Policy Identification And Analysisjanuary 23 2021addressing Homelessn ✓ Solved

POLICY IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS January 23, 2021 Addressing Homelessness Support Policy The rate of homelessness is alarming. Homelessness is a public health and economic concern. The homeless individuals lack access to care, have chronic illness, sleep in cold weather, and consume cheap starchy foods. Homelessness is a human tragedy as individuals live in tents and bridges thus vulnerable to bad weather, animal attacks and violence. Causes of homelessness include substance abuse, mental illness, sexual abuse and domestic violence. …cont.

Also factors such as job loss, unaffordable housing, and disability lead to homelessness (Ortiz-Ospina & Roser, 2017). Apart from being a policy issue, homelessness presents a political quandary. Political conflicts have negatively affected the housing supply thus rendering many people homeless. Such conflicts and debates have impeded the agencies such as McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to assist in eliminating homelessness. Identify Risk and Challenges Stress, fear, and depression.

Drug abuse, indulging in crime and violence, and sexual assault. Inability to secure employment, access education, proper hygiene, and other basic or social amenities. Developing health problems such as extreme diseases, skin disorders, trauma, respiratory illness and malnutrition. Other health problems include parasitic infestations, dental and periodontal diseases, infectious hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, and degenerative joint diseases. Identify and Construct Policy Alternatives and Solutions Policy alternatives to addressing homelessness support include interagency collaboration, federal housing assistance, and permanent supportive housing (Morton et al., 2018).

Solutions to homelessness problem include: Having a community-wide coordinated approach to deliver services, housing and programs. Provision of simple housing or rapid re-housing; which involves connecting people to housing and services. Providing permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable. Designing a crisis response system to identify the homeless, prevent homelessness, and connect people with affordable housing and services. Increasing employment opportunities and income to support housing stability.

Building career pathways by providing sustainable and meaningful job training and technical skill development. Fostering education connections to the vulnerable groups to strengthen their economic capability. Identify Stakeholders and Key Roles Workforce development agencies; responsible for generating career paths, skill training and employment. Public housing authority; providing and connecting individuals with affordable housing. Law enforcement agencies; ensure order, safety and address complaints related to homelessness and relocations (Ortiz-Ospina & Roser, 2017).

Public health and benefits agencies; identify needs and provide necessary health and social amenities. Funding opportunities, challenges and budget cost factors Funding opportunities include: Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust Grants, Steele-Reese Foundation Grant Program, Affordable Housing Loans for Low-Income Communities, Housing Projects Serving Rural Veterans, and YouthBuild Grants …cont. Funding challenges include: Inability to access and create integrated services to rural areas with dispersed population (Morton et al., 2018). Agencies fearing losing funds, autonomy or control over funding services. Reduced funding due to increasing number of homeless people.

Inadequate data concerning the trend of homelessness. The budget cost factors include: varied income structure, saving measures, the spending habits, level of tech savvy, and individual personality. Supportive and evaluative criteria Relevance; to determine whether or not the objectives of an intervention are consistent with the need of the homeless and the policy. Effectiveness; to determine the relative importance of intervention’s objectives. Impact; to determine the long-term effects of the intervention, and Sustainability; to determine whether or not benefits from the interventions is continuous for a longer period.

Incentives, Subsidies and Potential Benefits Housing allowances to low earning individuals. Subsidies such as certain monthly payments, programs that subsidize construction or programs that settle a portion of mortgage costs to landlords to lower cost of housing (Bassuk 2010). Providing OHRHA subsidy- a Pigouvian subsidy. “Housing First†Program Conclusion Homelessness results from factors such as job loss, unaffordable housing, disability lead to homelessness, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. The associated risk and challenges include health problems, mental illness, drug abuse, unemployment and lack of basic needs.

Proposed solutions include a community-wide coordinated approach, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, and providing employment opportunities. Funding opportunities include grants from various community and global groups. References Bassuk, E. L. (2010). Ending child homelessness in America.

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80(4), 496. Morton, M. H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J. L., Curry, S. R., Schlueter, D., Chà¡vez, R., & Farrell, A.

F. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(1), 14-21. Ortiz-Ospina, E., & Roser, M. (2017). Homelessness. Our World in Data.

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Policy Identification and Analysis: Addressing Homelessness

Introduction

The issue of homelessness in the United States is both a public health and economic crisis that has reached alarming proportions. Recent statistics indicate that on any given night, over 650,000 people experience homelessness across the country (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD], 2023). This situation has serious implications for society as homeless individuals face chronic illnesses, lack access to healthcare, and are often forced to subsist in precarious conditions. The roots of homelessness extend from a multiplicity of interconnected causes including job loss, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and domestic violence (Ortiz-Ospina & Roser, 2017).

Identifying Risks and Challenges

Homeless individuals experience a variety of significant challenges that exacerbate their situation. The chronic stress and fear associated with homelessness often lead to depression and other mental health issues. Furthermore, the lack of stable housing can result in health complications (National Alliance to End Homelessness [NAEH], 2023). Some of these health issues include malnutrition, respiratory diseases, and skin disorders, as well as psychological conditions such as anxiety and PTSD (Bassuk, 2010).
The social challenges faced by the homeless can manifest in numerous ways including difficulty in securing employment, accessing education, maintaining hygiene, and obtaining basic amenities (Morton et al., 2018). Without the means for social mobility, broken relationships often occur, isolating individuals from traditional support networks.

Policy Alternatives and Solutions

To effectively address homelessness, several policy alternatives can be recommended:
1. Interagency Collaboration: Establishing strong partnerships among various agencies can create a more unified approach towards addressing homelessness. Agencies should coordinate efforts to provide comprehensive services, maximizing the utilization of available resources (HUD, 2023).
2. Federal Housing Assistance: Expanding programs that offer federal housing assistance, such as vouchers that subsidize rent, would make housing more affordable for low-income families and individuals.
3. Permanent Supportive Housing: Programs designed to provide stable, long-term housing solutions coupled with support services have proven effective. Research shows that these models significantly reduce homelessness among those with mental health and substance abuse issues (Morton et al., 2018).
4. Crisis Intervention Systems: Implementing a system designed to identify homeless individuals in crisis and provide them with rapid re-housing options can reduce the duration of homelessness and help in connecting them to essential health and social services (Bassuk, 2010).
5. Employment Support Programs: Creating job training and employment programs can help reintegrate homeless individuals into the workforce, ultimately allowing them to regain financial independence. Partnerships with local businesses can improve job opportunities for those experiencing homelessness (NAEH, 2023).

Stakeholders and Key Roles

Several entities play critical roles in addressing homelessness:
- Workforce Development Agencies: These organizations are vital for developing job training programs and establishing career pathways for the homeless.
- Public Housing Authorities: These bodies can help connect individuals and families to affordable housing options.
- Law Enforcement: Police forces have responsibilities concerning public safety and addressing complaints about homeless encampments, a role that must be balanced with compassion (Ortiz-Ospina & Roser, 2017).
- Public Health Agencies: These must work to identify the health concerns prevalent among the homeless and ensure that they receive necessary medical and social services.

Funding Opportunities, Challenges, and Budget Factors

Funding for homeless assistance programs can come from various sources:
1. Grants: Several foundations like the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust and Steele-Reese Foundation offer grants to support homeless initiatives.
2. Federal Loans: Housing projects that serve low-income communities may qualify for affordable housing loans from federal government programs (National Housing Law Project, 2023).
3. YouthBuild Grants: Specifically targeting homeless youth, these grants can provide housing, education, and job-training programs.
However, challenges remain in sourcing adequate funds. For instance, many agencies fear losing autonomy or control over resources if they integrate services, and funding allocations often fail to keep pace with rising homeless numbers (Morton et al., 2018). Additionally, comprehensive data collection on homelessness trends remains inadequate, posing difficulties for agencies trying to justify budgetary needs (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2023).

Supportive and Evaluative Criteria

Assessment of homelessness interventions can include:
- Relevance: Determining if the program objectives align with the specific needs of the homeless population.
- Effectiveness: Assessing how the chosen interventions address the core objectives.
- Impact: Evaluating the long-term benefits resulting from the intervention.
- Sustainability: Ensuring that the positive outcomes from the interventions remain viable over time (Bassuk, 2010).

Conclusion

Homelessness is a multifaceted crisis influenced by numerous social, economic, and personal factors. Addressing its complexity requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that incorporates various strategies, including interagency collaboration, federal housing assistance, and supportive housing programs. A united effort from stakeholders combined with adequate funding and proper evaluation criteria can provide effective alternatives to mitigate homelessness.

References

1. Bassuk, E. L. (2010). Ending child homelessness in America. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80(4), 496.
2. HUD (2023). The 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. Retrieved from https://www.hud.gov
3. Morton, M. H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J. L., Curry, S. R., Schlueter, D., Chà¡vez, R., & Farrell, A. F. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(1), 14-21.
4. National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH). (2023). The state of homelessness in America 2023. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org
5. Ortiz-Ospina, E., & Roser, M. (2017). Homelessness. Our World in Data. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org
6. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2023). Annual homeless assessment report. Retrieved from https://hud.gov.
7. U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2023). Federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. Retrieved from https://usich.gov.
8. National Housing Law Project. (2023). Housing essentials for preventing homelessness. Retrieved from https://nhlp.org.
9. Tsemberis, S. (2010). From streets to homes: An innovative approach to supported housing for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Journal of Mental Health, 9(3), 5-14.
10. Padgett, D. K., Henwood, B. F., & Tsemberis, S. (2016). Housing First: Ending homelessness, transforming systems, and changing lives. Oxford University Press.
This analysis serves as a comprehensive overview of the complex issue of homelessness, offering insights into effective policy solutions, stakeholder roles, and funding challenges that need to be addressed for lasting change.