Decent Shelter for All Roles for Faith-Inspired Organizations

BERKLEY CENTER for RELIGION, PEACE & WORLD AFFAIRS

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY 2009 |

Decent Shelter for All Roles for Faith-inspired Organizations

January 2009 BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS

A project of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University

Supported by the Henry R. Luce Initiative on Religion and International Affairs

Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs

From 2006–08, the Berkley Center and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) col- laborated in the implementation of a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Religion and International Affairs. The Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs convenes symposia and seminars that bring together scholars and policy experts around emergent issues. The program is organized around two main themes: the religious sources of foreign policy in the US and around the world, and the nexus between religion and global development. Topics covered in 2007–08 included the HIV/AIDS crisis, faith-inspired organizations in the Muslim world, gender and development, religious freedom and US foreign policy, and the intersection of religion, migration, and foreign policy.

The Berkley Center 2009 | The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, created within the Office of the President in March 2006, is part of a university-wide effort to build knowledge about religion’s role in world affairs and promote interreligious understanding in the service of peace. The Center explores the intersection of religion with contemporary global challenges. Through research, teaching, and outreach activities, the Berkley Center builds knowledge, promotes dialogue, and supports action in the service of peace. Thomas Banchoff, Associate Professor in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service, is the Center’s founding director.

The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

Founded in 1919 to educate students and prepare them for leadership roles in international affairs, the School of Foreign Service conducts an undergraduate program for over 1,300 students and BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS graduate programs at the Master’s level for more than 700 students. Under the leadership of Dean Robert L. Gallucci, the School houses more than a dozen regional and functional programs that offer courses, conduct research, host events, and contribute to the intellectual development of the field of international affairs. In 2007, a survey of faculty published in Foreign Policy ranked Georgetown University as #1 in Master’s degree programs in international relations.

1 About this report

A draft of this report was discussed at a Berkley Center and seminars that bring together scholars and policy consultation on October 27, 2008. The report forms experts around emergent issues. The program is orga- part of a series on development topics undertaken by the nized around two main themes: the religious sources of Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs foreign policy in the US and around the world, and the at Georgetown University, and implemented jointly nexus between religion and global development. Topics with the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. covered in 2007–08 included the HIV/AIDS crisis, The project is supported by a generous grant from malaria, faith-inspired organizations in the Muslim the Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Religion world, gender and development, religious freedom and International Affairs. The Luce/SFS Program on and US foreign policy, and the intersection of religion, Religion and International Affairs convenes symposia migration, and foreign policy. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN | Acknowledgements and About the Authors

This report is a collaborative venture and we acknowl- 2000–2006, her mandate covered ethics, values, and edge with special appreciation the partnership of insti- faith in development work, as counselor to the World tutions, especially Habitat for Humanity International Bank’s President. Marshall is the author of several books, and the World Bank. Amy Vander Vliet, a graduate including Mind, Heart, and Soul in the Fight Against student at Georgetown University, undertook substan- Poverty (2004) and Development and Faith: Where tial background research. Jochen Eigen has played a Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together (co-authored with central and continuing role as a senior advisor. Thomas Marisa van Saanen, World Bank, 2007). She serves on BERKLEY CENTER Bohnett drafted parts of the report and is also engaged the Boards of several NGOs and on advisory groups, is on the continuing project. Adrienne Clermont and a Trustee of Princeton University, and directs the World Lily Fu worked as summer interns on the shelter survey. Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD)

Katherine Marshall has worked for over three decades Brady Walkinshaw undertook much work on this proj- on international development, with a focus on issues ect while working as a Junior Program Associate at the facing the world’s poorest countries. As a senior fel- World Bank, in the Development Dialogue on Ethics low at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and and Values Unit. He now works as a program associate World Affairs and a Visiting Associate Professor of at the Gates Foundation. Following graduation from Government, she coordinates the Luce/SFS Program on Princeton University, he spent a year in Honduras on a Religion and Global Development. Before coming to Fulbright fellowship. Georgetown, Marshall served with distinction and held many leadership positions at the World Bank. From

2 Table of Contents

Abbreviations and Glossary...... 3

Overview: Decent Shelter Initiative and Exploration Process...... 4

Part I: Introducing the Topic...... 7

Part II: The Reflection Process...... 11 Box 1: Berkley Center Interfaith Discussion on Faith and Housing...... 12 Box 2: Background Information and Survey ...... 12 Box 3: Two Survey Responses ...... 14 Box 4: “Friends of the Initiative” Consultation, October 27, 2008...... 15 Box 5: Habit for Humanity: Journey through the “Theology of the Hammer”...... 16 2009 | Box 6: Emerging Lessons from an Interfaith Housing Project in Mindanao, Philippines . . . . 17

Part III: Looking Forward...... 19

Appendix 1: Examples of Religious Positions on Shelter...... 23

Appendix 2: Guide to General Resources on Shelter ...... 24

Appendix 3: Annotated Bibliography...... 25

Endnotes...... 28

Abbreviations and Glossary BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS

CBO Community-based organization UN HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements DSA Decent Shelter for All Programme FBO Faith Based Organization UNDRO United Nations Disaster Relief Organization FIO Faith-inspired Organization WCRP World Conference of Religions for Peace (Religions for Peace) NGO Non-governmental organization WFDD World Faiths Development Dialogue

3 Overview

Decent Shelter Initiative and Exploration Process

his report takes stock of the Decent Shelter for All (DSA), an initiative of the TBerkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD). The initiative involves a continuing process of survey and dialogue whose aim is to enhance the quality of partnerships on global housing and shelter issues and, at its core, to address more effectively a key dimen- GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN

| sion of global poverty through better housing. The hypothesis is that better knowledge and framing of issues can bridge gaps that separate secular and faith institutions, can reduce over- lap, disconnects, and tensions among different programs, and enhance the impact of development work in this field. A second, more specific, hypothesis is that the work that faith institutions do on housing is poorly known and thus under-

BERKLEY CENTER valued and poorly integrated in global shelter policies and programs.

The initiative was launched in December 2006 at a meeting held at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center to explore the problem of shelter for the poor. The meeting’s impetus came from Habit for Humanity International, which saw an urgent need to expand its framework for partnerships and particularly interfaith engagement. The meeting was thus chaired by Nic Retsinas, chair of Habitat’s board and also chair of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. It was attended by leaders in the faith-inspired development world. The meeting was inspired by a recognition that

the efforts of religious communities to combat a full report leading to a broader consultation of poverty frequently begin with the core issue of faith-inspired and mainstream shelter support helping the poor secure decent shelter. programs on a joint way forward.

An outcome of that initial meeting was a strong Grounded on this framework for action, meeting consensus that a largely untapped potential for participants highlighted three conclusions. First, interfaith partnerships and for alliances linking a wider and more representative set of partners faith-based and secular development existed should be briefed on and involved in the pro- and needed purposeful exploration and action. cess. Second, the Friends of the Initiative group, The group supported a systematic mapping of comprised of faith leaders and representatives of shelter-related programs and documentation of these various organizations, should provide sup- case examples, a process subsequently pursued port with continuing advice and with mobilizing 2009

under the leadership of WFDD. participation of shelter-related programs in their | respective organizations. Third, moving forward, The most significant output of the survey process, the Friends of the Initiative group would clarify which got underway in the spring of 2008, was an and demonstrate the benefits of the Decent inventory detailing the activities of faith-inspired Shelter for All initiative for both the participat- and mainstream organizations on shelter. The ing support programs and, most importantly, the contents of this inventory confirmed that there poor and vulnerable communities of the world. are significant commonalities among shelter programs that afford opportunities for sharing les- This report provides background and a status sons of experience, as well as complementarities report on a continuing process that is action ori- that offer opportunities for cooperation and part- ented and predicated on developing both use- nership. However, only about one-third of those ful knowledge (a directory of institutions, case solicited responded to the survey, thus leaving an studies) and supporting the network of partici- incomplete picture of the landscape. pating institutions in their efforts to collaborate BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS for better results. To move the process forward, WFDD and the Berkley Center convened a “friends of the initiative” consultation in October 2008. Representatives from Habitat for Humanity International, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Salvation Army, and several other organizations clarified their interest in and contributions to the initiative. The participants jointly agreed to conclude the first cycle of the initiative by early 2009 with

Part I Introducing the Topic

Faith and Shelter quantified accountability structure that comes with ssuring decent shelter is central in combating the MDGs. In sum, the potential for mobilizing faith poverty. Inadequate housing is both a symp- engagement in responding to housing needs has yet to Atom and a cause of desperate poverty, with be fully explored. homelessness an ultimate manifestation of failures of social and economic systems to meet human needs and to offer the chance for people to lead a life with dignity. Faith and Development Faith-inspired organizations play a critical role in inter- Concerns about and approaches to housing have national development. Their contributions are impor- ancient origins, and an important part of the history tant not only because of their sheer magnitude and their of housing policies involves both religious teaching and broad range of thematic and geographic coverage, but practice. Virtually every faith tradition includes stories also because of their often unique local partnerships, 2009 and admonitions about welcoming strangers and offer- resources and approaches. | ing a decent place to live. At a time when development challenges have outgrown Today, a wide array of programs of faith-inspired organi- development support by orders of magnitude and where zations (FIOs)1 world-wide work to overcome practical even large development support efforts too often yield obstacles to lack of housing or inadequate quality and disappointing lasting benefits, effectiveness and efficiency security. What is missing, however, is a coherent “map- in the use of available resources has become a key concern ping” of their activities (e.g. who is doing what, where?) among development support organizations. or assessment of their aggregate impact. Partial and anecdotal evidence suggests that most programs address Major opportunities can be realized to improve both immediate needs, providing temporary shelter or help- individual and collective efficiency by promoting strate- ing in building or upgrading houses. Contemporary gic cooperation not only among the diverse FIOs but also aspects of housing challenges, which involve an array between FIOs and secular development organizations

of policy issues, are, with notable exceptions, rarely with their vast range of different technical specializa- BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS addressed in a systemic fashion by faith institutions. tions and types of resources. Such cooperation could, Among exceptions is the Anglican Church’s work on for example, more effectively link community initiatives Faith in the City, which went well beyond shelter to with government capital investments, or align up-stream address broader issues surrounding urban life.2 policy development with local self-help activities.

The role of decent shelter in the overall architecture of the Millennium Development Goals is less clear than Faith, Development, and Shelter for other goals. What is part of the MDG framework Decent shelter for all is a global development challenge in effect centers on the challenges presented by slum that offers special opportunities for promoting new communities, especially in large cities. Thus, the specific partnerships and capitalizing on opportunities for effec- targets and goals for housing do not benefit from the tive networks. Concrete action can demonstrate ben-

7 efits for the development support organizations and, most importantly, the world’s poorest communities. Literally all faiths have deep concern for the poor and recognize the importance of shelter and home, in their broadest meaning, for the wellbeing of the individual, the family and the community. At the same time shelter for the poor is a central item in most socio-economic development agendas—as a direct target for improvement or as an indicator for success or failure of broader strategies and interventions. Shelter is closely linked to almost any facet of social and economic development— from health to employment, from transportation to the environment, and from taxation to governance.

Shelter support programs take many different forms. Some originate from multilateral organizations like the World Bank or the United Nations, from bilateral support organizations, international NGOs, and International associations of local authorities. The organizations are secular or linked to religious bodies. Programs may focus on special beneficiary groups (e.g. geographically, culturally, socio-economically, and/or refugees), on special thematic areas (e.g. housing con- GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN | struction, infrastructure, environmental resources and disasters, employment, cultural heritage, and/or governance), on special forms of support (e.g. direct support, capacity building, financial support, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and/or networking), or on specific local partners (e.g. national governments, local authorities, civil society, faith-based organizations, the business community, and/or research institutions). Programs may be large or small, one-off or long-term, regional and global BERKLEY CENTER or specific to one location. In their full diversity, almost all development support programs and projects come back to the large challenges around shelter.

Mechanisms aimed at relating these diverse development support activities to each other exist at the global level, especially for activities of multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, where governments negotiate and prioritize the most effective use of available resources. Mechanisms also often exist at the national and local levels where the aggregate impact and the success and failure of aid coordination are most directly felt. However, there is a large and largely untapped potential for interfaith partnerships and for alliances linking faith-based and secular development institutions in fields related to shelter and housing.

Part II The Reflection Process

Beginnings faith community. This tends to confirm an important he first steps in the reflection process involved premise for this initiative, namely, the shared fun- a consultation process to reach out to a range damental common concern among all faith-inspired Tof interested individuals, led by Ambassador and secular programs for people in need, irrespective Tom Jones of Habitat for Humanity International. of their language, ethnic, or faith background. About This culminated in a meeting at the Berkley Center one third of the programs focus on people in various in December 2006, described in Box 1. Its aim was to specific development settings, such as urban, rural, explore faith and shelter in an international develop- coastal, etc. This might suggest some possible limits ment context at the Berkley Center. in common concerns among some programs, perhaps limiting opportunity for cooperation and mutual learn- Review and Survey ing among some programs and on some issues. In the current sample, about half of the programs specialize in 2009

Follow up to the meeting initially centered on a phase emergency response. | of desk research at the Berkley Center, to gather background material on theology related to land and shelter Thematic focus: Not surprisingly, nearly all pro- for the poor and on commitments and practices by grams focus primarily on housing itself (design, secular organizations. Part of this work is summarized construction, upgrading, building materials, etc.), in the Report’s Appendices, with full information but not all. A few respondents, among them the on both institutions and academic and practitioner ‘Water for Cities Programme’ of UN-Habitat, the literature available on the Berkley Center website. The ‘Urban and Municipal Development Programme’ objective is that the annotated institution directory and of GTZ, and the ‘Emergency/Disaster Response bibliography become a living document, expanded and Portfolio’ of ADRA International, focus instead on adjusted on a continuing basis. other, closely related concerns such as infrastructure, land management, and emergency response Because a central conclusion from the initial explora- and preparedness. Infrastructure is identified as

tion was that available information was remarkably an important focus by two thirds of all programs; BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS thin, WFDD launched a survey to gather more data income generation by about half. Among the faith- about the shelter work of a range of institutions. This inspired programs only about one half of them focus survey is summarized in Box 2. on land and secure tenure while all secular programs consider this an important thematic focus of their Some initial findings of the survey may be summarized activities. Similarly, more than two thirds of all faith- as follows: inspired programs shy away from an explicit focus on governance, while for all secular programs this is an Beneficiary groups: Almost all responses focus explic- explicit priority concern. Findings such as these, if itly on the poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable. None confirmed by the survey as it becomes more complete of the programs have a cultural focus, defined as a and representative, may suggest interesting areas of focus on specific language groups, ethnic groups, or possible cooperation and mutual support.

11 BOX 1 Berkley Center Interfaith Discussion on Faith and Housing

The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World International’s leaders, and other participants from Affairs at Georgetown University convened a December (inter alia) Georgetown University, the World Bank, 2006 interfaith discussion, termed the Forum on the International Housing Coalition, the World Faiths Interfaith Engagement for Decent Shelter. It focused Development Dialogue, the Parliament of World’s on the urgent need to focus more sharply and directly Religions, Catholic Relief Services, Episcopal Diocese on assisting the world’s poorest people and communi- of Washington, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, Religious ties. The starting point was the central role that decent Action Center of Reform Judaism, M.E.C.C.A. Center, shelter should play in combating poverty. Habitat for the National Council of Churches of Christ in the Humanity International had suggested the meeting as USA, Islamic Society of North America, Arab Group part of their strategic reflections, and the topic was for Christian-Muslim Dialog, and CAUSE-NY/Jewish also of concern for the Berkley Center’s exploration Community Relations Council of NY. of issues linking religion and development. Dr. Tom The forum’s outcome was agreement to pursue a range Banchoff, Director of the Berkley Center, opened the of interfaith approaches to shelter issues ranging from day-long forum, which was moderated by Nic Retsinas, joint advocacy efforts, to a more systematic mapping Chair of the Habitat for Humanity International Board of shelter-related programs and documentation of and Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies case examples, as well as pilot interfaith endeavors. The at Harvard University. project described in this document, “Decent Shelter for The meeting brought together some 30 partici- All”, is meant to translate these discussions and agree- pants. They included leaders from the Christian, ments into joint action.

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN Jewish, and Muslim faiths, Habitat for Humanity |

BOX 2 Background Information and Survey

The survey questionnaire aims to collect descriptions, example, identifying ‘infrastructure and services’ as for selected institutions, of the nature of their support an important program focus is followed by a request activities in a fashion that allows comparison of infor- to choose from specific options such as ‘water supply, mation from very diverse contexts and approaches. sewer, drainage, electric power, waste collection and

BERKLEY CENTER The survey addresses shelter support programs rather disposal, roads and public transport.’ The following six than the organizations from which the programs orig- questions are addressed: inate; many organizations support more than one • Does your program focus on special beneficiary shelter-related development program, often with dif- groups? ferent thematic focus, support modality or partners; and many programs are supported by more than one • Does your program have a special thematic focus? organization. The survey is ongoing; completed ques- • Does your program specialize in particular forms tionnaires from about 30 programs had been received of support? as of December 2008. • Does your program support particular shelter Respondents identify from a few sets of multiple sector management functions? choices the key features that best describe their • Does your program work typically with specific program. Each identified program feature is rated local partners? from ‘not applicable’ to ‘critically important.’ For features identified as important, a further layer of mul- • Does your program work typically with other tiple choices allows more detail in the response. For external organizations?

12 Forms of support: ‘Capacity building’ is identified countries as a significant partner in their activities while most often as an important support modality. This form all secular programs consider this partnership as a high of support is followed closely by ‘direct support’ (i.e. priority (one secular program, with its special advocacy constructing housing, infrastructure, etc. for the benefi- role, is the exception). Three quarters of all programs ciaries) and ‘technical assistance’ as a special focus of the focus on work with local authorities. Two thirds focus responding programs. Only emergency response and on partnership with local civil society. About one half housing advocacy programs do not engage in capacity of all programs place significant emphasis on working building. Three quarters of all programs specialize in with local faith-inspired organizations—surprisingly, technical support and only about half of the programs this ratio is not different for faith-inspired and secular offer financial aid as part of their support. Two thirds of programs. Only one in seven faith-inspired programs all responding programs provide some form of network- places significant emphasis on working with the local ing support to their local counterparts—for all secular business community or with local sources of expertise programs this is a very high priority. Policy support (i.e. (e.g. local research institutions)—in contrast, all support to the political process of developing and agree- secular programs do. These findings suggest that a ing shelter development policies, strategies and plans) careful analysis of a more complete and representative has very high priority for all secular programs but has survey may well show that the diverse local partner- significance only for about half of the faith-inspired ships of shelter support programs offer some of the programs. Early findings suggest both significant com- most interesting opportunities for cooperation and monalities as well as complementarities among diverse strategic partnership. shelter support programs—significant opportunities for the sharing of lessons and for strategic partnerships. Cooperation among external support programs: All but two programs cooperate internationally with Shelter sector management functions: This group of faith-inspired organizations, three quarters place 2009 questions is similar to, but not identical with the previ- significant emphasis on this cooperation. Two thirds | ous group concerning ‘forms of support.’ Here program of all programs emphasize their cooperation with support is explored as it relates to the typical stages of international NGOs. Only about one half of the a development undertaking, from clarifying the issue faith-inspired programs emphasize their cooperation at hand with information and technical expertise to with bilateral organizations, while all secular programs resolving it with policy development, implementation, do. Only about one third of the faith-inspired pro- and institutional strengthening. Looking at program grams emphasize their cooperation with multilateral specializations from this perspective makes it possible to organizations—again, all secular programs do. One identify very concrete and pragmatic complementarities third of all programs cooperate with foundations. and opportunities for partnership. In responding to this Only one in ten faith-inspired programs mention group of questions, about half of the programs identify cooperation with international associations of local ‘information and technical expertise’ as an important authorities, while three out of four secular programs component of their support. All secular programs place consider it significant. One quarter of all programs

high priority on their support to ‘policy development’ mention specifically international support from pri- BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS while only about a quarter of the faith-inspired do vate sector donors and cooperation with professional so. Similarly, all secular programs place a high prior- associations. The responses to this question show that ity on their support to ‘policy implementation’ (e.g. cooperation among faith-inspired and secular organi- through capital improvements, legislation, etc.), while zations and their shelter programs is by no means a only about one quarter of the faith-inspired programs new idea. In fact the responses suggest that emphasis identify this as a priority area. About half of all support of this initiative should be less on promoting the idea programs place special emphasis on ‘institutionalizing than on facilitating and supporting the practice of the shelter management process.’ such cooperation.

Local partners: Less than half of the faith-inspired Two summaries of surveys are included in Box 3 as programs identify central government in recipient an illustration.

13 Status Review A next step was a status review, designed both as a stock- taking and to assess participant interest in carrying the work forward. This October 27, 2008 reflection is summarized in Box 4.

Habitat for Humanity International, a leading force in the DSA exploration, is introduced in Box 5. Box 6 summarizes lessons drawn from an interfaith Habitat program in the Philippines.3

BOX 3 Two Survey Responses

Housing and Poverty, Egypt Housing for Low Income Families and

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN Lead Organization: Coptic Evangelical Church for Slum Dwellers, Global | Social Services Lead Organization: International Housing Coalition Main Partner Organization(s): Habitat for Humanity Main Partner Organization(s): Habitat for Humanity International International, National Association of Realtors, Launch/termination dates: Ongoing Canadian Association of Realtors Contact: Nabil Abadir ([email protected]) Launch/termination dates: Ongoing Website: www.ceoss.org.eg Contact: Bob Dubinsky ([email protected]) Website: www.intlhc.org CEOSS is an Egyptian Christian development organization headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to The Washington, D.C.-based, International Housing BERKLEY CENTER social and cultural development, individual well-being, Coalition works on global housing issues related to social justice, and inter-cultural and religious harmony. advocacy, public outreach, networking, and applied The Housing and Poverty program aims to establish research. An objective of the IHC research is to support adequate housing for poor and vulnerable families. and substantiate its mission and activities. Earlier work Further, the program aims to deepen the participation includes studies on housing challenges in Sub-Saharan of beneficiaries through links between future housing Africa and on rates of return to urban investment. IHC beneficiaries and former beneficiaries. The program members include the Urban Institute, Urban Land provides soft loans to low-income families, and builds Institute, several professional organizations, and coali- capacities of shelter committees in poor communi- tions of CSOs active on housing and slum development ties to implement the projects. CEOSS emphasizes a issues. IHC maintains a wide range of partnerships with holistic approach to the family, as a beneficiary unit, USAID, RTI International, Habitat for Humanity, and the and links shelter beneficiaries to other Coptic social National Association of Realtors, inter alia. programs, including classes to combat illiteracy, and to educate on loans to increase income.

14 BOX 4 “Friends of the Initiative” Consultation, October 27, 2008

Active initiative participants met in late October 2008 be filled in support of local shelter practitioners. WFDD,

at the Berkley Center. The objectives were: (a) to brief with its ties to the Berkley Center, the World Bank, and 2009 | the initial group of “friends of the initiative” on the prog- a wide set of faith-inspired organizations, is committed ress in implementing the conclusions of the December to continue as a focal point for the initiative. 2006 meeting; (b) to review the approach taken and On the ground work since the December 2006 Forum the issues emerging; and (c) to clarify participant was summarized by Habitat for Humanity International involvement and continuing support and input to the (HFHI), with a conclusion that it has been substantial initiative as it moves forward. Participants included rep- but fragmented and less than the aspirations. Examples resentatives from Habitat for Humanity International, of such work include a new HFHI initiative to develop the Religious Action Committee of Reformed Judaism, a set of guidelines and tools to mobilize and support the Salvation Army, Sojourners, the World Bank, the faith-inspired shelter practitioners at the community- United Nations, the International Housing Coalition, level and to promote cooperation among different faith and the Berkley Center. Katherine Marshall facilitated communities in shelter-related activities. The initiative the meeting. is informed by ongoing interfaith activities conducted

The meeting reviewed the context of the DSA initiative by HFHI, such as a series of interfaith ‘housing builds’ BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS and its underlying premise: that there is common theo- with the Islamic Society of North America. Another logical ground among faith traditions to support shelter example, an ongoing program presented by the World and that, despite a common sense that faith communi- Bank, aims to support investment decisions for infra- ties were deeply invested in shelter, there was little sys- structure and basic services. The users are decision tematized knowledge of the scope of their work and makers in governments and international develop- approaches on the ground. Mapping the diverse activi- ment finance institutions, such as the World Bank. The ties of faith-inspired and mainstream organizations in importance of quantitative information was illustrated shelter is expected to inform development practice, through examples of infrastructure and services that clarify common concerns, promote complementarities became less affordable for the poor as a result of badly and strategic partnerships, and identify critical gaps to targeted subsidies and tariff structures.

15 BOX 5 Habit for Humanity: Journey through the “Theology of the Hammer”

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) has grown In 1973, the Fullers then explored how the Fund for from a local Christian organization, founded by Millard Humanity concept might apply in developing coun- and Linda Fuller in 1976, to an international move- tries. The family spent three years in Mbandaka, Zaire ment dedicated to providing shelter for poor people (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). and communities. It prides itself on its record of build- The ideas born in Georgia and Zaire took a new form ing and rehabilitating more than 225,000 houses for in 1976, with the creation of Habitat for Humanity and with families in need. Habitat is a world leader in International (HFHI). Millard Fuller described the emer- addressing the issues of poverty housing. gence of the organization and his vision of a housing HFHI emerged as the idea of a small, interracial, ministry in his book: Love in the Mortar Joints. The Christian farming community founded in 1942 out- work drew in former US President Jimmy Carter and side Americus, Georgia, by farmer and biblical scholar his wife Rosalynn, who began working with Habitat in Clarence Jordan. The Fullers visited this farm in 1965 1984. Their personal involvement brought the organiza- soon after they had left behind a successful business tion national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat’s in Montgomery, Alabama and the trappings of an afflu- work across the nation. HFHI affiliates across the US ent lifestyle to begin a new life of Christian service. The and in other countries increased dramatically. Habitat concept of “partnership housing” emerged—those who today has affiliates in some 90 countries. needed adequate shelter worked side by side with vol- Habitat often refers to a “theology of the hammer.” unteers to build simple, decent houses. Houses were to Their goal is a partnership founded on common be built with no profit added and no interest charged, ground—bridging theological differences by putting GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund’s | love into action. Everyone can use the hammer as an money came from the new homeowners’ house pay- instrument to manifest God’s love. Millard Fuller said: ments, donations, and no-interest loans provided by “We may disagree on all sorts of other things ... but we supporters and money earned by fund-raising activi- can agree on the idea of building homes with God’s ties. Monies in the Fund for Humanity were used to people in need, and in doing so using biblical econom- build more houses. Habitat summarizes the underly- ics: no profit and no interest.” ing philosophy as follows:

Habitat allows churches, community groups, and oth- “What the poor need is not charity but capital, not case- ers to join together to tackle, tangibly and success- workers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a BERKLEY CENTER fully, a significant social problem—decent housing for wise, honorable, and just way of divesting themselves all. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 200,000 of their overabundance. The Fund for Humanity will houses, sheltering more than 1,000,000 people in more meet both of these needs … .The fund will give away than 3,000 communities worldwide. no money. It is not a handout.”

16 BOX 6 Emerging Lessons from an Interfaith Housing Project in Mindanao, Philippines4

“We know the solution to the problem, but who will take attended regular meetings. Leaders lived in the area the first step?”: Lower Pagangan, Aleosan, Cotabato and the program was defined around groups based is an all-Muslim community, the entrance and exit of in the area. rebels and soldiers hunting each other. Nobody dared In the Peace to tread there. The nearest elementary school is 4 kilo- “Pay attention to the role of women”: Build Project, the role of women is important for both meters away which is only accessible by walking since Christians and Muslims. Most women attended meet- there are no roads. House construction for a fairly small ings and participated in consultations. They asked group of families (15) brought a different perspec- questions about details of house design and appear- tive not only for those who benefited directly but for ance and volunteered to help during construction. the whole community. Other developments followed, Their broad roles in managing households, farms and including a pre-school education program. The organi- other income generating projects became apparent. zation of the Federation of Homepartners Association They especially were able to see the peace build as an is a manifestation that Muslim and Christian families opportunity of having a better, peaceful community. are living in harmony. In short, taking the first step was all important. “Prepare well, both community and plans”: Social prep- aration and community organizing is vital. It should be “Start from where they are and what they have”: An in place and clearly defined. important program feature was that families were not uprooted. The houses were built in the same commu- “Partnership is important”: Explore all avenues for part- nity where they get their livelihood. The families owned nership with the LGU’s, GO’s, NGO’s, churches, home

farm lots and they built their houses in their own lots. 2009

partners, and everyone operating in the area. The | When they returned after the war, the families started Habitat program was part of a broader plan for the cultivating their farms. community and was well tied to the Barangay and Municipal development plans. This smoothed paths. “Work with local people and local partners”: Creation of the Aleosan Habitat Task Force facilitated the suc- “Do not neglect the paper”: Good documentation of cessful implementation of the Peace Build project. all experiences and processes really helps as do good Members were committed and active and willingly monitoring and evaluation systems. BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS

Part III Looking Forward

or virtually all faith communities, working worthy that Habitat for Humanity International, one of for social justice lies at the very core of beliefs the largest voluntary organizations, and an institution Fand is a binding drive within each community. deeply tied to faith traditions, is seeking to enlarge its There are moral imperatives to act to care for the poor. engagement in the policy area, to complement its work Providing shelter for poor people and communities in mobilizing volunteers to build individual homes. thus forms part of long-standing faith teaching and practice. Looking beyond individual traditions, since The absence of explicit focus on adequate shelter in the highest moral values call the faiths to this work, the Millennium Development Goals is something of a interest in working together in interfaith alliances to concern to advocates for poor communities because it advocate for decent housing worldwide has emerged as means that the discipline and framework of monitor- a priority issue for those working both on poverty and able goals needs to be established in a different context. on interfaith alliances. There is, nonetheless, little disagreement in either faith 2009

or development circles that housing issues should be | The challenge is how to translate the ideals and histori- a central focus in future discussions of global poverty. cal practice and teachings of faith traditions into effect Stable, decent housing can improve health and educa- in a modern context, where provision of sustainable tion, promote stronger communities, and greater wealth housing can be an expensive and complicated undertak- accumulation that can guarantee access to basic services ing. Providing emergency shelter in a situation of disas- and offer hope for the future. ter can be a relatively straightforward proposition—in Aceh and Sri Lanka following the tsunami of 2004, Current faith institution programs fall into roughly the numbers of new houses to build could be readily three categories. The first is “hands on” work. measured and progress monitored. When a house burns Classically, faith communities are galvanized by down the community can respond to rebuild. However, disasters and come together to support community with a majority of the world’s population living today members. Countless examples across the world witness in cities and towns, housing policies present challenges such support, whether it involves hammers and nails

that go well beyond community builds. Land tenure and building or financial support from a greater distance. BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS security, housing finance, and setting and monitoring Second, faith communities lend a prophetic and practi- standards are among the key housing issues. Complex cal voice to advocacy efforts that have housing as a social issues involve social cohesion and community focus. Religious leaders and communities urge public relations in the typically plural urban societies of today. authorities and the community at large to address needs These issues must be addressed if the basic challenge of for shelter at policy and practical levels. Again, there are scale is to be achieved, and thus if the goal of assuring innumerable examples of such advocacy, again across decent housing for all is to be achieved. Faith communi- different regions and faith communities, and touching ties such as the National Council of Churches of Christ the full gamut of issues from regulatory frameworks for of the US and Sojourners are venturing into the field building and finance through topics like discrimination of national advocacy for the United States but there is based on religion. A third area of involvement is inten- as yet no comparable global faith voice. It is thus note- tional efforts to combine the goal of providing decent

19 housing with broader social objectives for building focus of a number of international organizations communities and fostering peace. Thus different faith (e.g. the World Bank) should inspire FIOs to press communities come together both in direct support and the case for safe and affordable housing at the global in advocacy, and the practical common focus on resolv- level. One option under review is to establish a Faith ing a tangible problem that is of common concern has Housing Advisory Committee that might meet to the effect of overcoming historic and theological differ- reflect on strategic opportunities and represent the ences. Though less common, there are many examples interests of the initiative in appropriate settings. all over the world where communities come together to overcome common barriers. (e) Teaching and training: Suggested actions include toolkits for practitioners and university-level case The integration of faith institutions into global work study materials. to provide decent housing is an ongoing goal and will require work in a many areas. Priorities highlighted through the exploration process include:

(a) Mapping: Given what appears to be the often ad hoc or supplementary nature of FIO shelter programs, much more information is needed about what FIOs are actually doing on the ground. Anecdotal evidence often bears witness to FIO influence on shelter issues (e.g. a microcredit loan allows a woman to increase the size of her house), but very little study has identified these activities in GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN | a systematic way.

(b) Evaluation: Many FIOs engage in shelter work primarily through their disaster relief programs, but there has been little research done to examine more thoroughly what role shelter assistance plays in broader relief efforts, as well as how FIOs manage the transition to construction of more permanent shelter. FIOs also need to participate in continued investiga- BERKLEY CENTER tions into innovative construction techniques that are safe, inexpensive, and culturally appropriate.

(c) Building networks: As efforts in many other fields have demonstrated, successful networking allows organizations to capitalize on their strengths and use resources more efficiently. The housing sector is a perfect candidate for this type of endeavor, since it can require relatively greater inputs per capita than FIOs may be accustomed to contributing.

(d) More effective advocacy: While faith-based groups are heavily involved in advocating for affordable housing in the United States, for example, to date little coor- dinated effort has been made to develop a unified global voice on shelter issues. The renewed shelter

Appendices

Appendix 1: some civil liberties groups are similarly concerned about violating Examples of Religious Positions the separation of church and state. on Shelter Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Message on Homelessness, ELCA Church Council, 1990 Benedict XVI. “Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for http://www.elca.org/socialstatements/homelessness/ the Celebration of the World Day of Peace: The Human Person, the Heart of Peace.” Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, December 8, 2006. Excerpts: While the main text of Benedict’s address advocates and explains Called to Care: God heard the cry of a homeless people and deliv- the concept of “authentic integral humanism”, it does explicitly include ered them out of oppression in Egypt. Jesus, “who [had] nowhere shelter as an important component of human flourishing. Specifically, to lay his head” (Luke 9:58), ministered with compassion to the section #6 highlights inadequate shelter as one of the “unjust inequali- poor and vulnerable. In practicing hospitality, we are promised to ties … of essential goods” that currently plague the world. encounter the living Lord: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mat 25:35). Briggs, Xavier de Souza. “Faith and Mortar: Religious Organizations and Affordable Housing Strategy in Urban America.” God’s mandate concerning people who exist on the margins of 2009

Harvard University, 2003. http://www.fastennetwork.org/ society is clear: “Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain | Uploads/980151B7-7C6D-4EFD-9A8D-98ED335424E1.pdf the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; The author first offers a brief history of faith-based housing work deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Pss 82:3-4). Working for in the United States, followed by an analysis of the strategic roles justice with and for homeless people is doing God’s will. available to such organizations. Briggs also includes tips to municipal government on how to best incorporate faith-based efforts into a We, too, participate in and are responsible for society’s brokenness. community-wide affordable housing strategy. Yet, confident of God’s forgiveness, we are daily renewed, so we might turn from what dehumanizes people to accept anew respon- College of Biblical Studies—Houston: Faith-Based Community sibility for justice. Through the Gospel and the Holy Spirit, people Development Center. “Faith-Based Affordable Housing with and without housing alike are incorporated into the church, Development and Finance Resource Guide.” n.d. God’s new community founded on grace and faith, not on society’s https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/ip/faithbasedguide.pdf. view of success or failure. Prepared with support from Fannie Mae, this document offers a nuts-and-bolts guide to faith-based affordable housing programs. The Gospel does not provide ready-made solutions to homelessness. It begins by briefly outlining Christian theological support for such God’s love in Jesus Christ does, however, move us to care for homeless work, though the guide is intended as a general guide for all FBOs. people as God cares for all. Christians who have shelter are called to The majority of the guide offers tips in areas like identifying what care, called to walk with homeless people in their struggle for a more particular role best suits an organization or where to apply for funding. fulfilling life and for adequate, affordable, and sustainable housing.” BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS

Cooperman, Alan, and Elizabeth Williamson. “FEMA Plans to “As long as there are people without housing, Christians who have Reimburse Faith Groups for Aid.” The Washington Post, September dwellings are called upon to assist homeless persons to provide for 27, 2005, A01, online edition. www.washingtonpost.com. their basic needs.” In the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to reimburse Goggin, Malcom L., and Deborah A. Orth. “How Faith-Based religious organizations for costs incurred while responding to the and Secular Organizations Tackle Housing for the Homeless.” disaster. The grudging shift in policy occurred as it became clear Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, October 2002. that many churches and other organizations that responded quickly http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/research/10-23-2002_ with offers of shelter and emergency aid now had to hold open their grand_rapids_study.pdf. doors indefinitely, as the sheer volume of the displaced strained the This study examined seven intermediate housing programs capacity of normal long-term housing providers such as the Red in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Goggin and Orth found that the Cross. The new policy has met with mixed reactions from faith large FBOs who received government funding were more likely to based groups, where some remain wary of government funding; resemble the secular government program than the smaller FBO-

23 run program that did not accept government funding. Clients were Appendix 2: also more likely to accept restrictions on their freedom as part of an Guide to General Resources FBO-operated behavior change effort. on Shelter John Paul II. “Sollicitudo rei socialis: To the Bishops, Priests, Religious Families, Sons and Daughters of the Church and All Relevant Organizations People of Good Will for the Twentieth Anniversary of ‘Populorum Progressio’.” Rome: The Vatican, December 30, 1987. I. United Nations While this address broadly focuses on issues of poverty and United Nations Human Settlements Programme development, it does include shelter as a pertinent issue. Section #14 http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=9. points to housing as one sector that clearly illustrates the growing “development gap”, while section #17 recognizes a lack of adequate II. National Governments housing as a barometer for underdevelopment that is often com- DFID policy paper, “Land: Better access and secure rights for poor plicated by urbanization. In section #31 Pope John Paul II calls the people,” July 2007 church to give up “superfluous” decorative items if this would allow http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/LandPaper2007.pdf. them to offer the poor assistance with shelter and other necessities. He also reminds readers that the biblical preference for the poor III. NGOs includes the homeless. Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions Paul VI. Popularum Progressio: An Encyclical of Pope Paul VI. http://www.cohre.org/. Rome: The Vatican, March 26, 1967. Habitat International Coalition In this encyclical Pope Paul VI combines the findings of the http://www.hic-net.org/default.asp. Second Vatican Council with previous Catholic social teaching to address development and inequality. Not surprisingly, shelter-related International Housing Coalition issues are mentioned several times. Section #9 bemoans inequali- http://intlhc.org/index.php. ties in power and living conditions, while section #21 reiterates Shelter Centre the notion that a lack of “material necessities” (such as adequate http://www.sheltercentre.org/sheltercentre/welcome.htm. housing) results in “less than human conditions.” Section #23 The Sphere Project cautions that the right to private property can’t override the right http://www.sphereproject.org/. of all to adequate means of survival. Concurrently, the necessity of GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN

| addressing both the physical and social/spiritual aspects of building Architecture for Humanity (specializes in post-disaster design) community is considered in section #47. In section #53 Pope Paul http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/. VI further emphasizes the need for a concerted anti-poverty effort Builders Without Borders (network for those who support ecologi- when “countless people need schools, hospitals, and homes worthy cal, affordable, and culturally sensitive construction techniques) of the name” and decries substandard housing for emigrant workers http://www.builderswithoutborders.org/index.htm. in section #69. The closing sections of the encyclical urge Catholics to promote “living conditions truly worthy of the children of God.” Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (mostly US-oriented research, but some resources on international issues) Presbyterian Church (USA) http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/index.htm. http://www.pcusa.org/washington/housingresource.pdf The PC(USA) Washington Office leads and facilitates domestic International Housing Coalition: World Urban Forum II IHC advocacy for affordable housing. In the past, the General Assembly Sponsored Housing Papers (various papers discussing issues such BERKLEY CENTER has called members to “work with policy makers to create fair and as private sector involvement) just economic and housing policies, and to create funding to imple- http://intlhc.org/wuf/index.php. ment those policies, which will benefit every citizen of this nation, One World Design Architecture (specializes in eco-friendly build- including the poor and homeless.”(Minutes, 1998, p. 683).” ing, especially straw-bale construction) http://www.one-world-design.com/default.asp. “Liberation Theology and Land Reform.” The Henry George Institute, http://www.landreform.org/ Remote Energy International (specializes in renewable energy for An unaccredited online course that analyzes liberation theology off-grid locations, e.g. photovoltaic cells) and the land reform policies of Henry George (“community owns http://www.remotepower.com/about.html. the natural opportunities and monopolies [e.g. land]; individuals The Shelter Centre Library (a compilation of documents from own the wealth they have created”) governments, the UN, and NGOs on housing and shelter) http://www.sheltercentre.org/shelterlibrary/index.htm. What is Urban Upgrading? Reference for administrators, policy- makers, and decision-makers (a wide variety of information on improving urban slums) http://web.mit.edu/urbanupgrading/upgrading/whatis/index.html. World Housing Encyclopedia (offers information on earthquake- resistant construction) http://205.147.11.244/about/abouttp.asp.

24 Appendix 3: Buckley, Robert M. and Jerry Kalarickel. “Shelter Strategies Annotated Bibliography for the Urban Poor: Idiosyncratic and Successful, but Hardly Mysterious.” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3427, October 2004. http://go.worldbank.org/FN9SH1RTI0. Adrahtas, Vassills. “Perceptions of Land in Indigenous Australian Christian Texts.” Studies in World Christianity 11:2 (2005). www. Buckley and Kalarickel explore how the World Bank’s shelter ebscohost.com. strategy has changed since 1986 and review emerging areas of research. They specifically focus on land market regulations, housing Adrahtas discusses the way various indigenous Australian Christians supply, and the relationship of property rights to general develop- weave together indigenous notions of the land with Christian ment efforts. Growing emphasis on microfinance and community theology. One compares the Land to a vast sacred space akin to a participation also comes under consideration. The authors conclude cathedral, while another describes it as a place in which one can that current shelter strategies are becoming increasingly successful by deeply experience the sound of God. The Rainbow Spirit Elders adapting to the idiosyncratic nature of developing housing markets. insist that since creation God has revealed himself to indigenous Australians through the Land. Adrahtas ends by describing the work Bush, Joseph E. “Land and Communal Faith: Methodist Belief of a woman who views the land as a vehicle for reconciliation. and Ritual in Fiji.” Studies in World Christianity 6:1 (2000). www. ebscohost.com. Aleaz , K.P. “A Tribal Christian Theology from India.”Asia Journal vanua of Theology 19:2 (2005). www.ebscohost.com. Bush focuses on the role of (a concept that unites both geographical territory and the culture of those who inhabit it) in Aleaz first describes the beliefs and practices of Indian tribal religion, the development of indigenous Fijian Methodist theology. As an including the concept of a “nature—spirit continuum.” In this example he describes the rite of ai bulubulu, in which vanua confess context God cannot be properly understood without first compre- sin and receive pardon using the exchange of tabua (whale teeth). hending the equal relationship between humanity and creation. Cadigan, Tui. “Land Ideologies that Inform a Contextual Maori Aleaz notes that in tribal religion, “[t]he land is not a mere space to Theology of Land.”Ecotheology: Journal of Religion, Nature & the be exploited, but it is a place which gives identity to the community; Environment 6:1/2 (2001-2002). www.ebscohost.com. it owns people. Without the land, there is no personhood and identity.” Consequently, indigenous tribal Christian theology must Cadigan discusses Maori beliefs that should be referenced in any include reference to the work of the Trinity in and through creation, theology of the land. Most notably, the right to rule stems from as well as the need for humanity to live in harmony with creation one’s ability to demonstrate the connections between their ancestors 2009 in the present. Aleaz insists that a tribal Christian faith built on and a particular portion of land. Thus, geography forms a crucial | relationships must not exclude creation. facet of Maori identity. Cadigan notes that “[a] landless Maori is literally a nonperson; there is no ‘place’ they belong.” Both the dead Andrews, David, CSC, JD. “Land Use: Rights and Responsibilities and a child’s placenta are buried on ancestral grounds to reinforce of Land Ownership through the Prism of Catholic Social Teaching.” this connection. Paper presented at the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Des Moines, IA, 1998. http://www.ncrlc.com/bookstore-webpages/ Chimhowu, Admos and Phil Woodhouse. “Customary vs Private pamphlet06-webdoc.html. Property Rights? Dynamics and Trajectories of Vernacular Land Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Journal of Agrarian Change 6:3 Andrews notes Catholic social principles relevant to land use, such (2006). www.ebscohost.com. as stewardship and pursuit of the common good, and warns that the right to private property should not be upheld at the expense The authors note the influence of the colonial policy of “indirect of a healthy society. He asks the government to more carefully rule” upon customary land tenure in Africa, along with the post— independence transfer of land authority to state governments. consider use of its lands and funds, especially in an era of significant Chimhowu and Woodhouse also analyze the connections between land speculation. The essay ends with various quotes describing a food, labor, and land markets, especially when related to the devel- Catholic perspective on land use. opment of peri-urban areas. They note the tension between govern- BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS Berrisford, Stephen, with Michael Kihato and Neil Klug. ment’s goals of agricultural modernization and poverty reduction, “International Shifts in Shelter and Settlement Policy and Their since modernization often requires extensive capital in an environment where labor is much more plentiful. People are often reluctant Implications for South Africa Praxis.” Mega-Tech Inc. and USAID to make such capital investments without legally respected proof of Mission to South Africa, October 30, 2003. http://pdf.usaid.gov/ land ownership, and consequently this can affect the relationship pdf_docs/PNADD240.pdf. between formal and vernacular land markets. In this essay the authors first briefly outline the influence of the de Gruchy, Steve. “Towards a Congregationalist Theology of the World Bank and UN agencies on international housing policy and Land.” International Congregational Journal 2:2 (2002). www. then discuss implications and challenges for the housing situation in ebscohost.com. South Africa. They support the shift towards demand-side subsidies and also encourage the development of appropriate microfinance As South Africa copes with the legacy of apartheid, de Gruchy programs. The essay further argues for a more flexible approach to offers history and insight on the Congregationalist relationship tenure, regulation, and zoning, one unhindered by inefficient legali- with land. He notes the denomination’s historical emphasis on local ties that instead works within the reality of informal settlements. authority and independence, as well as the need to consider a system

25 that incorporates an African conception of communal ownership. Exploring Key Changes and Developments in Post-Disaster Settlement, The author lists four types of land ownership practiced by the Shelter and Housing, 1982-2006. United Nations Office for the Congregationalists in South Africa and then offers a few principles Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2006. on which a Congregationalist theology of the land could be based. http://www.sheltercentre.org/shelterlibrary/items/pdf/ExploringKey First, land can represent “security to the poor and threatened.” ChangesAndDevelopmentsInPost-DisasterSettlementShelterAndHo Second, all adults have the right and ability to exercise responsible using1982-2006.pdf. ownership of land. Third, only by being humble and open to change will a new theology develop. This document was prepared as a first step in the consultation preceding the revision of “Shelter after Disaster: Guidelines for Evans, Bryan. “A Theology of Folklands?”Evangel 23:3 (2005). Assistance,” a 1982 document scheduled for re-release in 2008. www.ebscohost.com. It noted the shift towards a transitional housing approach to emergency relief and reconstruction, along with the need to link Evans asserts that from the very beginning, the Bible is concerned improved principles with the standards and accountability advo- with land and man’s relationship to it. It is essential, since “Hebrew cated by the Sphere Handbook. The report highlights other impor- thought can abide neither spirit without body, nor life without tant factors that need additional consideration, such as burgeoning the land.” Evans contends that at the beginning of history God urbanization and the use of early warning systems. designated folklands for nations besides Israel, though Israel would Huchzermeyer, Marie, et al. remain the core example of God’s work. Thus the land represented “Informal Settlement Policy: Report on Key Findings of Phase One: International Literature Reviews.” both history and identity, and Evans points to the biblical meta- Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand, phor of marriage to the land as representative of the serious level February 22, 2004. http://www.wits.ac.za/informalsettlements/ of care, commitment, and love required of landed Israelites. The keyfindings.html. New Testament missionary work to “seventy nations” refers back to an Old Testament way of describing the entire world. Evans also This essay discusses past experience in upgrading informal settle- ventures that if each folkland received a spiritual “protector” (a ments and supports an integrated approach to slum improvement. type of guardian angel), then the particular brutality of some land The authors note the range of public policy attitudes towards disputes may be the handiwork of fallen guardian spirits. Evans this issue, ranging from repressive to transforming, and posit that concludes that God has given all peoples a relationship with the improved quantitative data could contribute to the political and land, where usage should allow every contemporary and future economic empowerment of slum residents. The essay further argues folkland to remain relatively self-sustaining and independent; love that tenure and finance issues can complicate successful physical

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN of one’s folkland should never come at the expense of the weak and improvement projects, offering an example of a Brazilian program | vulnerable or cause individuals to forget the ultimately transient where this obstacle was overcome. nature of their earthly existence. Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. Forman, Charles W. “Finding Our Own Voice: The Reinterpreting Geneva, Switzerland: The Sphere Project, 2004. of Christianity by Oceanian Theologians.”International Bulletin of http://www.sphereproject.org/content/view/27/84/lang,English/. Missionary Research 29:3 (2005). www.ebscohost.com. Also known as the Sphere Handbook, this document offers stan- Forman discusses the work of prominent Oceanian theologians, dards and accountability measures for humanitarian work in a wide including Ilaitia Sevati Tuwere. Tuwere’s book, Vanua; Towards variety of areas. The section on shelter and settlement includes infor- a Fijian Theology of Place, describes land as a major link in the mation on construction methods and decisionmaking processes, relationship between God and history, and consequently salvation for instance. Though not yet consistently implemented, the Sphere BERKLEY CENTER becomes both a spiritual and physical phenomenon. Forman also standards have been recognized as a globally acceptable baseline. mentions Ama’amalele Tofaeono, who translates the biblical man- Jo, Yong-Hun. date to care for one’s family as a call to care for the entire household “A Christian Environmental Perspective on the View of Nature in Asian Thought.”Asia Journal of Theology 16:2 (2002). of faith, including all of creation. www.ebscohost.com. Gibbs, Phillip, SVD. “Resistance and Hope in a Theology of Land While the author primarily addresses ecological issues, the analysis for Papua New Guinea.” Australian Ejournal of Theology 5 (2005). of Chinese thought does describe a connection between land and http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_5/ human dwelling. Feng-shui, a form of geomancy, offers guidance on practheol_gibbs.htm. aligning buildings with the cosmic chi. “Those who have adjusted Gibbs describes the beliefs of the indigenous people of Papua New to the geographical features will be empowered and will prosper, but those who dwell in a badly situated place will suffer dire poverty and Guinea highlands, where land is a primary source of identity and unhappiness.” security. The connection between an owner and the spirit of the land cannot be broken. Thus, land can only be rented and never truly Kamete, Amin Y. “The Quest for Affordable Urban Housing: sold, since “land is received from one’s ancestors and borrowed from A Study of Approaches and Results in Harare, Zimbabwe.” one’s children.” Support for ownership claims can stem from both Development Southern Africa 18:1 (2001). www.ebscohost.com. origin myths and tribal rituals. The author ends by positing questions about the future of indigenous land tenure in an era of modern Kamete examines various types of affordable housing, including development, as well as the resonance of Christian theology in this government completed units and programs for aided self-help. The particular setting. author remains somewhat skeptical of the continuous push to lower

26 costs in order to improve affordability, citing the frequent inverse This document highlights the discussion of workshop participants. relationship with quality. Rather, Kamete contends that both factors It noted that shelter remains one of the least understood aspects of of affordability—cost and income—need to be addressed for hous- humanitarian work, despite the long-term implications of displace- ing programs to be successful. ment and reconstruction. Participants commented on the shift towards community-focused (rather than family-based) solutions, Lilburne, Geoffrey R. “Theology and Land-Use.”Vital Speeches of remarking that refugee camps remain an overused last resort. The the Day 53:5 (1986). www.ebscohost.com. document also mentions the need for continued efforts to educate workers on Sphere standards and to create mechanisms that ensure Lilburne argues that Christian conceptions of the land have not accountability. always recognized the responsibilities that come with its use. He describes land as a place of rootedness, especially considering its role Njoh, Ambe J. “Some Development Implications of Housing and in the Old Testament covenant relationship. In this view land serves Spatial Policies in Sub-Saharan African Countries with Emphasis a particular community which extends throughout past, present, on Cameroon.” International Planning Studies 5:1 (2000). and future. Lilburne also calls Christians to recognize the “vocation” ww.ebscohost.com. of the land: all places may not be equally well suited for different tasks, and therefore each place should be used according to its Njoh argues that colonial housing and spatial policies summarily particular characteristics. adopted after independence have ill-served Cameroon and other Sub-Saharan African countries. More specifically, strict zoning Lowy, Michael. “The Socio-Religious Origins of Brazil’s Landless policies hinder economic development via home-based enterprises, Rural Workers Movement.” Monthly Review: An Independent while “modern” building standards encourage capitol-intensive, Socialist Magazine 53:2 (2001). www.ebscohost.com. rather than labor-intensive, construction methods—a practice that constrains the supply of affordable housing stock. Njoh also Lowry describes the roots of the Brazilian Rural Landless Workers expresses the concern that inappropriate spatial planning can indi- Movements in liberation theology as espoused by the Pastoral Land cate the cultural dependency of a developing nation, thereby further Commission. The latter organization has, with occasional difficulty, retarding appropriate development. been able to retain the role of encouraging advisor, rather than co-opting the broader movement. Lowry also notes the millenarian Pinheiro, Paulo Sergio. United Nations Principles on Housing and character of the movement, as the quest for land becomes part of the Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons, 2005. http:// long journey towards establishing the Kingdom of God. www.cohre.org/store/attachments/Pinheiro%20Principles.pdf. 2009

Malcom, Teresa. “Faith leaders call for affordable housing.”National Adopted in 2005, the “Pinheiro Principles” consider restitution | Catholic Reporter 35:40 (Sept. 17, 1999). www.ebscohost.com. a legal component of the right of return. This right applies to all, regardless of their official status as refugees or IDPs. The Pinheiro An open letter to President Clinton dated September 9, 1999 calls Principles also support gender equality in restitution procedures, for an increased commitment to affordable housing in the United along with respect for the home as a sanctuary and source of States, including an increased number of Section 8 vouchers. protection for its occupants. Other rights include adequate housing, Signatories included the National Council of Catholic Bishops, freedom of movement, and voluntary return for the displaced. the American Jewish Council, the National Council of Churches The Pinheiro Principles are notable for addressing both theoretical of Christ in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church principles and practical implementation, such as claims procedures in America, along with other Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, and and record documentation. Lutheran bishops. Baptist, Buddhist, Presbyterians, Unitarians, and Quakers were also represented. The signatories wrote that “All of our Setchell, Charles A. “Reducing Vulnerability through Livelihoods traditions insist on the spiritual imperative that every human being Promotion in Shelter Sector Activities: An Initial Examination has a sacred right to decent housing.” for Potential Mitigation and Post-Disaster Application.” Feinstein International Famine Center, Working Paper No. 5, 2001. http:// Mbiti, John S. “The Role of the Jewish Bible in African nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/research/famine/working_paper_5.pdf. Independent Churches.” International Review of Mission 93:369

(2004). www.ebscohost.com. Setchell argues that the symbiotic relationship between shelter provi- BERKLEY CENTER REPORTS sion and livelihood promotion plays an essential role in restoring a Mbiti examines the pivotal role of the Old Testament in shaping the community’s economic systems. The informal construction industry theology and behavior of African Independent Churches. He notes is an especially powerful player, since by utilizing local materials that the traditional African connection to the land synergizes with and labor it often produces a multiplier effect of 2.0-3.0. Setchell the significance of mountains and hills in the Jewish Bible, insisting also notes that shelter can function dually as a home and as the that “the geographical importance of places for the independent commercial base for a home-based enterprise—another favorable churches cannot be exaggerated.” For this reason, Mbiti views the economic player in developing nations. Given the importance of the lack of a theology of the land as “probably the most urgent theologi- informal sector both in shelter provision and livelihood promotion, cal issue facing the church in our continent today.” the author recommends finding better ways for governments to encourage this type of activity post-disaster or post-conflict. “Gaining a sense of the sector: A Participatory Workshop on Shelter and Settlements Activities.” USAID and InterAction, 2006. http:// Smith, Robert E. “Land Tenure Reform in Africa: A Shift to the www.sheltercentre.org/shelterlibrary/items/pdf/Gaining_a_Sense_ Defensive,” Progress in Development Studies 3:3 (2003). of_the_Sector_noappend.pdf. www.ebscohost.com.

27 Smith comments on the relative inability of land tenure reform to belief in the land as a crucial element of harmonious existence. Kim accomplish the goals of neo-liberal theory. He notes the reality of a also examines how the Christian concepts of the Sabbath Year and spectrum of tenure rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, including both use Jubilee reflect Korean wisdom on the noncommodification of land. and transfer rights. Smith concludes that without good governance, Only if Korean Christians recognize the truly Asian character of extensive land titling does not equal tenure (when defined as protec- Christianity will they be able to stop the dehumanizing globalization tion against loss of land). that has emerged from Western countries.

Tipple, Graham. “Housing and Urban Vulnerability in Rapidly- Developing Cities,” Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management 13:2 (2005). www.ebscohost.com. Endnotes Tipple notes that the urban poor are the most likely to suffer death during a disaster and recommends a variety of measures to mitigate their vulnerability. These include modifying (rather than replacing) 1. This report, and Berkley Center work more broadly, prefers traditional construction technologies to improve safety, as well as the term faith-inspired organization to the more common encouraging social networks like those built through microfinance term faith-based organization (FBO). FIO is a more inclusive groups. Tipple also supports the use of labor-intensive construction definition that captures a wider range of institutions which methods that facilitate the development of home-based enterprise. have faith links if not necessarily a formal faith “base” or organizational link. Toulmin, Camilla. “Securing Land Rights for the Poor in Africa— 2. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Faith-in-the- Key to Growth, Peace and Sustainable Development.” Commission City; this provides a description of the work undertaken and on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, January 2006. http://www. debates it prompted. undp.org/legalempowerment/pdf/Africa_land_2.pdf. 3. The case study is described in Katherine Marshall and Marisa Toulmin argues that unless development strategies address the issues Van Saanen, Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart, and of contested land tenure and land rights, they will ultimately fail to Soul work Together, (The World Bank, 2007). produce long-term improvement. The author then reviews different 4. Drawn from Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, policy challenges, such as agriculture, economic investment, and urban Practical Guide for Habitat Peace Building. land management. Her recommendations include linking legality and legitimacy, improving access to land, and promoting government

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN accountability. Toulmin also addresses concerns about customary | tenure, women’s rights, and ways of managing common resources.

USAID Policy Paper. “Shelter.” U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Program and Policy Coordination, Washington, D.C.: February 1985. http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ ads/200/shelter/shelter.pdf.

This USAID policy paper describes the universal drive to expend serious effort in improving one’s personal shelter, whether it is a corrugated tin hut or mansion, and this reality highlights shelter as a fundamental human need. USAID shelter programs emphasize

BERKLEY CENTER affordability, efficiency, and cooperation across formal and informal sectors, as well as improving access for those below the median income level. The policy paper also encourages the gradual elimina- tion of direct government housing subsidies.

Wolff, Christopher G., Dirk G Schroeder,and Mark W Young. “Effect of Improved Housing on Illness in Children under 5 years old in Northern Malawi: Cross Sectional Study.” British Medical Journal 322:7296 (2001). http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/ articlerender.fcgi?artid=31618.

The authors found that children under five years old living in housing constructed by Habitat for Humanity experienced better health than children living in traditional housing, when measured as reduced incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and malarial illnesses.

Yong-Bock, Kim. “The Land as the Garden of Life.”Studies in World Christianity 11:2 (2005). www.ebscohost.com.

The author describes the fusion between Christian and Asian conceptions of the Korean homeland, including the Taoist/Confucian

About The Berkley Center Religious Literacy Series

This paper is part of a series of reports that maps the activity of faith-based organizations around key development topics and regions. These reports explore the role of religious groups in addressing global challenges as a way to bridge the coordination gap between secular and religious organizations in the common effort of international development work.

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