The role of migrant organizations in combating poverty: networks and challenges for collaboration

Poverty rates among people with a foreign background in Europe are increasing exponentially. Meanwhile, we notice that traditional public services fail to resolve the complex demands of these vulnerable target groups.... [ view full abstract ]

Poverty rates among people with a foreign background in Europe are increasing exponentially. Meanwhile, we notice that traditional public services fail to resolve the complex demands of these vulnerable target groups. Literature however points out that migrant organizations can play a central role to combat poverty. We observe, however, that scientific evidence on their specific role in the provision of service towards people in poverty is lacking (Dierckx et al, 2009; Heyse, 2008; Spencer and Cooper, 2006: 51). To effectively combat poverty, these organizations have to collaborate with public services providing crucial services such as financial and material aid. In this presentation we use a mixed method social network analysis to investigate the networks among migrant organizations and public service organizations. The quantitative social network analysis is conducted in a deprived neighbourhood in Belgium. We map a network among both migrant organizations and public organizations. The findings show a gap between migrant organizations at the one hand and public service organizations at the other. The qualitative research is used to explain the lack of collaboration in the network. Our findings detect crucial challenges that must be overcome when bridging the gap between migrant organizations on the one hand and public services at the other, to fulfil the aim of combating poverty of people from vulnerable and foreign target groups.