Homeless Research Essay, Research Paper

The American dream is hard to find. In most cases, the dream includes a home. For many Americans who financially struggling to feed themselves, having a roof over their head is nearly an impossible task. As our government has progressed in the twentieth century, aid has been given to homeless families in the form of basic housing. Low income or subsidized housing has grown immensely I the past few years. The debate is whether subsidized housing is a free home or a free ride. The subsidized housing program should be used as assistance and not a crutch.

Many say that you make out of life what you put into it. Homelessness to certain individuals is brought on by the homeless individual’s actions so they feel that they shouldn?t receive any help from the government. Many believe that subsidized housing is positive ground for families to get into a home and stabilize their financial situation (Gramer). The worry on a lot of minds is the amount of money being handed out to the subsidized housing programs (Husock). The money could be used for other programs such as Medicare or social security (Shinn). The housing programs might be costly but can help families from living on the streets.

1.3 million tenants are currently living in subsidized housing while 2.7 million are living in public housing where the landlord receives incentives from the government (Husock). These millions of tenants are costing working taxpayers because the money running the government assisted programs comes out of tax dollars. Alternatives and remedies need to be thought out.

Often, families are moving into subsidized housing to better the home they were living in (Husock). Section 8 vouchers allow individuals to choose the area they want to live in. The great idea about Section 8 vouchers is the tenant pays thirty percent of the rent. In MaryBeth Shinn?s article, she quotes a researcher that says, ?That as long as the number of families living in intolerable conditions exceeds the capacity of the shelter system, increases in shelter capacity will lead to increases in the size of the shelter (Shinn).? Shinn?s article goes on further by saying that families often have to choose between housing that is structurally adequate and housing that is affordable.

Howard Husock came up with a great idea for solving the problem with subsidized housing and tenants that use the program too long. His idea is to have time limits on the amount of time that tenants can stay in public housing or use public housing vouchers. Husock states, ?It (Time limits) would allow housing subsidies to be directed to those in most immediate need rather than simply going to persons already in the system.? In his article, startling facts and figures are given about the length of time tenants stay in assisted living. More than twenty-five percent of families have lived in their subsidized apartment for more than ten years. Forty-seven percent have lived in their apartment for more than five years (Weitzman). Imposing time limits would not allow the extended lengths of time that are currently given. Congressman Rick Lazio is proposing that tenants sign a form in which a date would be given as to their leaving of public housing. This signature would be an initiative for tenants to move fast on leaving subsidized housing and starting to save for a new place to live (Husock).

Possibly, maybe the government removal of programs would be better for subsidized housing. If the government gave better tax breaks to landlords who provided lower cost housing then the need for shelters and ?projects? should be decreased by a large percentage (Shinn ?State or Trait?). Within the last fifteen years, Home and Urban Development (HUD) has finally allowed tax shelters to landlords (The New Look). The tax breaks come to investors who have low-income apartments or homes for a minimum of twenty years. After the twenty years, the owner of the property can sell the units at a higher market price (The New Look).

Housing for Americans need to become more affordable. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development believes that families should spend no more than thirty percent on housing (Weitzman). Studies have shown that there is a shortage of about 5.2 million affordable housing units in the United States. The same study has also shown that 2.7 million live in housing that is adequate but costs fifty percent more of their income (Weitzman). One story of a Phoenix woman says it best when a social worker found an apartment for a woman on welfare. Her rent is $275 a month for an apartment with no heat and a broken window and her welfare check is $293 (Gramer).

?The New Look of Subsidized Housing.? Nation?s Business Nov. 1983: 20+. Infotrac:

Expanded Academic ASAP. Online. 15 Feb. 2000.

Gramer, Clare. ?Subsidized Housing Lacking for Homeless.? Arizona Republic 27 Apr, 1988: A1. Infotrac: Expanded Academic ASAP. Online. 07 Feb. 2000

Husock, Howard. ?We Did it for Welfare?Now Let?s Put Time Limits on Public Housing.? American Enterprise Jan-Feb 1997: 435+. Infotrac:

Expanded Academic ASAP. Online. 15 Feb. 2000.

Shinn, Marybeth. ?Family Homelessness: State or Trait?? American Journal of Community Psychology. (1997): 755(15). Infotrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

Online. Information Access. 15 Feb. 2000.

Weitzman, Beth C. ?You Can?t Eliminate Homelessness Without Housing.? American Behavioral Sciences Jan 1994: 342+. Infortrac: Expanded Academic ASAP. Online. 07 Feb. 2000.