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3 Community Needs Assessment Student’s Name Institution Instructor’s Name Course Date Community Needs Assessment Community needs assessment represents one of the many approaches used by service commissioners and social work practitioners to inform decision-making related to improving social services. The needs assessment process involves exploring the social issues facing a specific population, resulting in resource allocation and agreed-upon priorities that will reduce inequalities and improve health (Mulroy, 2013). Community needs are gaps between what services exist in a community and what should exist and include relative, perceived, and expressed needs. Expressed needs describe the concerns raised by people regarding a particular problem.

On the other hand, relative needs are based on equity while. The monograph explores housing as an unmet need among African Americans (AAs) in Dekalb County. Furthermore, the paper proposes a needs assessment that determines the potential programming to address the social problem besides projecting the program's results. Housing Insecurity Among African Americans in Dekalb County One of the social issues facing Dekalb County is housing instability. According to the United States Census Bureau (2021), Dekalb county has 282436 households and 759297 residents based on 2019 population estimates.

Of these, 54.8% are Whites, while 35.9% are African Americans. A significant number of moderate-and low-income households in Dekalb County lack stable housing (United States Census Bureau, 2021). A contributing factor to the housing insecurity is poverty. Figure One shows the share of households that fall below the official poverty line in Dekalb county. Fig.

1: The share of Dekalb County residents. Source: (Housing Authority of the County of Dekalb, 2020). Figure One shows that many households (19.35 to 37.04%) have severe housing needs due to poverty. The housing needs are disproportionate among ethnic groups, with the burden being high among racial minorities such as African Americans. The four most common housing problems include overcrowding, dilapidated kitchen facilities, incomplete plumbing, and cost burdens (Dekalb County Government, 2019).

Figure Two summarizes housing needs by race/ethnicity in Dekalb county. Fig. 2: Disproportionately greater unmet housing need Among African Americans in Dekalb County (Dekalb County Government, 2019). Figure Two indicates that 19700 African American households have at least one housing problem compared to 5037 White households. The housing issue is not only amplified in the low-income population.

The housing disparity manifests in middle-income families, as depicted in Figure Three. Fig. 3: Housing Need in Dekalb County households that fall under 50 to 80% of median income (Dekalb County Government, 2019). Overall, while the housing issue is common in households in the lowest income group, the problem is significantly prevalent across all income groups but more pronounced among African Americans. The disproportionate data shows the need for an intervention to decrease housing inequality.

Research has shown that housing is strongly related to health (Taylor, 2021). Housing quality, affordability, safety, and stability all affect people’s health and wellbeing. Individuals with chronic housing problems face higher morbidity regarding mental and physical health domains. Foreclosure is associated with alcohol use, suicide, psychological distress, depression, and anxiety (Taylor, 2021). Thus, improving housing security among AAs significantly affects the community’s health outcomes.

Proposed Needs Assessment Implementation Strategy I would conduct a needs assessment that covers perceived, expressed, and relative needs. An aspect such as housing units in the community can help establish whether the number of renter-occupied units is consistent with the national trends. Another indicator that can show the prevalence of unstable housing among AAs in Dekalb County is vacant housing. The number of vacant units can be mapped using a geographical information system to determine renting trends among the Blacks. Moreover, data on the cost-burdened households can be collected from the county government agencies.

The needs assessment would employ community meetings to collect data on perceived needs. Meetings would bring AAs together to discuss housing issues, express preferences concerning community priorities, and voice concerns. In such arrangements, there will be a facilitator to lead discussions on the community's potential challenges and strengths (Mulroy, 2013). To ensure cultural sensitivity, the facilitator will be a respected individual from the African American community. Such a choice ensures that the needs assessment process is not slowed down by language or cultural barriers.

A critical part of the needs assessment tool is defining what would be accomplished at the end of the meetings to ensure goal attainment. Another tool that can assess the housing need among AAs in Dekalb County is focus groups. Focus groups refer to guided discussions utilized in determining a target population’s opinions and preferences on a particular idea or issue (Diana, 2021). Conducting the focus groups would require a facilitator. Participants will be asked several open-ended, carefully selected questions on housing insecurity in Dekalb County.

The approach encourages self-disclosure among community members. Although diverse groups are recommended, keeping the community structure is critical. For instance, adults may feel uncomfortable expressing their opinions in the presence of youth and vice versa. Also, community mapping can be used to identify how African Americans utilize community resources and barriers that hamper access to these resources. Ethical Issues in the Needs Assessment One of the ethical issues that can be faced in the community needs assessment is confidentiality.

Community members expect that the information gathered from participants, such as notes, taped records, and even conversations, will be kept confidential. Data will only be shared based on a participant’s consent and existing regulations. Besides, all relevant stakeholders will be informed about the guiding confidentiality policies to protect participant data. Another ethical challenge is the conflict of interest. Housing is a social issue that dominates US politics.

Thus, the assessment team could be viewed as a group representing or advancing the interests of a particular political faction. Besides, the exercise is subject to funding from politicians. Therefore, the names of donors and their names will be revealed to address the conflict of interest. Projected Results of The Program I would Implement to Address the Social Problem The projected results are based on the short-term outcomes and impacts contained in the logic model. The program to be implemented as an intervention for housing instability among AAs in Dekalb County is Homeownership Education and Counseling (HEC) (The U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2016). HEC is a program that improves homeownership by counseling individuals on home selection, avoiding scams, inappropriate loans, discrimination, budgeting, and money management. As a result, the program would improve homeownership among AA by 5% within the first two years after implementation. Besides, the program is projected to decrease housing disparity by 3% in the first year and 4% in two years. Moreover, HEC implementation would reduce the housing burden among AA in Dekalb county by 12% within six years.

In conclusion, the paper explores housing insecurity among African Americans in Dekalb county. I would assess the housing need of this population through community mapping, focus groups, and community meetings. Besides, data from local government agencies can be critical in conceptualizing the social problem. Furthermore, ethical issues related to the needs assessment include confidentiality and conflict of interest. Finally, HEC would be implemented as a program seeking to improve housing security in AAs living in Dekalb County.

References Dekalb County Government. (2019). Consolidated Plan. Retrieved October 11, 2021, from Diana, A. (2021). Needs assessment as a community research project. In The Routledge International Handbook of Public Sociology (pp.

91-103). Routledge. Housing Authority of the County of Dekalb. (2020). Dekalb County: Comprehensive Housing Need Study. Retrieved October 11, 2021, from Mulroy, E. (2013).

Community Needs Assessment. Encyclopedia Of Social Work. Taylor, L. (2021). Housing And Health: An Overview of The Literature. Health Affairs.

Retrieved October 11, 2021, from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2016). The Evidence on Homeownership Education and Counseling. Retrieved October 11, 2021, from United States Census Bureau. (2021). QuickFacts: DeKalb County, Georgia.

Retrieved October 11, 2021, from Appendix Logic Model for The Improvement Program Activities Short term Outcomes Impact Outputs Inputs · Public funding · Private funding · Human resources · Time · Expertise · Fundraising · Community participation · Counseling · Identifying at-risk individuals · Reviewing loan documentation · Negotiating with lenders · Individuals housed · Dollars invested · Community gatherings held · Counseling sessions held · Negotiations with lenders made · Increased homeownership · Decreased housing disparity · Family reunification · Decreased homelessness · Increased residential stability • Decrease in housing burden • Fall in crime rate • Improved quality of life • Decreased housing overcrowding • Improved health outcomes Instructions For this assignment, write two proposals for new programs and an appraisal of each proposal from a government agency perspective. · One proposal will be a program with a for-profit business model. · One proposal will be a program with a nonprofit organization model.

Each new program proposal should be 3–5 pages and present an initiative to address the need presented from your Unit 5 community needs assessment. Each proposal should highlight key components of the community needs assessment that supports the need for the new program and how the new program addresses this need. Each proposal should include an appropriate strategy for program evaluation and address issues of diversity and inclusion. The appraisal should be a 2–3 page synopsis and critique of each of the two programs, including how well each addresses the social problem, how well it meets the community need for diverse populations, and the ethical considerations of a government agency in contracting or in funding the proposal.

All of this work should be supported by the required course readings and other credible sources. To successfully complete this assignment, you will need to address the following: · Nonprofit Proposal: . Design a program for a nonprofit organization to address your identified community need from the Unit 5 assignment. . Identify a type of program evaluation that would be appropriate for a nonprofit organization's program. · For-Profit Proposal: . Design a program for a for-profit business to address your identified community need. .

Identify a type of program evaluation that would be appropriate for a for-profit business's program. · Appraisal: . Complete an appraisal comparing and contrasting the two programs from a government perspective. . Critique how well the programs address the social problem. . Examine how well the programs address issues of diversity and inclusion. . Explain ethical considerations of government funding or contracting in relation to each proposal.

Submission Requirements To complete this assignment successfully, your paper will need to meet the following specifications: · Page length: Your paper should be 5–10 pages overall, comprising a portfolio of these three documents: . The Nonprofit Proposal. . The For-Profit Proposal. . The Appraisal. · Communication: Communicate using professional academic writing and apply current APA format and style appropriately. Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others, consistent with expectations of the human services profession. · Resources: Support your work with a minimum of 15 reputable sources, including required readings and other scholarly or professional sources such as peer-reviewed journals. · Font and size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Paper for above instructions

Student's Name
Institution
Instructor's Name
Course
Date

Introduction

Community needs assessment represents one of the many approaches used by service commissioners and social work practitioners to inform decision-making related to improving social services. The needs assessment process involves exploring the social issues facing a specific population, resulting in resource allocation and agreed-upon priorities that will reduce inequalities and improve health (Mulroy, 2013). Community needs are the gaps between what services exist in a community and what should exist, including relative, perceived, and expressed needs. Expressed needs describe the concerns raised by people regarding a particular problem. On the other hand, relative needs are based on equity. This paper explores housing as an unmet need among African Americans (AAs) in Dekalb County and proposes two new programs—one for a nonprofit organization and one for a for-profit business—to address this issue.

Housing Insecurity Among African Americans in Dekalb County

Housing instability is a significant social issue in Dekalb County, where 35.9% of the population comprises African Americans (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). A substantial number of moderate- and low-income households in Dekalb County lack stable housing, exacerbating inequality. According to the Housing Authority of Dekalb County (2020), 19.35 to 37.04% of households have severe housing needs due to poverty, with overwhelming disparities evident among different ethnic groups.
Not only is housing insecurity prevalent among low-income households, but it is also observed across middle-income families, contributing to distress and health challenges within these populations (Taylor, 2021). The need for intervention is evident based on these disparities, as individuals suffering from housing instability face pronounced health challenges linked to their living conditions.

Proposed Nonprofit Program: “Home Stability Initiative”

Program Overview

The “Home Stability Initiative” will be designed as a nonprofit program aiming to provide counseling, resources, and education to individuals facing housing instability in Dekalb County, particularly targeting African Americans. The program will encompass the following components:
- Counseling Services: Offering individualized counseling on rental assistance and homeownership.
- Financial Education: Providing budget management workshops to assist families in financial stability.
- Housing Advocacy: Partnering with local agencies to advocate for the rights of the community and enhance housing policies.

Evaluation Strategy

To measure the program's effectiveness, a formative evaluation using a mixed-methods approach will be applied. Surveys and interviews will assess participant engagement, understanding, and satisfaction with the services. Additionally, longitudinal tracking of housing stability metrics (such as decreased eviction rates) will be conducted to ascertain tangible impacts over time (Diana, 2021).

Proposed For-Profit Program: “Housing Solutions Co.”

Program Overview

The “Housing Solutions Co.” will be a for-profit enterprise focusing on providing affordable housing solutions and innovative financing options for low- to moderate-income residents in Dekalb County. Key components will include:
- Affordable Rent-to-Own Options: Offering pathways to homeownership through affordable rent-to-own agreements.
- Fair Housing Advocacy: Working to ensure compliance with fair housing laws and promoting equity in real estate transactions.
- Workshops and Seminars: Conducting regularly scheduled workshops on financial literacy and home maintenance to empower participants.

Evaluation Strategy

A summative evaluation will measure the program's outcomes, utilizing metrics such as homeownership rates, participant satisfaction, and financial stability among clients. Utilization of pre-and post-program evaluations will help in determining the effectiveness of the services offered (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2016).

Appraisal of the Programs from a Government Perspective

From a government agency's perspective, both programs aim to address critical housing instabilities among African Americans in Dekalb County, albeit through different frameworks. The Home Stability Initiative aligns with government objectives for community welfare, showing sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by the target population, and emphasizing collaboration with local entities, hence strengthening community trust.
Conversely, Housing Solutions Co. addresses these disparities through business innovation, which could introduce market-driven efficiency into the housing sector while promoting financial independence. However, the nature of profit generation must be managed to ensure that the interests of the community do not become secondary to profit.

Diversity and Inclusion

Both proposals prioritize diversity and inclusion, essential criteria from a governmental standpoint. The nonprofit program actively involves community members through counseling and educational services, thus fostering an environment of inclusivity. The for-profit model, while maintaining a focus on broadening access to homeownership, must remain vigilant against practices that marginalize or exploit disadvantaged groups.

Ethical Considerations

When considering funding or contracting these proposals, ethical considerations play a pivotal role. The government would need to evaluate the transparency of funding sources, particularly for Housing Solutions Co. If the for-profit program's financing comes from contentious sources or promotes inequitable practices, it could lead to public outcry and loss of trust.
Furthermore, maintaining confidentiality and ensuring equitable access to services within both programs remains paramount. The government agency must prioritize ensuring that these ethical standards are upheld through regular audits, participant feedback mechanisms, and public accountability (Taylor, 2021).

Conclusion

In summary, both “Home Stability Initiative” and “Housing Solutions Co.” provide innovative approaches to addressing the housing unmet need among African Americans in Dekalb County. While one takes a nonprofit approach emphasizing community welfare, the other introduces business efficiency within the housing market. Appraising these proposals through a government lens reveals opportunities and ethical considerations vital for successful intervention.

References

- Diana, A. (2021). Needs assessment as a community research project. In The Routledge International Handbook of Public Sociology (pp. 91-103). Routledge.
- Housing Authority of the County of Dekalb. (2020). Dekalb County: Comprehensive Housing Need Study. Retrieved from [URL].
- Mulroy, E. (2013). Community Needs Assessment. Encyclopedia of Social Work.
- Taylor, L. (2021). Housing and health: An overview of the literature. Health Affairs. Retrieved from [URL].
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2016). The Evidence on Homeownership Education and Counseling. Retrieved from [URL].
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). QuickFacts: DeKalb County, Georgia. Retrieved from [URL].
(Note: Replace "[URL]" with actual links to the references used.)