Self-Sufficiency Programs

The Federal Housing Administration, otherwise known as the FHA, is a government agency created to help alleviate the case of homelessness in the country. The agency is under the authority of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), set up in 1934 after the Great Depression. The primary purpose of establishing the FHA is to oversee different insurance programs for single family mortgages, insuring mortgage loans provided by HUD-approved lending institutions. In order to get FHA loans, buyers are required to have a satisfactory credit rating and make a down payment.

There is a large population of low-income individuals who are aged, handicapped, or otherwise in the low-income group of individuals who need assistance in obtaining appropriate housing and who, without the benefits of Section 8 subsidized housing would be homeless or living in inhumane conditions and many of these children and the elderly. Section 8 subsidized housing is a HUD program that assists

The U.S. government provides housing assistance to low-income families and individuals through different programs, two of them are: Section 8 tenant-based subsidies (also called Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program); and Section 8 project-based assistance, under which property owners receive government subsidies to decrease rents (Carlson). The

Housing Crisis Center (HCC) was established over 37 years of pioneering programs and services assisting homeless families and individuals in our community. HCC saw a need to opening the homeless shelter in Dallas, Texas, in 1978. Since that beginning, has added additional programs and services, always in response to needs in the community. The HCC has three target populations to help in the community. One target population is All Citizens Empowered (ACE). To qualify for assistance in the ACE housing program the head-of-households has to have a disabling, mental condition such as schizophrenia, and also have an addiction to substances. Individuals must also be continually homeless. Half of the population that the Housing Crisis

Continually ever changing and pushing forward to help millions of people who cannot afford basic essential needs without it. For example, Welfare provides food stamps to people who are struggling with ways to supply and place food on the table every day for themselves along with their families. During hard times, food stamps, become a very much needed basic staple that allows access to nutritious food and everyday living must haves. With food stamps, one can provide food for their family while using other income to help pay for things such as rent, other common living expenses, and bills. Welfare allows a section of society the opportunity to provide for their families and maintain a basic lifestyle and a decent opportunity to succeed in the standardized sub culture today. Another branch or aid that Welfare has in place is Section 8 or subsidized housing. Section 8 is an affordable housing act that has helped house roughly 4.8 million people individuals who have a low income and may struggle financially. Section 8 provides families with the most basic fundament living aspects, this being a safe and affordable housing structure to protect and provide shelter for the family unit. Those who are on Welfare are required to apply for jobs and show proof of doing so if they are currently unemployed. Programs are set in place to assist an individual in their

In recent years, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have identified rapid re-housing as a critical strategy to meeting the national goal of ending family homelessness by 2020 (USICH 2013). As noted in a recent update of Opening Doors, the federal plan to end homelessness, "[US Department of Health and Human Services], HUD, [the US Department of Veterans Affairs], and USICH have joined forces to promote expansion of rapid re-housing as a part of community coordinated systems" (USICH 2013). Rapid re-housing, an intervention that helps homeless families exit shelters and get back into permanent housing quickly, provides short-term help with housing expenses (e.g., rent arrears, ongoing rent assistance, moving costs) and case management focused on housing stability. Rapid re-housing is a relatively new but, as early evidence shows, promising strategy that communities across the country are

To achieve the goal of ending homelessness among veterans by 2015, the VA has numerous programs. These include providing healthcare, rehabilitation services, employment assistance, and transitional housing for veterans, and supportive services for the families of veterans to help them better understand and deal with conditions the veteran spouse may have. Additionally, the VA works with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide long-term housing solutions for homeless veterans (Homeless Veterans, For Homeless Veterans).

There are five programs from Veterans Affairs (VA) that offer services for the homeless veterans to get back on their feet. The programs are “The Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs (HUD-VA), The Grant and Per Diem program,

In addition, with the participate of complex and apartment building and subsidize housing along with HUD, we can put an end to homelessness.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is intended to assist families that are living in poverty to achieve self-sufficiency by providing the family with cash benefits. The TANF program has several characteristics of early U.S. social welfare programs. Although today, the policies regarding the TANF program are much different than the early programs and changes continue to occur to change the TANF policy. Today the TANF policy provides funding sources, strict income limits, and has incorporated employment programs to promote self-sufficiency of individuals that receive benefits, to name just a few.

The government has many funds going across the United States to help support the residents of its country. Food stamps, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a resource that provides people with a way to buy food if they don’t have the money to do so. This aid is given in different forms such as a LINK card, cash and/or paper that resembles money but can be redeemed for food.Most people that use this resource are having hardships in their lives. The USDA ( U.S Department of Agriculture) states that nearly 40 million Americans are being fed by this program.( "Food Stamps.")

For instance, housing plans, housing plans that offer food, shelter, and clothes, and even nonprofit, and social, organizations to help fund housing developments. There are even organizations that offer help with financial issues as well. “Coal for the Homeless.” Coalitionforthehomeless.org, n.d. Mon. 16 Nov. 2015. : Long-term housing solutions, “Financial housing programs are one of the most successful housing-based solutions to reduce homelessness. The two largest federal housing programs are public housing and federal housing vouchers…” Jim Romeo. “Gale Group.” Poverty and Homeless, 2009. Mon. 16 Nov. 2015. : There’s a new strategy, “...the newly homeless get shelter, food, clothing, and access to government and nonprofit services.””Here’s How We Can Fight Homelessness.” Center For American Progress Action Fund, 2005-2015. Mon. 16 Nov. 2015. : Mainstream sources need to be looked into by individual communities to help aid their own homeless people, such as, “Medicaid or Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF).” How many people are homeless in

In many rural, resource-based communities, this population is not on wait lists for low-income housing. They are not receiving subsidized rent or qualify for other income dependent benefits. This population is not homeless because they are experiencing poverty, unemployment, poor physical or mental health, addiction,

A time when we gave young people the opportunity to thrive. A time when we gave veterans the opportunity to find decent housing in the very country they risked everything to protect. A time when we gave all those who’ve fallen on hard times the chance to turn the page and start anew.” Everyone is helping families meet this need. Everyone is giving them new hope for the future. And because of every ones work, in just three years Castro has seen an eight percent drop in family homelessness. Society must create an infrastructure that gives everyone a fair shot at achieving the American Dream. A little over than one million people are served in HUD-supported emergency, transitional and permanent housing programs each year. There are four types of federally defined categories under which individuals and families may qualify as homeless, they are: literally homeless, imminent risk of homelessness, homeless under other Federal statues and fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless. Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past twenty thru twenty-five years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in

The issue of homelessness is one that I can relate to all too well. About twenty five years ago I found myself among the homeless. My story is simple, I had no formal education and was working a job making minimum wage. I couldn’t keep up with my rent and other living expenses and was finally evicted from my overpriced apartment. At the time I was on a waiting list for public housing for which there was at least a two year waiting period. The fact that I was single, with no children did not help me either. For a while I lived on the streets and in shelters, too ashamed to approach what family members I had with my problems knowing that they were