Please choose one of these topics and follow the guidelines below.
- Older Adults: Many older adults need to change their living accommodations at some point, for a variety of reasons, including affordability, physical challenges, proximity to other family members, or a need for specialized care. What additional factors should a human service professional take into account while working with older adult clients who are making such a transition?
- Homelessness: The McKinney-Vento Act and the HEARTH Act made great strides in defining who is “homeless” and gaining an accurate count of how many homeless persons there are in the United States. Why are a definition and count important steps toward addressing the issue of homelessness? What else is needed to facilitate the next steps toward eradicating homelessness?
- Child Welfare: Explore the advantages of family preservation programs, including ways in which human service professionals can assist foster care children with this transition.
Homelessness in the United States
Abstract
McKinney-Vento Act and Hearth act defined the definition of homelessness differently. Traditionally, in the McKinney-Vento Act, people without a home are homeless. However, after reshaping the hearth act, it seems interesting to understand homelessness. For Instance, the hearth act defines homelessness along with several developing factors. After realizing the definitions of homelessness, the study explains some facts and insights regarding homelessness in the United States. Increasing numbers of the homeless population are a considerable threat for the country. Based on these facts and insights, the study has elaborated different steps to eliminate homelessness. Top steps are housing, services, housing first approach, prevention, affordable housing, permanent housing, and imitating Utah’s plan. The study describes all these steps with a pertinent rational. However, critical evaluation of some of these steps makes the research flexible and meaningful. In the end, possible facilitations such as tenancy sustainment residential and Protectionism can support the implementation of these steps or strategies. It is a significant issue, and some long-term solutions can help people change their lives. McKinney-Vento Act and Hearth acts have opened ways for the government to obtain possible solutions. US government has to set several targets every year to reduce homelessness steadily.
Introduction
Homelessness has become a significant problem in both developed and developing countries. People are homeless due to many reasons. The first thing that comes to mind is poverty. However, maybe more reasons are revolving around this particular issue. The McKinney-Vento Act and the HEARTH Act made great strides in defining who is “homeless” and gaining an exact number of homeless people in the United States. In this study, the focus is on understanding the definitions of homelessness regarding both laws. Apart from it, the study also emphasizes steps to reduce this issue in the United States. Also, it seems imperative to facilitate the next steps to eradicate the problem. The purpose of the study is to eliminate this issue and contribute to the prosperity in society.
McKinney-Vento Act’s Homelessness Definition
McKinney-Vento Act defines the homelessness as homelessness of children and youths in the United States of America. According to him, an individual who does not have regular, fixed, and an adequate nighttime residence is homeless. Also, the act further defines the homeless along with several insights and critical factors. For Instance, the law states that people, especially children and youth who are sharing the spaces or houses of other people due to housing loss and economic hardships are homeless. People living in motels, hotels, parks, and different camping grounds have been considered homeless by this act.
The next section of the definition describes homelessness differently. For Instance, children and youth may contain a primary nighttime residence in both public and private places not designed for regular sleeping accommodation.
People, especially youth and children living in cars, parks, public places, abandoned buildings, footpaths, and train stations are homeless.
Migrating children who are living in substandard residences due to different circumstances are also homeless (Nche.ed.gov, 2018).
HEARTH Act’s Homelessness Definition
Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (Hearth) depict a different definition of homelessness. The new definition opens new ways for housing and urban development (HUD) to eliminate the issue.
According to Hearth’s definition of homelessness, people living in places which are not built or designed for human habitation, emergency shelters or transitional housing facility. The prominent addition in the definition has made the description unique.
A person facing housing loss for the next seven days with no other options will be considered homeless.
Moreover, imminent risk has also been included in the definition of homelessness. For Instance, if an individual has to leave the current house within the next 14 days, he will be considered as homelessness.
Also, four more dimensions of the definitions are quite visible.
- A person defined homelessness by the Department of Education’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program
- A person living for a long period without permanent housing
- Frequent migration can depict the homeless people
- Barriers to employment, domestic violence, and disability can also cause homelessness (Endhomelessness.org, 2009).
Homelessness in the United States
After the great recession, homelessness in the United States of America has been increased. One of the major causes of this issue is the home crisis. Studies revealed that 553,742 people in the country are homeless (Gee, 2017). Interestingly, 0.7% increase in these people is a big thing to worry for the government. Despite depicting some improvements in the economy after the great recession, the country is still trying to create an excellent impact on the rental market. Los Angles struggled to manage these people, as this region contains almost 53,000 homeless people (Gee, 2017). Now, state authorities state that homelessness is not a federal issue, as it is everybody’s problem. Also, New York, one of the major cities of the United States showed a 4.1% increase. People are living in doorways, RVs and many other places, which are not designed for permanent accommodation. The increase in population is due to many causes. African Americans are one-third of this population. These people lack employment, adequate income, and permanent residents. The US department made different strategies to reduce poverty. However, homelessness still exists and increases with time. Homelessness is directly associated with economic growth. One of the prominent causes of homelessness is the lower wage rate of people in both public and private organizations. People working at the bottom of companies are found homeless in different regions. Rent of bedroom in New York and Los Angles is $27.29 and $22.98 respectively (Gee, 2017). Thus, an immense range of people cannot afford this cost.
Housing and development authorities have stated that Los Angles and New York portrayed rents more than incomes of people. This drastic shift in rents made conditions worse for the country. Efforts are shown a by state departments, but surge in Los Angles and other west coast cities is a significant concern. However, the reduction of homeless people as compared to 2013 is a big relief for the country. For Instance, in 2018, homelessness is 13% less than 2010 (Bbc.com, 2017). On the other hand, according to the revelations, the surge in west coast cities is in the limelight. The federal government has to take immediate action to control the situation (Bbc.com, 2017).
Apart from Los angles, several US cities are facing this issue. New York, Los Angles, Seattle/king country. San Diego, Columbia, San Jose, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, and Philadelphia are prominent cities, which show the rise in homeless people (McCarthy, 2018).
The U.S. Cities With the Most Homeless People
https://www.statista.com/chart/6949/the-us-cities-with-the-most-homeless-people/
New York City comes on top. An increasing number of immigrants in the city are also the main concern of the federal government. People are studying, working, and living in this city, and the numbers are increasing every year. For Instance, 76,501 people are homeless in New York City. Los Angles is just behind the New York City with 55,188 people (McCarthy, 2018).
Steps toward Addressing the Issue of Homelessness
The US government has tried to solve this issue. However, many solutions have become elusive. Billions are spent on strategy formation and execution. Now, the US government has decided to eliminate this issue from the root. For Instance, the government must create a more space country, especially in west coast cities. Providing shelter for homeless people is a good idea, but it seems expensive to operate. It has been revealed that the average cost of a bed space for homeless people in the country is $4,819. It is essential to provide a space which is less vulnerable in emergencies. However, the government still realizes that giving a bed doesn’t mean home to the homeless.
Thus, the best solution is affordable housing. Despite taking some drastic steps, it is a long-term solution. The intention is to make housing accessible to more people in the country. Cities such as New York and San Francisco must start building apartments and homes. Instead of building flats in pricey towns, the government has to attract inventors in other cities to make affordable houses. It can cause a massive shift in rents. Reinforcement of Federal Income tax housing is a suitable option for the government to build affordable homes for people. Increasing the number of units in these cities or states is a practical idea. However, the rent must pass the cost of development to be relevant and lucrative.
Another solution is the housing first approach. Giving people permanent houses is a right approach for people to keep their jobs and reduce migration expenses. Some exciting options or alternatives can be navigated to get homeless people settled permanently. For Instance, like Utah, just providing a roof on people’s head, space for cooking and bath, and a store can reduce homelessness. Utah decreased 72% homelessness through this approach. It seems a little, but long-term consideration, which also justifies the permanent residency (Semuels, 2016).
Critically, building housing is not sufficient to facilitate numerous homeless people. Providing permanent or temporary houses to people can reduce the number of homeless people. However, employment, health, and education are necessary elements. Apart from housing, these services must be provided to make people able to plan their future effectively and make or buy their own houses. Childcare, substance abuse treatment, transportation, and case management are essential services (Boland, Slade, Yarwood, & Bannigan, 2018). Keeping the definition of the McKinney-Vento Act and Hearth act in mind, these services can be shaped for these people.
Another step is social connectedness. Social inclusion can restrain people from isolation. In the United States, many people are homeless intentionally due to the lack of social integration and connectedness. States and cities have to consider the world regarding “us or them.” Preventing people from isolation and mental illness treatment are better strategies to eliminate the issue rapidly.
The government or state authorities must express strategic considerations. Human rights activities also take part in this process. However, critically, the direction is not perfect. In different cities, people like to celebrate 50 or 100 houses for homeless people. However, thousands of youths, children, families and senior citizens are still homeless. Prevention is a big step that can eliminate the root causes. For Instance, criminal justify, and early child welfare are two steps to justify the prevention (Olivet, 2017).
Thus, the government can start with housing and move forward to eradicate the root causes of homelessness. The facilitation is required when taking these steps towards eradicating homelessness
Facilitating the Next Steps toward Eradicating Homelessness
· Residential Protectionism
The US government must rethink residential protectionism. When considering these steps, the home proactive legislation must be reshaped by the policymakers. It can be great facilitation or assistance from the government to end homelessness. In both rural and urban areas, integrating with cultural values is an excellent approach to move forward. When taking a bricks-and-mortar housing structure of the account, this integration can help to meet people’s needs regarding social values and norms (Stern, 2009)
· Tenancy Sustainment
In a developed country like the United States, tenancy sustainment can be greatly facilitated when taking these steps. Building homes or providing shelters is not a single factor or solution. It refers to developing people for a long run. Interest groups, lobbyists, government stakeholders, and investors must work with these homeless people to work independently and retain the tenancy. The government must try to prevent people from being excluded from social life. It is a workable facilitation because it can increase people’s assertiveness when taking different steps or initiatives (Boland, Slade, Yarwood, & Bannigan, 2018).
Conclusion
In the end, it is to conclude that the homelessness can make the situation worse for the United States. The country can identify homeless people by understanding the definitions of homelessness. Some strategic considerations can help the country to get rid of this issue. The study revolved around some steps to eradicate homelessness. These steps are derived from the Hearth and McKinney-Vento Act. The government should facilitate these steps, as it can reduce homelessness and increase people’s development.
References
Bbc.com. (2017, December 6 ). US homeless people numbers rise for first time in seven years. R https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42248999
Boland, L., Slade, A., Yarwood, R., & Bannigan, K. (2018). Determinants of Tenancy Sustainment Following Homelessness: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Public Health, 108 (11), E1-E8.
Endhomelessness.org. (2009, May 20). Summary Of Hearth Act. https://endhomelessness.org/resource/
summary-of-hearth-act-2/
Gee, A. (2017, December 6). America’s homeless population rises for the first time since the Great Recession. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/05/america-homeless-population-2017-official-count-crisis
McCarthy, N. (2018, January 26). The U.S. Cities With the Most Homeless People. https://www.statista.com/chart/6949/the-us-cities-with-the-most-homeless-people/
Nche.ed.gov. (2018, January 1). The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless. https://nche.ed.gov/legis/mv-def.php
Olivet, J. (2017, February 15). 4 Simple Ways to End Homelessness. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/4-simple-ways-to-end-homelessness_us_58a45fe9e4b080bf74f04294
Semuels, A. (2016, April 25). How Can the U.S. End Homelessness? https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive
/2016/04/end-homelessness-us/479115/
Stern, S. M. (2009). Residential Protectionism and the Legal Mythology of Home. Michigan Law Review, 107 (7), 1093-1144.
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