Social Policy Analysis (Essay Sample)

Social Policy Analysis Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Date of Submission Social Policy Analysis Since the 1980s, the United States has constantly been faced by the epidemic of homelessness. Different researchers have associated homelessness to lack of affordable housing, poverty, domestic violence, drug misuse, and mental illness. The problem continues to rise with reports showing increase in the number of homeless populations as economic factors continue to strangle majority of Americans. The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress indicated that 582,500 Americans were homeless each night (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2022). The report further indicates that Shelters, emergency shelters, and transitional housing programs housed 60% of the homeless. The other 40% slept in unsheltered areas such abandoned houses, streets, and other inappropriate locales (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2022). The reports also showed a rise in chronic homelessness which affected about 30% of the homeless population (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2022). The federal government has developed several policies to address the homelessness pandemic in the United States. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 is one of the policies dedicated towards tackling the problem of homelessness. The policy aims to provide emergency shelters, transitional housing, and support services to homeless individuals, families, and communities (Richards, 2019). The policy, named after Representatives Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce Vento, mandates the development of local plans and the coordination of homeless aid efforts by federal agencies. Several significant special programs are created under this policy, including the Continuum of Care Program, the Emergency Shelter Funds Program, the Fast-Re-Housing Program, and the Assisted Housing Program (Richards, 2019). These programs fund homeless families' emergency refuge, interim housing, and other support services. They also provide cash aid to at-risk homeowners to avoid destitution. Description of the Policy The McKinney-Vento Act of 2001 has developed several features that enhance its provision of assistance to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. The policy allocates resources to homeless people through different means. The policy's eligibility for participation is based on a need for regular, fixed, or adequate nighttime residence. Also, those leaving prisons, hospitals, domestic abuse, or mental health facilities are considered homeless (Burt et al., 2016). The McKinney-Vento Act uses equitable, redistributive retributive, and fundamental social allocation. Distributive allotment distributes resources fairly to those in need, while retributive allotment balances need and merit in resource distribution. On the other hand, Redistributive allotment shifts resources from rich to poor and constitutive allotment creates resources to meet wants. The McKinney-Vento Act distributes resources fairly to homeless people and families using these social allotment bases. The McKinney-Vento Act is selective, given that it targets the homeless community. The target community must meet the specified criteria to be eligible for assistance as outlined in the policy. The policy has programs that address the needs of homeless people and families. The policy also provides homeless people with several benefits. Homeless families and individuals get emergency shelter while chronically and mentally ill persons receive long-term care. Therapy, case management, and education assistance are some of services offered under the McKinney-Vento Act. These services continue to promote resilience in people experiencing homelessness which acts as a bridge to a better life (Clemens et al., 2018). The McKinney-Vento Act is executed through Community-based groups and government entities (Fowler et al., 2019). These groups provide emergency refuge, interim housing, permanent assisted housing, and social services to homeless people and families. The benefits and programs under the policy are tailor-made to respond to the need of individual persons suffering from homelessness. The policy also coordinates federal, state, and local entities to optimize the utilization of resources. The McKinney-Vento Act of 2001 mandates the provision of funds to the states, local governments, and nonprofits cash to offer emergency shelter, transitional housing, and other services to homeless people and families. The policy receives an annual grant from the federal government through the HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants program. In 2023, the total grant for homeless assistance and affordable housing was US$ 5.6 billion. The amount was given in more than 2,400 grants, which seek to benefit over 1200 communities for various activities such as affordable housing and homelessness assistance (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2023). Since the policy was enacted, it has been revised and reauthorized several times. The first amendment was in 2002 when it was amended to include a provision for veterans, while The Helping Families Keep Their Houses Act of 2009 which provided additional funds for rapid rehousing programs and homeless prevention, reauthorized the legislation (Frank & Baumohl, 2021). In addition, the 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act also reauthorized the legislation and enhanced funds for homeless assistance programs and adolescents. Numerous stakeholders are involved in implementing and funding the McKinney-Vento Act of 2001. Federal, state, and municipal governments, nonprofit groups, homeless service providers, and homeless persons and families some of the stakeholders associated with the implementation of the policy. The federal government finances and manages the funding, while state and local governments and nonprofits groups utilize the funds to homeless population (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2023). Homeless people and families are served by nonprofits and homeless service providers, making them the policy beneficiaries. Other than funding, the policy allows for the voice of all stakeholders, which helps shape the policy's revision and reauthorization. The state and local governments must constantly engage with the homeless people when developing homelessness strategies that give the beneficiaries a voice in the policy-making process. Finally, the policy requires the handlers of funds to give a progressive report which allows stakeholders access to the accountability of the programs in place. Critique of the Policy Implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 has encountered many challenges and possibilities. One major challenge is identifying the homeless population, which has made resource allocation difficult. The first step towards addressing a problem at hand is understanding the program's scope accurately. It is challenging for the involved players to understand the extent of homelessness in the United States accurately. HUD estimates homelessness by counting homeless persons on a single night (Lee & Donaldson, 2018). Secondly, the policy has failed to address the root causes of homelessness, such as economic inequality and affordable housing shortages. The strategy was designed to provide short-term assistance to homeless persons but has done nothing to address the main cause of homelessness in the US (Ficenec, 2011). Consequently, implementing the program has led to unintended consequences, including overreliance on emergency shelter services, which fail to address the root causes of homelessness and may be traumatic for people and families, and the increased stigmatization of the homeless population (Kim & Garcia, 2019). The policy has been criticized for its emphasis on individual homelessness, which has distracted efforts focusing on underlying issues in homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing and social injustices. The cost and benefit analysis of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 shows both negative and positive implications. The policy has improved homelessness prevention and long-term solutions by coordinating efforts. One long-term initiative is the education for homeless children and youth program, emphasizing the importance of school stability for homeless children. The program seeks to offer stability to the education of homeless children and youth, which positively impacts their academic and social growth (Education, 2017). It has also enhanced affordable housing and social services initiatives for homeless people and families. Supportive or transitional housing for homeless people helps in stabilizing people with mental helps issues and substance abuse. However, the policy has also had adverse effects. Critics that despite the policy efforts of providing transitional housing, temporary shelters, and supportive services, the approach has not addressed homelessness' core causes and that the policy has been underfunded (Kim & Garcia, 2019). Failure to address the core causes of homelessness has been due to the prioritization of emergency shelter services over long-term structural remedies. Nevertheless, the policy has been praised for formats benefits which range from its focus on paid help, involvement of the local community in solving homelessness issues, and increased support services such as therapy and case management services. The policy has helped homeless people, particularly those with mental problems and impairments. The policy has also impacted vulnerable communities in the United States. With the black community consisting about 37% of the total of people expiring homelessness in 2022 according to reports from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the policy has significantly impacted such vulnerable communities by addressing their needs. However, some researchers say that the policy's i...