Homelessness in Boston - Essay Example

Homelessness in

Recent night surveys on the number of homeless individuals in have revealed that there is an increase in the number of homeless people. Bringle (2010) indicates that city has over the years failed to adopt necessary measure to address the problem of homelessness. There is the need to achieve the twin goals of eliminating individual homelessness and to reduce family homelessness by half. To achieve this, the community will have to adopt core strategies. Among these strategies is prevention, which is the most important strategy in addressing homelessness. Under this strategy, there is the need to establish emergency shelters in order to place the homeless in motels or hotels. In case prevention of homelessness is not possible, there are other strategies such as emergency shelters, establishing affordable houses, and building sustainable permanent houses

Discussion

Statistical Data on Homelessness in

In two decades, has been making considerable efforts with the view of combating homelessness. It has been through coordinated efforts of service providers, government agencies, business leaders and public agencies. The escalation in the number of homeless people started in the 1980s following deterioration in ’s economy. Affordable houses decreased and mentally ill residents became deinstitutionalized. The city hospital decided to provide 100 emergency shelters for homeless people in 1983. However, the hospital realized that the facility was insufficient in catering for a growing number of homeless persons and was prompted to develop emergency shelters in various parts of the city. Statistics by Bringle (2010) provide estimates from , which approximate that 40% of the individuals under the shelter system are individuals with disability, substance abuse, physical impairment, HIV/AIDS, dual diagnosis, and physical impairments. The remaining 60% are individuals who have been rendered homeless by economic factors such as loss of jobs or financial difficulties. The aforementioned factors impede independent living and compel the individuals to live in emergency shelters for more than two years (Hombs, 2011).

The statistics also indicate that more than 178 homeless individuals have been receiving outreach and healthcare services through the healthcare program for homeless in . Among the individuals receiving these services, 71% have been homeless for three years and above. Using the data from the latest homeless census conducted in the city, estimates from community indicate that there are thousands of chronically homeless individuals. Twenty percent of these individuals underwent enumeration while on the streets while the remaining 80% were in shelters constructed specifically for the homeless. This indicates that this census was performed on a very cold night and there was a possibility for the number of homeless individuals on the streets to have been lower than normal. The latest census also confirmed the findings of previous census, which indicate that the homeless are predominantly single males who are between 25 and 74 years (Hombs, 2011).

Outcome goals for the homeless people

A plan is necessary for the reduction of homeless families by half in the near future. This plan entails doubling the present production of housing families for the next two years. In order to meet the high cost associated with building houses for the homeless, there will be a need to rely on federal funding. The survey conducted on the number of homeless population in indicated that there was a small rise in the number of homeless children from 1540 to 2288, which indicates that there is slow progress towards eradication of homelessness in . This plan will aim at adding about 5,000 new housing units, which will be for families that are working. These housing units include 1,000 rentals, which can be afforded by the working families. Moreover, in this plan, 1,000 homes will be set aside for foreclosure and the funding from various donors will help the organization to purchase about 500 abandoned and foreclosed homes (Loukaitou-Sideris & Ehrenfeucht, 2009).

The goals of this plan will be achieved through funding from the current national stimulus package. Following the release of these funds, community will start the construction of rental properties, which has been a part of the city’s project but has lacked funding. Funding from the federal government and the municipal will be of great importance as the goal of establishing 1000 affordable rental units will be difficult without funding (Loukaitou-Sideris & Ehrenfeucht, 2009).

There are several initiatives in the plan, which aim at reducing the tide of foreclosures, which has dragged housing values and made tenants homeless in regions such as Roxbury, Mattapan, east , and . In the light of this, the plan to reduce homelessness will include efforts to persist buying foreclosed homes out rightly and assist in the form of down payment to landlords and families in order to get the foreclosed and abandoned residential properties occupied once more. Moreover, in order to get the foreclosed homes from the possession of banks, there will be the need for provision of financial training and tips to buy property for 15,000 residents (O'Flaherty, 2012).

The goal to reduce the number of itinerant families in half is due to the latest census which indicated that whereas Boston had achieved success in the reduction of the population of homeless elders, there were more families which were living on Boston streets and shelters. The mayor of has on numerous occasions ordered housing officials to take the necessary measures to ensure that a significant number of senior citizens who were living on the streets found some form of housing. Through the intervention of nonprofit groups and the City’s housing authority, the city reduced the number of the homeless senior residents.

A model program for the established goals and the involved community agencies

The model that will achieve the aforementioned goals is established through a number of concrete strategies, actions, and priorities, which aim at achieving certain strategic directions, envisioned in the plan to curb homelessness. The first strategic direction is preventing homelessness, which will ensure that individuals are able to avoid being homeless. The second strategic direction is responding to homelessness, which ensures that homeless individuals will receive responses so that they do not stay homeless for their entire lives. Third, breaking the cycle will aim at individuals who have been homeless at a certain point of their lives to ensure that they do not become homeless again. The strategic directions indicated in the model have performance measures and indicators. Upon reviewing these measures and indicators, one will be able to determine whether the model will have an impact on homelessness in (O'Flaherty, 2012).

In preventing homelessness, the model will focus on individuals who are already homeless in a bid to help them secure accommodation. Previous intervention of this nature have revealed that helping individuals at the brink of becoming homeless has had the desired resources as it has prevented a waste of resources in looking for alternative shelters for the afflicted individuals (O'Flaherty, 2012).

According to previous models used in to address homelessness, homeless people use emergency services more often that mainstream population. These are services such as crisis accommodation, the justice system, and hospitals. The models have also found out that homeless children have a high risk of being homeless for a long period. Moreover, domestic violence alongside unaffordable housing has been a major cause of homelessness for women. On the same note, family and domestic violence has a major influence on women’s sense of value and self-worth and this eventually undermines their capacity to attain financial independence through being part of the work force hence becoming homeless (Loukaitou-Sideris & Ehrenfeucht, 2009).

The model aims at preventing homelessness through certain priorities. Among these priorities is preventing eviction from tenures. The model has provided the necessary measures that will protect tenants from being evicted from the premises even if it implies negotiations with the proprietors. The second priority is providing safe and appropriate accommodation and supporting people who are experiencing family and domestic violence as well as other family problems at important transition points. In order to achieve the aforementioned priorities in the near future, the model has made provisions to enable identification of individuals who are at a risk of eviction in boarding houses, social houses, and private rental markets and help them to get the necessary support. Moreover, the model has provisions, which will enable authorities to support individuals with disability, substance abuse and mental health problems, and people subjected to mortgage stress. Furthermore, the model has provisions to enable relevant authorities to help young people maintain connection with training, education and employment (O'Connell, et al., 2010).

In responding to homelessness, the model will incorporate responses crucial in ensuring that vulnerable people find routes from homelessness. This move will involve a variety of priorities. The model will improve identification and response to the issues of homelessness by special and mainstream support services. Delivery of responses for integrated services is also among the priorities stipulated in the model. Moreover, streamlining access to accommodation of crisis and homelessness services and moving homeless people to appropriate support and accommodation are the other priorities (O'Connell, et al., 2010).

In breaking the homelessness cycle, the homeless individuals will need support to enable then to secure permanent accommodation. Due to high rates of alcohol, drug use and mental problems facing homeless people, providing them with necessary support will break the cycle. Although the efforts are resource intensive, long term benefits such as self-development and self-care will be achieved. There are many priorities to necessitate breaking of homelessness cycle. Provision of models to support accommodation of particular target groups is one of the priorities. The model will also aim to increase supply and improve conditions for social housing. Promotion of partnerships between various levels of government consumers, business, and sectors that are not for profit is an important priority that will ensure homelessness cycle is broken. Last, the model will cater for improvement of data collection and make a comprehensive use of evidence and data relating to homeless individuals (O'Connell, et al., 2010).

In order to achieve the aforementioned priorities, there will be a need for exploration of channels to deliver accommodation to the afflicted individuals, increase supply of social housing and upgrade of the existing social housing. Moreover, the priorities will strengthen the capacity of different government levels, stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations to form fruitful partnerships. This will involve inclusion of homeless individuals for development of accurate responses. Furthermore, it will be necessary to implement an agenda for development of a strategy to collect data and measure outcomes and interventions. The priorities will undertake a research that will lead to achievement of best practices (Hombs, 2011).

In order to attain the goal of addressing the problem of homelessness in , various organizations will assist in ensuring that the homeless persons have been assisted. These organizations are shelter providers, city agencies, advocacy groups, local housing authorities, universities, churches and religious organizations. The parties will play huge roles, which are assessing the requirements of the homeless people and the capability of the existing programs to meet the needs of the homeless. These parties will also coordinate services and prioritize needs to enhance effectiveness in delivery of services and putting the available resources into best use. Moreover, the agencies will develop comprehensive plans that will lead to long-term stability and independence that will render homeless people self-sufficient (Kidd, 2012).

Advocacy groups, city agencies, and religious organizations will draw their expertise from different sectors of the community such as health, education, mental health, and housing professionals in order to formulate the best approaches to address the problems facing the homeless. These parties will also provide technical assistance to the service providers and foster good working relations between sectors possessing diverse purposes and perspectives. Furthermore, it will be the role of these parties to create a forum, which will necessitate discussion on program and policy alternatives and formulate new initiatives (Loukaitou-Sideris & Ehrenfeucht, 2009).

Cost Reduction

The numerous benefits of the aforementioned program range from ensuring homelessness are addressed to huge cost savings. Several components of the program will reduce homelessness and the cost that is used for emergency response in dealing with the problems facing the homeless. The savings will be produced following improvements in the manner, which the homeless are resettled. In general, the initiatives incorporated in the plan will ensure that cost is reduced by $200- $300 million. Moreover, $100 million will cut federal spending meant to reduce homelessness in if the key initiatives of the program are followed. Furthermore, by providing the homeless with permanent homes, visits made to emergency sheltered will be reduced alongside the cost associated with catering for the needs of homeless persons while they are in the emergency shelters. Homeless people in cost the community lots of resources, which can be avoided upon the permanent resettlement of the homeless (Kidd, 2012).

Potential Funding Sources

The federal Department of Housing and development of urban centers is one of the sources for the funds to be used in providing homeless people with permanent shelters. This source is reliable, as it has been giving funds to local authorities to help them address the issue of homelessness. Moreover, the department has been issuing grants for transitional and permanent housing and providing healthcare, mental health and other vital services that are required by homeless families and individuals. The Eastern Bank will be another source of funding due to its role in funding bodies dedicated towards ending and preventing homelessness. Eastern Bank donated grants amounting to $440,000 for the operations of organizations that intended to combat homelessness. Eastern bank has been offering help to drug addicts and has been shifting its focus to homeless persons as a part of its major projects. This has been achieved through job training to affected people who possess relevant skills and programs meant for education of adults (Kidd, 2012).

Conclusion

In summary, surveys have revealed that there has been an increase in the number of homeless individuals in . These developments have prompted the relevant authorities to formulate models and plans that aim at addressing the problem. community has over the years adopted measures to address the problem of homelessness but these measures have not yielded the required results. Consequently, there has been a need to adopt measures aimed at achieving the twin goals of eliminating individual homeless and reducing the number of homeless families. In order to achieve this, various agencies will collaborate in adoption of core strategies. These strategies include prevention in order to establish emergency shelters so that the homeless can find some form of accommodation.

There is a need to adopt a plan that will reduce the number of homeless families in the near future. This plan will entail doubling production of housing families. To meet the high cost of eradicating homelessness, the community will require funding from various sources. Among these sources are organizations such as the Federal Department of housing and development of urban centers and the Eastern Bank. Cost reduction has been put into consideration when formulating the plans for reducing homelessness whereby it is expected that costs that are used to cater for emergency needs of the homeless will be met. In general, millions of dollars will be saved upon the implementation of the aforementioned plans.