Grants for Homelessness

Homelessness is an ongoing problem in the United States.

Homelessness in America continues to remain high. According to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report, in January 2008, there were 664,414 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people nationwide. Three-fifths were listed as individuals, and two-fifths were listed as part of a family. According the AHAR, the concentration of homelessness is largest in urban areas. These statistics shows that homelessness is an issue that needs to be addressed at state and local levels. Grant programs can provide assistance.

History

The first federal bill to address homelessness was during the Reagan presidency in 1983. Before the act, programs for the homeless were only available at state and local levels. In 1983, it was decided that grassroot initiatives were not sufficient to combat the problem of homelessness. The Homeless Persons’ Survival Act was passed, which called for emergency relief provisions such as shelter, health care, food and transitional housing. It was later renamed the McKinney Act and has more than a dozen programs to combat homelessness. Many government grants are awarded to organizations based this legislation.

Function

Grants provide shelter programs for the homeless.

Grants for the homeless provide much-needed resources. Homeless people are identified as individuals or families who dwell in habitations not meant for living, such as cars, streets or road sides, parks, abandoned buildings and emergency shelters. Grants for homelessness help provide safe havens and shelter for homeless people. These shelters shield people, many whom are children, from the dangers of sleeping in open areas. Some grants also help create long-term solutions to homelessness.

Types

There are different types of grants for homelessness. Grants generally are awarded to states, local agencies, tribal groups and nonprofit organizations. These grants are awarded to establish and maintain programs that serve homeless people. These programs target areas such as housing, education, physical and mental health, substance abuse and child or domestic abuse. Grants are awarded to programs and shelters that can offer services addressing these issues.

Benefits

Grants for homelessness benefit a wide population of people and society as a whole. To understand the importance of these grants, we must look at statistics, which prove a substantial number of homeless people are children, mentally ill, or disabled. Reports also show homeless people are more susceptible to and often victims of violence and abuse. Programs such as the supportive housing project provide residential stability, income increase and greater self-reliance to the homeless. Grants that support programs for the homeless improve the living conditions for people and families across the country. These people are then better equipped to contribute to and participate in society.

Prevention/Solution

Programs that support the homeless through government grants aim not only to solve short-term issues related to homelessness but also to provide prevention and solution programs. Funding to urban areas for job training, substance abuse counseling, education and rental assistance helps lower the rate of homelessness. Families and individuals who are struggling to provide for their families and themselves should have avenues available to prevent them from being thrown onto the street. The loss of a job is all it would take for a family to suddenly find itself homeless. The key to prevention is to help community members before they end up in a shelter.

References

• Department of Housing and Urban Development: Supportive Housing Programs
• Department of Health and Human Services: Homeless Grants
• Department of Housing and Urban Development: Homeless Assessment Report