Homelessness Policy Analysis

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The federal government and state government has tossed the responsibility around on who should assist the homeless population in the early 1980’s. Homelessness is an ongoing prevalent issue in which the low-income person, mental health individual, and substance abuse user are highly subjective. The Reagan administration did not believe that the federal government should be responsible for the homeless situation in the early 1980’s. Advocates form around the country pushed the federal government to acknowledge homelessness as a national problem requiring a national response (Erin, 2017). Before the Eligibility Clarification Act of 1986, homeless individuals did not have admittance to social welfare programs such as, Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Veterans Benefits, Food Stamps, and Medicaid, which put an even greater strain on qualifying individuals that could not provide proof of permanent residency. The Clarification Act lifted permanency requirements easing the burden for homeless individuals.
Title IV of Steward B. Mc Kinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 authorizes the emergency shelter and transitional housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Emergency Shelter Grant program (expanded from the program created by the
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The alliance is a leading voice for federal homelessness policy that analyze enacted proposed legislation and advocates for improved federal policy. The national alliance is currently urging congress to provide $2.6 billion in FY 2018 for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program. Congress should also prevent the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) from sun-setting and continue to fund it at least at its current $3.6 million funding level (Home,