Community development is a multi-billion-dollar sector of the American economy that invests in low- and moderate-income communities through the development and financing of affordable housing, businesses, community centers, health clinics, job training programs, and services to support children, youth, and families. The sector has its roots in the urban revitalization efforts of the late 19th century but expanded as a result of the War on Poverty programs of the 1960s. Today, the community development sector invests more than $200 billion annually in low-income communities.
While community development is not a discrete academic discipline or an accredited field like public health, it is more than an activity. It is best viewed as a self-defined sector involving organizations from multiple fields that share a common focus on improving low-income communities. These organizations come from fields including real estate, city planning, law, social work, public policy, public health, affordable housing, and finance, and generally identify themselves as being part of the community development industry. Neighborhood-level Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), working at both local and national levels, provide leadership in the sector, often working alongside neighborhood residents, real estate developers, philanthropic organizations, city agencies, investors, and social-service providers.
By improving well-being in disadvantaged neighborhoods, community development affects the “upstream” causes of poor health, like poverty, unstable housing, and limited access to fresh food markets and other services. At its best, community development achieves health equity by addressing many of the factors, or social determinants, that affect public health.
For more read Demystifying Community Development
