🚧Social Problems and Public Policy Unit 9 – Housing and Homelessness

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Housing insecurity refers to a range of housing issues including difficulty paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, staying with relatives, or spending the bulk of household income on housing
• Homelessness is defined as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
  • Includes those living in shelters, transitional housing, and places not meant for human habitation (cars, parks, abandoned buildings)
• Affordable housing is generally defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household's income
• Housing First is an approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness
  • Supportive services are offered but not required as a condition of housing
• Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a neighborhood, typically one that has experienced disinvestment, often resulting in increased property values and displacement of lower-income residents
• Redlining was a discriminatory practice in which services were withheld from potential customers who resided in neighborhoods classified as 'hazardous' to investment, predominantly neighborhoods with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities
• Housing discrimination includes practices such as refusing to rent or sell homes, providing differential terms or conditions, or falsely denying that housing is available based on protected characteristics (race, gender, disability status)

Historical Context of Housing Issues

• In the early 20th century, rapid urbanization led to overcrowding and substandard housing conditions in many cities
  • Tenements and slums were common in urban areas
• The Great Depression of the 1930s led to widespread homelessness and housing instability
  • The government responded with programs like the Public Works Administration and the Housing Act of 1937 which created public housing
• Post-World War II, the GI Bill and Federal Housing Administration loans helped many white families purchase homes and move to the suburbs
  • However, discriminatory practices like redlining and restrictive covenants excluded many people of color from these opportunities
• Urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 1960s often involved the destruction of low-income neighborhoods and displacement of residents
• The deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities in the 1960s and 1970s, without adequate community-based services, contributed to increased homelessness
• The 1980s saw a significant increase in homelessness due to factors like cuts to social services, rising unemployment, and the crack cocaine epidemic
• The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 was the first major federal legislative response to homelessness, providing funding for shelter programs and other services

Causes of Homelessness

• Lack of affordable housing is a primary driver of homelessness
  • There is a severe shortage of affordable rental homes for extremely low-income households
• Poverty and unemployment leave many unable to pay for housing
  • Wages have not kept pace with rising housing costs
• Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children
  • Survivors often face a choice between staying in an abusive situation or leaving and becoming homeless
• Mental illness and substance abuse can make it difficult to maintain stable housing
  • These issues can also make it harder to access and maintain employment
• Discrimination in housing and employment can contribute to homelessness
  • Studies have shown that people of color, particularly Black and Indigenous individuals, are overrepresented in the homeless population
• Incarceration and criminal records can create barriers to securing housing and employment
• Aging out of the foster care system without adequate support can lead to homelessness for youth
• Natural disasters and climate change can destroy housing and displace people

Demographics and Statistics

• As of 2020, there were an estimated 580,000 people experiencing homelessness on a given night in the United States
  • 61% were staying in sheltered locations, while 39% were unsheltered
• 70% of those experiencing homelessness were individuals, while 30% were people in families with children
• Men are more likely to experience homelessness as individuals, while women are more likely to experience homelessness as part of a family
• About 50% of those experiencing homelessness are African American, despite making up only 13% of the general population
• 7% of those experiencing homelessness are veterans
• 1 in 10 young adults aged 18-25 experienced homelessness in a year
• LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers
  • 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ

Impact on Individuals and Communities

• Homelessness can have severe impacts on physical and mental health
  • Chronic diseases, respiratory illness, skin disorders, and mental health issues are common
  • Lack of access to healthcare and exposure to the elements exacerbate health problems
• Children experiencing homelessness have higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems
  • They are more likely to experience educational disruptions and lower academic achievement
• Homelessness makes it difficult to maintain employment
  • Lack of stable housing, transportation issues, and health problems can be barriers to work
• People experiencing homelessness are more likely to be victims of violence
  • Lack of safe shelter and exposure on the streets increases vulnerability
• Homelessness strains emergency services and healthcare systems
  • Frequent use of emergency rooms and hospitalization is costly
• The presence of homeless encampments can lead to community tensions and concerns about public health and safety
• Concentration of homelessness in certain areas can impact local businesses and perceptions of neighborhoods

Current Policies and Interventions

• Emergency and transitional shelters provide temporary accommodation
  • However, shelters often have limited capacity and may have restrictions (sobriety requirements, separation of family members)
• Permanent supportive housing combines affordable housing with supportive services
  • Has been shown to be effective for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities
• Rapid re-housing provides short-term rental assistance and services to help people obtain housing quickly
  • Aims to reduce the amount of time people experience homelessness
• Housing vouchers, like Section 8, help low-income households afford rental housing in the private market
  • However, landlord participation is voluntary and discrimination can occur
• Homeless outreach teams engage with unsheltered individuals to provide services and connect them to housing
• Eviction prevention programs aim to keep people housed through rental assistance, mediation, and legal services
• Some cities have implemented laws that prohibit camping in public spaces or sleeping in vehicles
  • These laws are controversial and can further criminalize homelessness

Challenges in Addressing Homelessness

• Insufficient funding for affordable housing and homeless services
  • Demand for assistance often exceeds available resources
• Lack of political will to address root causes of homelessness
  • Issues like poverty, inequality, and lack of mental health services require systemic change
• Stigma and misconceptions about homelessness
  • Stereotypes can lead to resistance to housing and services in some communities
• Coordination between various agencies and service providers can be challenging
  • Differing eligibility criteria and funding streams can create silos
• Shortage of affordable housing stock
  • Many cities lack an adequate supply of housing affordable to low-income households
• Barriers to housing for those with criminal records, poor credit, or eviction histories
  • These issues disproportionately impact people of color
• Rural homelessness can be hidden and harder to serve due to lack of services and transportation challenges
• The opioid epidemic has increased the complexity of homelessness
  • Substance abuse treatment and harm reduction services are needed in addition to housing

Future Directions and Potential Solutions

• Increasing investment in affordable housing development and preservation
  • This could include expanding the National Housing Trust Fund and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
• Implementing Housing First approaches more widely
  • Providing housing without preconditions and then addressing other issues through voluntary services
• Expanding eviction prevention and diversion programs
  • Intervening early to prevent homelessness and avoid the disruption and costs of eviction
• Addressing income inequality and poverty through policies like raising the minimum wage and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Integrating healthcare and housing through programs like Medicaid-funded supportive housing
• Improving discharge planning from institutions like hospitals, prisons, and foster care to prevent homelessness
• Increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment services
  • Ensuring that these services are low-barrier and accessible to those experiencing homelessness
• Engaging in public education to combat stigma and build support for solutions
• Involving people with lived experience of homelessness in policy and program design
  • Ensuring that solutions are grounded in the realities and needs of those most impacted