.

The study was held according to the values and principals of the qualitative method and based upon Fifteen semi-structured in-depth interviews. The 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. The Processing of the data was carried out in light of the phenomenology theory.

The research findings revealed three themes that were shared by all participants of the programs and two themes that revealed differences in the experience of the participants.

The Main themes that were shared by all participants were: (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. More findings reflected differential important experiences in the eyes of the participants whereas in Tel-Aviv the issue of reducing leisure exclusion caught strong attention and in Ashdod the relationship's in the group had important meaning.

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.

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. Furthermore, the study will contribute to development of community programs that are consistent with the perspectives and needs of that population.