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President Bush renewed his call for faith-based organizations to help poor communities overcome unemployment, drug addiction and homelessness in a speech Monday before members of the National Urban League.

In a wide-ranging address at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, that also touched on the war in Iraq, tax cuts, education, job creation and health care, Bush re-emphasized an early initiative of his presidency that has since been obscured by a faltering economy and the war against terrorism: the need for religious service organizations to have equal access to federal dollars to help the poor.

Instead of asking whether grant applicants are faith-based organizations, decision-makers should look at whether their programs work to get people off drugs, off the streets and into jobs -- even if a religious message is part of the cure, Bush said during his half-hour speech.

"Sometimes, when a person changes their heart, they change their habits. And Congress must recognize that," Bush said to applause from a crowd of about 1,500 that included some of the state's top Republicans: U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter of Philadelphia and Rick Santorum of Penn Hills; U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy and state Attorney General Mike Fisher, both of Upper St. Clair; and Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey.

Lawmakers should help groups such as Sojourner House and North Hills Community Outreach that try to help each needy person get on his feet and see himself or herself as "a worthy child of God," Bush said.

That mention was a pleasant surprise for a small group that gets just 10 percent of its $880,000 annual budget from the federal government, said Fay Morgan, executive director of North Hills Community Outreach. She said it was also a validation of the group's mission to persuade residents of Allegheny County to help their neighbors in need -- people such as Royal Patterson, whom Bush mentioned by name yesterday.

"(Patterson) had been hunting for change in the couch so he could take a bus to a job interview, but we were able to give him a month of bus passes instead," Morgan said.

Bush's discussion of faith-based groups was one of several points that seemed to warm the crowd from polite clapping to enthusiastic applause. In particular, a new pledge to help small social service groups get help from larger, established groups such as the National Urban League prompted nods of approval.

After the speech, a few registered Democrats even said they would consider voting for Bush next year because he seems concerned about issues -- jobs, education and health care -- that matter most to them.

LaSchalle Griffin of Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, found the speech inspiring. "I was really happy to hear what he was doing, that he will achieve the goals we are looking for, for our community," Griffin said.

To help people still struggling to find jobs, Bush said he has proposed "re-employment accounts" of $3,000 for job training, child care or other expenses related to a job search.

He also has asked Congress for $600 million over three years so that service groups -- including faith-based organizations -- can extend drug and alcohol treatment to 300,000 additional Americans, Bush said. He has asked lawmakers for an additional $100 million to pay for groups such as the National Urban League to teach smaller groups how to apply for grants, and how to manage their money and their staff members, he said.

"In other words, I fully recognize that some of the programs in some of the neighborhoods need management help. They need guidance," Bush said. "And I would hope that (National Urban League President) Marc (Morial) would take advantage of this program to help some faith programs all around the country be fully prepared to do what they're called to do, which is to love somebody in need."

Bush, who left Pittsburgh shortly after the speech, was making his 21st trip as president to Pennsylvania, a state he is working hard to win in 2004. He lost Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes in the 2000 election.

He also needs to win more than 9 percent of the black vote nationwide, his total in 2000, Specter said.

"I don't think 9 percent is sufficient," Specter said. Democrat Al Gore won the state in 2000 with strong backing from black voters.

Bush's speech was his second address to the National Urban League, whose members are predominantly black, but whose policies focus more on government policy than party politics. Bush has not accepted invitations to address the NAACP, a group that is more politically active in Democratic circles.

After his speech, Bush met with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has run unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination and is influential among black voters.

African-Americans are a crucial voting bloc for Democrats, particularly in the key battleground states of the Northeast and Midwest.

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