Where Do We Fit In? CDCs and the Emerging Shrinking City Movement

As populations shrink in many cities, nonprofits that were historically driven by affordable housing development must rethink their roles and missions. When cities suffer from abundant vacant homes, it adds to neighborhood decline and provides a challenge for organizations focused on revitalization. Tough decisions are ahead for these agencies. As unemployment issues linger, planning for the future is difficult. Funding sources are short and many organizations are under pressure to cut programs and spending. In Detroit, local CDCs have created a task force to analyze changes happening within in the city and the needs associated with these changes. Likewise, organizations in Cleveland have begun to reimagine their city as a “smaller place” and are looking at ideas for repurposing vacant land to make it more productive and add value to neighborhoods. Read more.