Modern Homelessness

Modern Homelessness
Author: Mary Ellen Hombs
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2011-04-19
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1598845373

This in-depth examination reviews fundamental changes of the past decade that have reduced homelessness in the United States and other Western democracies. Focusing on the last decade, Modern Homelessness: A Reference Handbook examines the issue in the United States and in other nations that have adopted new strategies to address homelessness—and achieved notable results in preventing and ending it. The handbook covers the unprecedented reductions first announced in 2007 and the crucial shifts in strategy and investment, and the results that brought them about. These fundamental changes are analyzed to identify the factors that proved most effective in altering the national and local dialogue and response relative to this daunting issue. In addition to a brief history of homelessness in contemporary times, the handbook examines key developments of the past decade in research, policy, housing models, and service delivery that have been shown to decrease homelessness. These include active partnership among the governments of the United States, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, and others that moved the discussion in a new direction. The story is brought up to date with a consideration of the effects of the 2008 economic crisis.

Social Problems

Social Problems
Author: Anna Leon-Guerrero
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 561
Release: 2013-04-03
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1452205434

Empower your students to become part of the solution. With a clear and upbeat voice, this thought-provoking overview of social problems challenges readers to understand and recognize social problems in their communities and inspires them to become part of the solution. The Fourth Edition of this popular book goes beyond the typical presentation of contemporary social problems and their consequences by emphasizing the importance and effectiveness of community involvement to achieve real solutions. With an overarching focus on social inequalities and policy, this proven text provides a platform for discussion that encourages critical thinking and inspires hope.

Disrupting Homelessness

Disrupting Homelessness
Author: Laura Stivers
Publisher: Fortress Press
Total Pages: 202
Release: 2011-04-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 145141286X

Disrupting Homelessness unmasks the futile assumptions of our present approaches to homelessness and suggests ways in which Christians and Christian communities can create a prophetic social movement to end poverty and homelessness. Some Christian organizations focus on fixing the person and the behaviors that contribute toward homelessness. Others promote home ownership for low-income households. Stivers criticizes both approaches and assesses to what extent these approaches buy into our culture's dominant ideologies on housing and homelessness, and whether they promote justice and liberation for the least well off. She then outlines an advocacy approach for churches to address the multiple causes of homelessness and prophetically to aim to make a home for all in God's just and compassionate community.

Manufactured Crisis

Manufactured Crisis
Author: James Simpson
Publisher: Post Hill Press
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2024-09-24
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Few could have imagined ten years ago where we’d be in America today: We are confronted on all sides by interminable crises that threaten the very fabric of our nation—from a border flooded with millions of migrants from all over the world, to a fentanyl crisis killing more American youths every year than the past three wars combined. Radical transgender activism and other cultural insanity has pushed more youths to commit suicide than at any other time in history. It seems as though the world is rapidly coming unglued. But it is actually a diabolical plan that has been operating for over a hundred years and is now showing its face. This book describes this plan in excruciating detail and shows us a path out—if we’re willing to take it.

Homelessness

Homelessness
Author: Martha R. Burt
Publisher: Nova Publishers
Total Pages: 220
Release: 2007
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781600212086

Homelessness prevention is an essential element of any effort to end homelessness either locally or nation-wide. To close the front door of entry into homelessness, the central challenge of prevention is targeting our efforts toward those people that will become homeless without the intervention. This book identifies elements of community homelessness prevention strategies that seem to lead to reductions in the number of people who otherwise would become homeless. The contributing elements include targeting through control of the eligibility screening process; developing community motivation; maximising mainstream and private resources; fostering leadership; and ensuring the availability and structure of data and information used to track progress, improve on prevention efforts, and facilitate outcome-based contracting. Evidence from the six communities studied indicates that those employing the most elements seem to be more successful at prevention and better able to document their achievements. This book also identifies four promising homelessness prevention activities that may be used alone or in combination as part of a coherent community-wide strategy: (1) supportive services coupled with permanent housing, particularly when combined with effective discharge from institutions, especially mental hospitals; (2) mediation in Housing Courts; (3) cash assistance for rent or mortgage arrears; and (4) rapid exit from shelter. This study provides insight into approaches that will help prevent homelessness. It is an important contribution to our understanding of how to help homeless Americans.

How to House the Homeless

How to House the Homeless
Author: Ingrid Gould Ellen
Publisher: Russell Sage Foundation
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2010-06-24
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1610447298

How to House the Homeless, editors Ingrid Gould Ellen and Brendan O'Flaherty propose that the answers entail rethinking how housing markets operate and developing more efficient interventions in existing service programs. The book critically reassesses where we are now, analyzes the most promising policies and programs going forward, and offers a new agenda for future research. How to House the Homeless makes clear the inextricable link between homelessness and housing policy. Contributor Jill Khadduri reviews the current residential services system and housing subsidy programs. For the chronically homeless, she argues, a combination of assisted housing approaches can reach the greatest number of people and, specifically, an expanded Housing Choice Voucher system structured by location, income, and housing type can more efficiently reach people at-risk of becoming homeless and reduce time spent homeless. Robert Rosenheck examines the options available to homeless people with mental health problems and reviews the cost-effectiveness of five service models: system integration, supported housing, clinical case management, benefits outreach, and supported employment. He finds that only programs that subsidize housing make a noticeable dent in homelessness, and that no one program shows significant benefits in multiple domains of life. Contributor Sam Tsemberis assesses the development and cost-effectiveness of the Housing First program, which serves mentally ill homeless people in more than four hundred cities. He asserts that the program's high housing retention rate and general effectiveness make it a viable candidate for replication across the country. Steven Raphael makes the case for a strong link between homelessness and local housing market regulations—which affect housing affordability—and shows that the problem is more prevalent in markets with stricter zoning laws. Finally, Brendan O'Flaherty bridges the theoretical gap between the worlds of public health and housing research, evaluating the pros and cons of subsidized housing programs and the economics at work in the rental housing market and home ownership. Ultimately, he suggests, the most viable strategies will serve as safety nets—"social insurance"—to reach people who are homeless now and to prevent homelessness in the future. It is crucial that the links between effective policy and the whole cycle of homelessness—life conditions, service systems, and housing markets—be made clear now. With a keen eye on the big picture of housing policy, How to House the Homeless shows what works and what doesn't in reducing the numbers of homeless and reaching those most at risk.

Strategies for Improving Homeless People's Access to Mainstream Benefits and Services

Strategies for Improving Homeless People's Access to Mainstream Benefits and Services
Author: Martha R. Burt
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 287
Release: 2010
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1437936814

In 2000, HUD, in recognition that any solution to homelessness must emphasize housing, targeted its McKinney-Vento Act homeless competitive programs towards housing activities. This policy decision presumed that programs such as Medicaid, TANF and General Assistance could pick up the slack produced by the change. This study examines how 7 communities sought to improve homeless people¿s access to mainstream services following this shift away from funding services through the Supportive Housing Program. Provides communities with models and strategies that they can use. Highlights the limits of what even the most resourceful of communities can do to enhance service and benefit access by homeless families and individuals.

Shelter

Shelter
Author: Gordon Laird
Publisher:
Total Pages: 97
Release: 2007
Genre: Homelessness
ISBN: 9780973019735