Homeless Families

Homeless Families

Homeless is a vice that profoundly afflicts families today. At present, statistics indicate that nearly two world population, which denote to over 150 million people, are homeless (Chamie). In the U.S alone, more than 550 families, on any given night, are homeless and with no access to necessities including decent food and clothing. This situation signals the need for the adoption of concerted efforts by the relevant stakeholders to help eliminate the problem. One such framework is supportive housing, as the essay will discuss below.

Supportive Housing

Supportive housing denotes a framework tailored to integrate affordable housing with intensive, coordinated on-site services that help homeless people to afford to move to more stable, and less impoverished neighborhoods. This housing-based policy grounds upon several essential features. Firstly, it compels such projects to foster the provision of affordable housing options to the masses while engaging them in long-term contractual agreements. For instance, it assures tenants that they could use no more than a third of their income for rent. Doing so enables them to attain considerable savings in their discretionary income, which they could then allocate towards their self-development. It is also critical to point out in spite of the low costs of these houses; tenants can acquire valid leases that enable them to maintain the household for elongated periods. Here, they often receive help from local authorities as well as non-profits in securing appropriate housing and negotiate lasting relationships with landlords (Coalition for the Homeless).

Another characteristic of housing assistance is its integrative nature. Here families can live independently on apartments or single-family units in residential neighborhoods (Dohler et al.). This arrangement allows them unlimited access to amenities like parks, public transportation, which ensure that they are not living in segregation. Finally, the housing-based policy also adheres to a rigorous and equitable framework in leasing, which discourages barriers of entry that may facilitate the locking out of people in dire need of a regular, safe, and affordable home.

Effectiveness of Supportive Housing

Reducing Overcrowding, Instability, and Homelessness

Researchers suggest that the use of housing vouchers in supportive housing significantly reduces instability in housing and homelessness. Most individuals who cannot secure and maintain a regular and secure house often opt to live in groups and share their housing bills. This situation leads to overcrowding hence compromising their health. However, housing vouchers ensure that these individuals can regain stability in their homes, thereby reducing congestion. A study based on a controlled experiment reported that vouchers facilitated a three-quarter reduction of families in the streets and shelters by 9 points, from 13% to 3% (Fischer). It also reduced the share of families lacking a standard home by 80% and saw the decrease of individuals living in groups by 50%. In this manner, vouchers improved stability within groups of related persons, allowing them a healthy life with hopes of a better future.

Reducing Poverty

In 2014, housing vouchers were also commended for improving the living standards of over 2.8 million people that previously lived below the poverty line (Fischer). Also, the researcher established that this type of rental assistance also helped prevent other issues emerging due to poverty, including poor neural development and academic performance in children. Impoverished families often face problems maintaining the education of their children. Hence, endeavors to subsidize housing helps to improve their discretionary income, which thus empowered them to make better choices for their lives and families. It is also noteworthy to denote that welfare-to-work programs advanced by both government and private entities succeeded mostly with families in households that were recipients of federal housing assistance (Fischer). This situation signals to stable housing as a required factor for success in job training and subsequent employment. Thus, the chances of individuals experiencing social mobility rise when they begin receiving rental assistance, especially in terms of housing vouchers.

Access to Better Neighborhoods and Cost Reduction in Public Services

The emphasis on choice in the supportive housing program allows individuals to move into both private and public markets. This aspect ensures that these persons move into safer and less poor neighborhoods, thereby giving them access to better life opportunities. Children of families who move into less-impoverished localities display an increased chance of going to college and get jobs that would permanently prevent them from being homeless again. Housing voucher facilitates this move and allows individuals in this group to widen their networks and climb the social ladder.

It is impossible not to notice that rental assistance provides an opportunity for federal and state governments to reduce the cost of emergency health care centers. Living in improved standards ensures that families that would otherwise be homeless do not get exposed to harmful weather conditions. Additionally, having a stable address means that nurses and emergency medical teams can get access to them in case of urgent circumstances. This program also allows the elderly to lead an independent life, which is mostly less costly as compared to other institutional care facilities.

Opponents of this program have come public by stating several reasonable concerns as regards the ineffectiveness of housing vouchers in the supportive housing program. They suggest that although the policy may have improved the living conditions of people and reduced poverty, it may not be reaching the set targets. It is impossible not to ignore this concern, given that less than 70% of households are successful in using it effectively. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find moderately priced developments that could correctly absorb the housing vouchers. Landlords, on their hand, might not be willing to subscribe to this program, especially when the demand for rental spaces go up. The portability feature could also pose problems given that families may risk being homeless after moving out without confirming the availability of affordable housing in wherever they are locations they are relocating.

However, these are minor aspects that cannot overshadow the success of the housing program. Local, state, and federal governments, together with non-profits, have already identified strategies that would improve the basic design of the vouchers. Firstly, aggressive outreach ensures that landlords are well incentivized to accept to be part of the program and help the community. Secondly, the regional collaboration between administrators and all stakeholders ensures that the portability feature is advantageous and does not increase the chances of families becoming homeless again. In the same vein, accessible assistance to mobility counseling will ensure that recipients of the vouchers have a plan before moving to other areas to secure homes after they shift localities (Gale).

Conclusion

The supportive housing program is the most effective housing-based policy in reducing homelessness. This rental assistance, characterized by integration, affordability, and an emphasis on choice, ensures that homeless families secure and maintain regular and safe rental spaces to lead a healthy life. Research suggests that the program is responsible for lifting over 2.5 million people above the poverty line. This aid provides that families only spend a third of their income on paying for rent. In light of this, they can use the remaining amount on other basic needs, and this facilitates an upward movement on the social ladder. It also offers them a chance to move into better neighborhoods with better opportunities, which improves their chances of accessing better healthcare services and other public amenities. Although opponents of the policy point out various weaknesses of the program, strategies are already in place to strengthen the basic design of housing vouchers. In this manner, it will continue to be the most effective means with which to reduce the number of homeless families, both domestically and internationally.

Works Cited

Chamie, Joseph. “As Cities Grow, So Do The Numbers Of Homeless” Yale Global Online. Web. July 13, 2017. Accessed. December 3, 2019

https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/cities-grow-so-do-numbers-homeless

Coalition for the Homeless. “Proven Solutions: We Can End The Homelessness Crisis.” Coalitionforthehomeless.Org. Web. 2019. Accessed. December 3, 2019.

https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/ending-homelessness/proven-solutions/

Dohler, Ehren, et al. “Supportive Housing Helps Vulnerable People Live and Thrive in the Community.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Web. May 31, 2016. Accessed. December 3, 2019.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/supportive-housing-helps-vulnerable-people-live-and-thrive-in-the-community

Fischer, Will. “Research Shows Housing Vouchers Reduce Hardship and Provide a Platform for Long-term Gains Among Children.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Web. October 7, 2015. Accessed. December 3, 2019.

https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/3-10-14hous.pdf

Gale, Rebecca. “Housing Mobility Programs and Health Outcomes” Health Affairs. Web. June 7, 2018. Accessed. December 3, 2019.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20180313.616232/full/