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Policy & Advocacy


LISC is committed, therefore, to being an advocate for the needs of Philadelphia's neighborhoods.
"LISC is committed, therefore, to being an advocate for the needs of Philadelphia's neighborhoods."
Community development exists in a context defined by the economy and politics that surround it. Changes in government policy can either support or undermine the progress that community groups are able to create in their neighborhoods. Likewise, if the economy of a city is suffering, it is even more difficult for its struggling areas to generate the new investment they need. LISC is committed, therefore, to being an advocate for the needs of Philadelphia's neighborhoods. We develop relationships with local, state, and federal officials in order to educate them about the effect they can have in making real, sustainable community development possible.


Currently, Philadelphia is littered with vacant and abandoned properties, which could be developed into housing, commercial space, or other community assets. However, without appropriate public policy, the transfer of this land to CDCs or others who can put it to good use is hindered by a maze of legal, procedural, and economic barriers. This combines with failings in our transportation spending and regional landuse strategies to encourage investment in sprawling greenfields rather than efficient reinvestment in the central city.


There are numerous policy changes that could correct this and other market failures that have driven the spread of blight in Philadelphia, but one such instrument is the investment of public funds into the generation of economic growth in struggling areas. LISC is devoted, therefore, to building CDCs that can use government resources wisely, ensuring that every public dollar spent is an investment in the future of the neighborhood, creating tax base, security, and jobs, and reaping dividends for years to come.