HomelessnessEssay title: HomelessnessACTION CONSIDERATIONSInstitutions, organizations, and decision-makers primarily responsible for resolving the problem.The McKinney Act, signed into law on July 22, 1987, was a Ў§broad humanitarian response to the homeless crisisЎЁ (Kyle, 2005, p. 39). Reauthorizations of the McKinney Act and entirely new programs were developed to address unmet needs of subgroups of the homeless (Kyle 34-39). Additional legislation was required to address specific causes of homelessness, such as mental illness and substance abuse and addiction. The goals of the McKinney Act were:
1. To establish an Interagency Council on the Homeless;2. To use public resources and programs in a more coordinated manner to meet the critically urgent needs of the homeless of the Nation; and3. To provide funds for programs to assist the homeless, with special emphasis on elderly persons, handicapped persons, families with children, Native Americans, and veterans (101STAT.485 as cited in Kyle, 2005).
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the main government agency responsible for the issue of homelessness. A total of 39 programs and $2.2 billion in resources, including HUDs mainstream housing programs have been developed to address homelessness.
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness was created to coordinate the federal response to homelessness and form a national partnership to reduce and end homelessness in the nation. The Council created a national partnership that extends from the federal government to the state and local governments, advocates, providers, consumers and faith-based organizations.
There are currently 24 cities and 3 states in the United States that have 10-year plans to end chronic homelessness. The Council provides technical assistance to states and localities in the development of initiatives. On the government website:
Partnerships include: National Governors Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, International Downtown Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The Council meets on a regular basis with its partnerships to report on research, performance, and results (Interagency Council on Homelessness [USICH], 2006).
Major sources of support for achieving the desired goals and objectivesOn December 20, 2005, the Bush Administration announced $1.33 Billion in grants to assist thousands of homeless individuals and families. HUDs Homeless Assistance programs continue to be the major source of support for achieving the goal to end chronic homelessness. Following are the highlights of pending disbursements of monies:
„h Nearly $600 million is being awarded to projects that provide permanent housing solutions for homeless persons.„h More than 3,000 local projects that serve mothers and their children will receive $739 million.„h 658 programs that primarily serve victims of domestic violence will receive nearly $125 million.„h $53.6 million is being awarded to 226 projects that primarily target homeless veterans among those they serve.„h Nearly 1,600 of the projects funded today are dedicated to providing housing and support services to severely mentally ill clients. These persons are at high risk of experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness.
„h Nearly $419 million will support 1,604 local programs that primarily help homeless individuals with substance abuse problems.„h $206 million will support faith-based organizations to house and serve homeless persons and families (Ў§States News Service,ЎЁ 2005, p.18).The Interagency Council supports projects such as Housing First, Assertive Community Treatment Teams, and Project Homeless Connect that are proving effective at ending chronic homelessness; Local cost-benefit studies that reveal the costs of homelessness to the community and the cost savings that arise from effective solutions; Strategies to prevent homelessness for individuals and families before it occurs; and, Access to mainstream resources for the benefit of homeless persons and families (Interagency
,
United States International Foundation,
www.usi.org,
February 15, 2005.) The Association of Homelessness, or AHA, promotes national-level programs in local economies to address housing and homelessness.AHA is one of the leading providers to homeless individuals who cannot find housing. It provides funding for local agencies that meet homeless needs and foster the adoption and support of youth in communities with a high rate of mental health and substance use disorders (P.E.,
Jurisdictional Review Board,
Jurisdiction Review Board,
www.jurisdictionreview.com,
November 6, 2005). In 2008, AHA provided $4.8 million to six community-based organizations to support domestic violence-related programs and services in New Mexico, to support domestic violence prevention; domestic violence victims in New Mexico, to provide services to domestic violence victims living and working in the region; and to make grants to more than 4,100 noninsured entities, including the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Services. (Ibid).The national program,
National Poverty Coalition,
National Homelessity and Disparities Strategy Report,
National Urban Alliance
New Jersey State Initiative
The Homelessness Strategy,
Youth Youth Programs,
University of Southern California www.answerserver.com
AHA has been designated as the ‘national program’ of the United States and is the first non-governmental organization of its kind that has successfully used public data to develop its program.
The program was originally sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the HUD Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The program covers the areas covered by the program: Families, Youth, Women, People of Color, Interstate Programs, Urban/Transitional Programs, Multior Housing and Community Action, and the Youth Homelessness Project
A national program of approximately $25 million will reduce the rate of incarceration faced by youth in New Mexico and other states.
AHA’s funding assistance program will provide funds for community-based organizations and state-wide agencies that serve the needs and interests of youth and their families.
The organization’s grants will go toward the following:– $50,000 for community-based programs, $50,000 for outreach and representation, $5,000 for programs with a $5,000 or $21,500 threshold, and $50,000 for social assistance. Other assistance is available through the AHA’s grant support program. Programs for individuals with disabilities and those with substance abuse issues. For families, programs with a $10,000 threshold have been given priority and for individuals with disabilities, community-based organizations with a $25