The Felt–Needs Concept

Often communities are developed by people outside of the community that bring in resources without taking into account the community itself.  Christian Community Development is committed to listening to the community residents, and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts.  This is often referred to as the felt-need concept.  Listening is most important, as the people of the community are the vested treasures of the future.

It is important not to focus on the weaknesses or needs of a community.  The felt-need concept helps us as community developers to focus on the desires of the community residents.  The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself.  What the people themselves believe should be the focus.  Asset-based community development focuses on the assets of a community and building upon them.  When fused together through Christian Community Development, they can have extremely positive results.

A Chinese Poem, written by Lao-Tzu around 700 B.C, sums up the felt-need concept.  Dr. John Perkins, founder of the Christian Community Development Association, has popularized it:

"Go to the people.
Live with them, learn from them, love them.
Start with what they know, build with what they have.
But of the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished,
The people will say, "We have done this ourselves."

 

In Walltown, Urban Hope has committed itself to operating through the felt-need concept.  Hence, all of the programs that the ministry has implemented have flown directly out of the felt needs of the residents of the neighborhood.  The table that follows demonstrates how this process has taken place: