The Problem of Homelessness in the United States

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The Problem of Homelessness in the United States

Introduction

In the United States, widespread homelessness first emerged in the early 1980s in large part as a consequence of major cuts in federal housing and other programs designed to help low - income people. Gentrification, which pushed low-income residents out of their homes and communities, also played a significant role. These changes affected a large proportion of the population. No longer was it a limited problem affecting a narrow group of people, generally older, single, white males living in urban centers. Instead, families, working men and women, younger people, racial and ethnic minorities, and both suburban and rural areas were affected. Ultimately, the problem of homelessness became a national crisis (National Center on Family Homelessness, 2012).

The Human Right to Housing

There is now broad consensus that access to permanent, affordable housing is essential to ending and preventing homelessness. Other measures are important; work that pays a living wage, for those able to work, income supports for those unable to work; access to affordable healthcare and child-care; education and job training. Housing remains fundamental; indeed some of these other measures (such as wages and income support) are means to pay for it, while others, such as medical care and education, are likely to be compromised by its absence. The American legal system is, in general, described in terms of a system that guards the political as well as the civil rights but not the social or other economic rights.

The Private and Public Responses to the Problem of Homelessness in America

In the early 1980s, when the problem of homelessness became more of a crisis, it was initially not viewed as a national issue by the federal government. Indeed, President Reagan, then in office, and members of his administration stated on numerous occasions that it was a “lifestyle” choice and that primary responsibility for responding was on charities or, at most, local government. Members of both parties in Congress did not view homelessness as a national policy concern. Advocacy, too, initially focused on campaigns for local government response. Much of early advocacy was centered on local level demands for a right to shelter (Brown, 1999).

In the mid - 1980s, advocacy for a comprehensive federal response was initiated. Following a concerted, multipronged national campaign, advocates won a major victory: passage by Congress of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Now known as the McKinney - Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the bill was passed by large bi-partisan majorities and reluctantly signed into law by President Reagan. While it represented only part one of advocates' three-part agenda, it nonetheless was an extremely significant event; it marked the transformation of homelessness into a national policy issue. Since then, advocates have successfully pushed for an increase in funding and a re-engineered focus away from emergency response and toward permanent solutions.

Over the years, the McKinney - Vento Act has expanded, and additional legislation has been ...