The role of public institutions and non-governmental organizations in combating urban poverty: A field study on the urban poor in Adıyaman

The aim of this study is to put forward the effectiveness of social assistance which is carried out by public institutions and non- governmental organizations in the fight against urban poverty as a result of the research carried out on the Adıyaman Urban Poors with their own sentences. The delivery of social assistances effectively will not only provide efficient usage of national sources but also make the efforts of Public Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations diligence much easier. Starting from this point of view, the situation is initially determined and then touched on the lacks of subject and also suggestions concerning the solution of poverty issue.This study is planned to consist of four sections after the review of the literature. In the first chapter the study of poverty is mentioned and various definitions of poverty are given which are ?absolute, relative and humanitarian?. Then, by shifting to the issue of urban poverty, the relationship between poverty and social exclusion is explained, and the calculation of poverty line is mentioned. In the second chapter, the problem of urban poverty in Turkey is handled around the concepts which are the development of urban poverty, the social structure, the process of urban structure and slums. Poverty rates and the share of national income is put forward via various numerical data. Besides, in that chapter Adıyaman City Guideline is given which includes initiatory information such as Adıyaman's history, its geographical location, population structure, economic characteristics. In the following of the study, in third chapter, titled as Public Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations in Reducing the Poverty, how the poverty is handled in regulation primarily in the 1982 Constitution. After that, The Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation?s, The Ministry of Family and Social Policies?, Municipalities? and Non-Governmental Organizations? struggle of poverty is addressed. In the final chapter of the study, the struggle with urban poverty is dealt specifically for Adıyaman. The social welfare activities of governmental organizations: Adıyaman Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, Adıyaman Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies, Adıyaman Municipality Community Development Centre, and the social welfare activities of non-governmental organizations: Association of Lighthouse in Adıyaman, Adıyaman Humanitarian Aid Association, The Association of Grace Hand in Adıyaman, the Association of Light of Hope and Solidarity are discussed.As a result of the questionnaire applied to 513 head of poor household, it was concluded that; women have higher risk of falling into poverty is higher, besides mainly housing, the living areas of the poor houses are not enough, the social assistance towards the poor is inadequate, lack of education is the principal reason of poverty. In addition, some data are put forward: the individual effort to solve poverty continue, the government trust is at the forefront, the importance of Non- Governmental Organizations increases than ever, the cooperation of government and NGO can contribute to the solution more.Key Words1. Poverty2. Urban Poverty3. Governmental Institutions4. Non-Governmental Organizations5. Adıyaman6. Social Assistance