People Power: What Communities Are Doing to Counter Inflation. INSTITUTION Office of Consumer Affairs, Washington, D.C
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 193 164 SO 012 924 AUTHOR Gordon, Mary S., Ed.: And Others TITLE People Power: What Communities are Doing to Counter Inflation. INSTITUTION Office of Consumer Affairs, Washington, D.C. POE LATE 80 NOTE 419p.: Not available from EDRS in paper copy due to colored ink throughout original document. Photographs may not reproduce from EDRS in microfiche. AVAILABLE FROM Consumer Inforsaticn Center, Department 6828, Pueblo, CO 81009 (free) EDRS MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from MRS. DESCRIPTORS Community Cooperation: Community Organizations: *Community Programs: Community Resources: Consumer Education: *Consumer protection; Energy: Food: Health: Housing: *Inflation (Economics): Models: Progras Descriptions: Resource Materials ABSTRACT This publication describes what approximately 100 groups around the country are doing with regard to food, housing, energy, and health to beat inflation cn the neighborhood level. The book is intended as a resource for citizens wishing to take the kind cf consumer action that will save them and their neighbors money. Some of the programs featured are saving families hundreds of dollars annually. For instance, several groups are promoting community and backyard gardening. In 1979, backyard and community gardening projects nationwide produced $13 billion worth of produce. Another example is a corporate-sponsored ridesharing program in California which saves commuters $4 million in commuting costs and an estimated two million gallons of gasoline each year. Other groups have found less tangible ways to save while making life more enjoyable for those they serve. For example, some organizations are giving residents a new sense of pride by revitalizing their neighborhoods. In St. Louis, a dynamic innercity group has renovated 815 million worth of housing, created jobs for 450 residents by luring a shoe factory into the area, and opened a low-cost medical clinic. Many groups are fighting inflation by finding alternatives to the traditional marketplace. They have developed programs to promote medical self-care, food co-ops, and self-belp hose repairs. In New York City, for example, a homelike childbearing center offers residents an alternative to traditional hospitals. Still other groups are using old-fashioned political methods to achieve their goals. For example, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts a citizens coalition successfully lobbied a local hospital to adhere to a Federal law and provide emergency care for poor people. In addition to the descriptions of group projects, the resource contains lists of organizations that are eager to help consumer groups nationwide by providing published materials, technical assistance, or in some cases, funding. Information on federal programs that will be of assistance is also provided. (Author/BM) OCI 2 2.1960 U s DEPARTMENT co HEALTH. nuCopy AVAILABLE EOLICATioN A WELFARE HATROHALisSTOUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS SEEN REPRO. OUCEO EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM People THE PERSON OR DIMAN0ZATION Oft0004 ATiNG IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED 00 NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT oFFrCiAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Power: EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY What Communities are Doing to Counter Inflation Published by U.S. Office of ConsumerAffairs Esther Peterson, Director Produced by Consumer Information Division Midge Shubow, Director Note In preparing this book we have attempted to identify examples of successful consumer activities. This compilation is by no means an exhaustive survey. Rather, it is a broad sampling of the types of projects readers might consider when devising ways to battle inflation or to bring essential services to their communities. Mention of groups and pro- grams in this publication should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs or the Federal government. The descriptions of projects or information sources in this publication are based on materials supplied to the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs. We have attempted to verify and report this information to the best of our capability. However. we dsclaim responsibility for any inaccuracies in program descriptions or information sources and for changes which may have occurred since the publication of this book. uk.,. 2 0. Acknowledgements Project Director Margo R. Friedman Editor Mary S. Gordon Consulting Editor Arthur S. Levine Graphics Production Coordinator Gibby Edwards Writers Susan Antigone Baibi Baker Melanie Stockdell Contributing Writers Anthony J. Anastasi Margaret Godson Robert C. Czapiewski Carl H. Kaplan Mary Moil Trullinger John Zarafonetis Research Madeleine Adamson Gibby Edwards Richard Kazis Arch Parsons Robert Schur Resources Coordinator Wi llis m Caldwell Editorial Assistants Dottie Akinieye Connie Smith Illustrator Nathan Davies Special Thanks to Anna Barnes, Mary Brayboy, Anne Chapman, Gail Chipman, Marion Ciaccio, Richard Cuffe. Cathy Floyd, R. Benjamin Johnson, Harry Judd, Lyla Krayenhagen, Robin Lee, Frank R. Marvin, Juanita Micas, Kim Mitchell, Martha Myers, Linda Nic.oletti, Freeman Palmer, Dale Rampell, Dan Rumelt, Gina Sammis, Howard Seltzer, Carolyn Smith - The efforts of many others, too numerous to acknowledge, who generously gave their time and expertise have made the production of PEOPLE POWER possible. We are greatly appreciative and extend special thanks to each of them. 3 OCT 2 01980 1*; A Table of Contents Housing General Introduction 97 Introduction vi Chapter 1 How to Use This Book ix Building Together How to Get Housing You Can Afford/Introduction 99 Basic Tools Building New HousesEven If You ArentRich .. 100 Building Low-Cost Apartments . 104 (An Organizing Strategy)/General Introduction . Providing Homes for the Elderly 106 Identifying Community Concerns 2 Turning Empty Houses Into Homes ..... 108 Exploring the Problem/Assessing Your Resources 2 Saving Apartments and Communities 111 Fundraising 6 Sweat Equity Pap Off 114 Publicity 9 Converting Your Apartment to aCO-OP 116 Coalitions 14 incorporating 15 Chapter 2 Repairing, Maintaining and Managing 16 Resources Housing/Introduction 121 Low-Cost Home Repairs 122 Food Self-Help Home Repairs 124 General Introduction 21 Home Repairs for the Elderly 126 Chapter Managing Apartments 129 Finding Marketing Alternatives/Introduction 23 Financing Home Repairs. 132 Food Buying Clubs 24 Chapter 3 27 Storefront Co-ops Helping People Find a Place Supermarket Co-ops 30 to Live/Introction 135 Warehouse Co-ops 33 Fighting Urban Displacement. 136 Farmers' Markets 35 Matching Landlords and Tenants 138 Food Fairs 38 Salvaging Food 40. Chapter 4 Standing Up for Homeowner and A Grocery Store for Seniors . 44 ..... Tenant Rights/Introduction 141 Chapter 2 Protecting Homeowners Against Discrimination . 142 Growing and Processing Your Own Food/ Protecting Tenant Rights 145 Introduction 47 Chapter 5 Wlndpower for Gardens...... 48 Getting Help for Housing and A Coalition of Gardeners 51 Community Development/Introduction .. 149 Gardening in Housing Projects.... 54 Strengthening Block Associations. ... 150 Compost tor Gardens 56 Developing Your Neighborhood 152 Urban Community Greenhouses .. 58 ....... Getting Your Share 156 Rural Community Greenhouses 62 Helping Local Governments Get Housing Funds .. 158 Community Canning 64 National Gardening Clearinghouse 66 Chapter 6 Providing Housing, Jobs and Credit/ Chapter 3 Introduction- 161 Pioviding Food and Better Nutrition for All/ Organizing Credit Unions ...... 162 introduction 71 Providing Housing and Jobs 165 Food Stamps 72 School Breakfast Campaigns . 75 Chapter 7 Help for the Elderly 78 Fighting Housing Inflation on All Fronts/ Elimination of Sales Tax on Food 82 Introduction. .169 From Protesters to Builders Chapter 4 One Group's Growth 170 Fighting Food Inflation The Comprehensive Approachllntroduction 85 Resources .... 173 A City Puts It All Together.. .......... 86 Resources 90 Energy Health General Introduction 181 General Introduction 287 Cheptir 1 Chapter 1 Consenting Energy/Introduction 183 Providing Alternative Health Care! Energy Audits 184 Introduction 289 Low-Income Weatherization 187 Health Maintenance Organizations 290 Weatherization Financing 191 Primary Care Centers (Urban) 294 Apartment Boiler Repair 193 Primary Care Centers (Rural) 296 Putting Garbage to Good Use 195 Primary Care Centers (Retirement Area) 300 One City's Answer to the EnergyCrisis 197 Wholistic Care 303 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Using Renewable Sources of Energy/ Identifying Specialized Health Services/ Introduction 201 Introduction 307 Neighborhood Solar Systems 202 Alternative Maternal Care 308 Country Style Solar Energy 205 Mental Health Care Clinics 311 Solar EnergyCreates Jobs 207 Care for the Elderly 314 Citywide Solar 210 Hospices 317 213 Specialized Cooperatives 320 Small Farm Alternatives 216 Chapter 3 VVindpower 219 Emphasizing Health Education and Self-Cme/Introduction Chapter 3 325 Directories 326 Educating the Public on Energy/Introduction . 223 Prescription Drug Surveys 329 Teaching Kids about Energy 224 Hotlines 332 Solar Power: Learning by Building 226 Health Education, Promotion and Self-Care 334 Traveling Energy Show 228 Health Fairs 337 A Model of Self-Reliance 231 Networks 340 Training Solar Organizers 235 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Providing Alternative Transportation/ Increasing Citizen Participation in 343 Introduction 239 Health Planning/Introduction.. National Health Planning and Auto Co-ops 240 Resources Development Act (An Overview) ..344 Community Ridesharing 243 Health Systems Agencies 346 Transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped .. 247