An Applied Research on the Role of Hometown Associations as a Social Network in Fight Aganist Poverty: Sinop Assistance and Solidarity Association, Bilecik

It is possible to talk about some of forms effective methods fight aganist poverty that have emerged from the society’s own dynamics without state intervention, even if the main aim of them is not to reduce poverty rates directly. One of them is the interactions that become visible as hometown associations. There are many empirical evidence that these networks increase the social and economic well-being of the individuals. In this context the subject of the study is the relationship between fight aganist poverty and hometown associations as a social network. For this purpose, it is aimed to determine the role of hometown associations in fight aganist poverty in Sinop Assistance and Solidarity Association, Bilecik. The study was designed using sequential-exploratory mixed research design, taking into account the complementarity reason, and quantitative-qualitative sampling method was used. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and a semi-structured questionnaire was used for the collection of qualitative data. The main findings of the study are as follows: members of the hometown association have benefited from intra-association relations with 80% for providing material and non-material support on special occasions such as weddings and funerals, 59% for finding job, 17% for state of emergency in health, 14% for supplying material needs such as food, and outfit; membership and intra-association relationships are beneficial in increasing life satisfaction, eliminating the need for social activities, enabling people to feel safe, protecting traditional culture, meeting with citizens and new people