The Added Value of Religion in Poverty-to-Work Programs: A Framework for Analysis

What is the advantage of faith in faith-based poverty-to-work programs? My qualitative, field research sought to determine the key distinctions between faithbased and secular programs by comparing three faith-saturated programs with three secular programs: one run by a reorganized governmental agency, another by a for-profit business, and a third by a secular, non-profit organization. Although the faith-saturated programs suffered somewhat financially without governmental funds, their religious nature affected the social capital, cultural capital, and the internal status provided by these programs. More research is needed to clarify and to quantify how these resources have an effect upon the future employment of their clients or the stability of the programs. Key contextual factors also need to be taken into account.William Lockhart, "The Added Value of Religion in Poverty-to-Work Programs: A Framework for Analysis," Journal of Markets & Morality 6, no. 2 (Fall 2003): 497-52