ABSTRACT
Nonprofit organizations play an important role in the production and distribution of low-income housing in the United States. The importance of faith-based organizations in the overall mix of charitable nonprofits has been demonstrated in numerous studies of the third sector. Nongovernmental organizations have long been seen in American culture as desirable alternatives to more formal public institutions. Widespread suspicion of public institutions has long been characteristic of American political culture, and recent public opinion data suggest that such mistrust may be increasing. Attitudes of Michigan citizens toward government have been regularly measured by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University. Many observers have commented on the extraordinarily well-developed set of associations and voluntary groups in the United States that sometimes take on roles similar to those of government. The status of faith-based organizations in the overall social welfare is, of course, more complex.
