Essay: Making a Difference - Homelessness (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date Making a Difference: Homelessness Part I: Identification of the Problems Although homelessness is a problem in many countries, it appears to be most difficult to manage in the United States. Over the years, an increase in homelessness has been connected to a variety of factors, including a low socioeconomic position, mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment, inaccessibility to health care, and domestic violence. Although they are considered when measuring the growth in homelessness, the lack of affordable housing remains the key cause. Even though many individuals continue to struggle to make ends meet, home values have been increasing. In other words, the absence of well-paying jobs prevents the poor from affording homes, and "although public attention to homelessness has reduced since the early 1990s, the current economic downturn and housing crisis are once again bringing the issue to the forefront" (Lee et al. 502). Lack of resources is a major reason why homeless people cannot afford housing. "This increasing impoverishment of the bottom fifth conceals the extent to which people living in extreme poverty, earning less than 50 percent of the poverty level, have faced even steeper decreases in wealth," economist Paul Krugman explains (Wright 31). There is a severe scarcity of affordable housing for individuals with low incomes or set schedules. In recent decades, there has been a considerable drop in the supply of homes for families with extremely low incomes. It is difficult to comprehend that there are insufficient options for affordable housing for people with moderate salaries and that homeless shelters are always at capacity. When neighborhoods are regenerated and redeveloped, the cost-of-living increases, causing low-income individuals to seek housing elsewhere. As a result of the economic restructuring, which has resulted in the loss of manufacturing employment, greater skill requirements for the new high-paying positions, and a rise in the number of low-paying occupations, many individuals are finding it difficult to meet their monthly rent obligations. Chronically homeless individuals are those who are or have been chronically homeless. In quest of a safe, dry place to spend the night, the homeless frequently turn to institutions such as jails, hospitals, and homeless shelters. We have an obligation to assist these individuals so that they are no longer able to commit new crimes because of their homelessness. Those who have lost hope or no longer see a purpose in their lives may find salvation by joining our community. Through our emergency services, recovery programs, family living programs, job training, education, and workforce development initiatives, we provide those in grave straits with a compassionate route to long-term health and prosperity. Formerly homeless individuals can contribute to society and escape the cycle of homelessness if we eliminate barriers and give them structure. Part II: Current Ways to Fix the Problem The United States government has committed to several goals aimed at avoiding and ultimately eliminating homelessness. Extremely little research has been conducted on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, and a small number of subsidized-housing tenants would become homeless if they lost their housing support. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has suggested not renewing Section 8 contracts, which provide housing for 4.4 million low-income individuals despite calls for an increase in subsidies. This is an important idea with far-reaching ramifications if ignored (Early 687). The current system is unjust but making HUD assistance a right will help those in need and be more equitable. As a regulated program, affordable housing is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no realism to the system because some families receive rental assistance equal to the market rate, while other families in need receive much less or nothing. It would be ideal if all people in need could have their housing requirements met through the implementation of a strategy aimed at obtaining a consensus on the provision of modest housing for everybody. In contrast to food and cash, housing is a fixed benefit that cannot be redistributed to meet increased demand (Early 691). If housing assistance was adapted to local conditions, governments would be better equipped to focus aid on regions with the highest need. Greater homeless services are often offered in cities where homelessness is more prevalent. While funds are being allocated to extend current HUD programs, an interim solution can be implemented. The construction of tent communities in remote areas where homelessness is particularly severe is one solution. After the 2008 housing bubble, tent settlements have emerged in very visible areas around the nation. Surprisingly, despite the lack of statistics, it appears that these improvised villages are expanding under the radar. After losing their jobs and houses, the occupants of the encampment sought refuge in the only area they could find, transforming vacant municipal space into a dramatic symbol of financial upheaval that is normally invisible to most Americans. We may be able to find a temporary solution if we approach the problem with an open mind and make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the concerns of the locals and tent city residents, but we are still a long way from that point. It is suggested that the government's current reaction to homelessness is insufficient, and those tent towns should be supported as a temporary solution (Loftus-Farren 1040). Rather than supporting evictions, government supporters should mobilize resources and engage policymakers to facilitate or devise solutions to relieve the situation considering the risks involved. Part III: Proposed Organization and its Help in Alleviating the Problem We are thrilled to tell you about our organization, “Midnight Mission's” legacy as a long-standing supplier of human services in the Los Angeles area. This has been our mission since the beginning. Those who are currently experiencing homelessness can find a glimmer of hope at our emergency shelter and support center. There, they will have access to a wide variety of programs and services, all of which are geared at assisting them in achieving independence. We are glad to be able to provide the individuals in our community with the basic care and assistance they require since it is our firm conviction that every individual possesses the right to a life that is lived with dignity. Those who have become hopeless or lost their way may discover assistance and salvation at the Midnight Mission. Through our emergency services, 12-step recovery programs, family living programs, job training, education, and workforce development initiatives, we offer those in immediate need of assistance a compassionate pathway to long-term health and prosperity. By removing obstacles and providing homeless people with accountability and structure, we make it feasible for them to contribute to society and end the cycle of homelessness. Our firmness of conviction and unwavering commitment to ensuring their fulfillment set us apart from others. Although it is desirable to find long-term answers to the problem of homelessness, it is vital to provide support in the short term. There are a variety of urgent services that we offer to people who are without a home: * The Crisis & Bridge Accommodation Program and the Interim Housing Program, both located in the main building, together provide a total of 150 beds to meet the needs of those in urgent need of emergency or transitional housing. The program is welcoming and easily accessible since it employs many on-site and off-site services and is grounded on the tenets of Harm Reduction, Housing First, and Trauma-Informed Care. It is the program's goal to help those experiencing homelessness find and maintain stable homes. * The Courtyard in Orange County Program is a Crisis and Bridge Housing program with 425 beds that provide a secure residential program, a drop-in facility for bathing, laundry, social, and health and wellness services, as well as meals. Because of its minimal entry requirements and proactive approach, the program helps people connect with additional resources. About one million meals, in addition to showers, bathrooms, hygiene kits, health and wellness services, food bags, emergency accommodation, clothes, and connections to other important services, are provided annually in the main facility. * The Family Living Program ("HFL"), which serves homeless families with minor children, comprises 37 beds divided across 11 apartments in a building distinct from the main facility and the Orange County Program. HFL provides homeless children with programs such as job placement aid, counseling, and school-based intervention. The purpose of the program is to assist families in achieving financial stability and independence. * A Plan for Men's Healthful Living is a 12-step program with 92 beds located in the main building that mostly serves homeless men. The program is designed to assist men in achieving and maintaining sobriety by providing them with several tools, such as sober living with sobriety support groups, academic and career guidance, health, and wellness support, and a variety of life skills seminars. Food, personal care supplies, and medical equipment are among the many donated commodities used to care for the Mission's indigent and homeless clientele. Free promotional billboards are also supplied to the Mission. Donated items received by the Mission are recorded as gifts in kind, represented in revenues and support, and accounted for as food and supplies in the statement of functional expenses at fair value. The Mission received in-kind contributions worth $2,222,168 during the fiscal year ending June 30...