The Calhousing Set-Aside Task Force: Case Study of a Public Interest Group

Abstract

This paper will present a general overview of public interest groups and their impact on American society. It will discuss the roles they play within the political scene, how they have grown in importance within the last twenty years, and the resources necessary for a successful interest group. Following this first discussion, the focus will turn to a history of a civil rights coalition in Ohio and its struggle in the fight for desegregation policies. Next, an in-depth case study of a fair housing, public interest group in California will be presented. Their birth, how the members came together, their goals and strategies, and where they are now in their fight to end neighborhood segregation will all be addressed. Finally, the paper will conclude by offering an analysis of this group in which several key questions will be answered. Do they have the resources and money to be successful? Do they have political clout and the right connections? And, most importantly, can they ultimately succeed in attaining their goal?

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