PAD 520: Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation: The Executive Summary The Executive Summary

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PAD520Power-PointAssignment1Week3.pdf

Policy Identification Analysis

Delores Blango

PAD 520

Dr. Timothy Smith

July 24, 2020

Introduction

• The community faces several problems that should be addressed.

•Homelessness is a significant problem in this locality. • It has, therefore, been prioritized in decision-making. • The proposed policy aims at providing support to the

homeless.

• Through the policy, there will be reduced homelessness cases.

Problem Statement

• Homelessness entails living below minimum housing standards or with no roof over their head (Olukoju, 2017).

• It can be episodic, chronic, or transitional.

• It is caused by several factors.

• Political conflicts may push people to homelessness.

• There is a lack of political support for homeless shelters and coordination with other mainstream agencies (Olukoju, 2017).

• Homeless people suffer from police reprisal.

Risks and Challenges

• Risks: • Health problems among the homeless

• High poverty levels in the locality

• Increased drug abuse and crime

• Challenges: • Difficulties in creating jobs

• Lack of permanent supportive housing

Alternatives and Solutions

• Low-income rental housing.

• Targeting subsidies housing to the homeless (Kende, March, &Corden, 2017)

• Creating jobs.

• Placing the homeless in shelters with support services.

• Committing mentally unwell individuals to mental institutions.

Stakeholders and Key Roles

• Public housing authorities: • Development of affordable housing

• Community groups, including churches: • Donating food to the shelter.

• Sourcing jobs for the homeless.

• Government agencies: • Creating jobs for the community (Daly, 2013).

• Constructing homeless shelters.

• Rehabilitating the drug users and the mentally unstable homeless people.

• Philanthropists and donors are a source of funding (Daly, 2013).

• Government agencies should allocate money for this purpose.

• Challenges lie in sourcing funds for affordable houses.

• Such projects may take time to kick-off due to financial constraints.

• Budgets have to be drafted to ensure the finances are used for intended purpose.

• Costs can be saved by using recycling materials to be used in constructing the homeless shelters and houses.

• Additionally, the homeless can also provide labor for housing projects.

Funding and Budget

Criteria

• 50% reduction of homelessness in the next year.

• Lower number of people living in poverty.

• 30% decrease in unemployment in the community.

• Complete eradication of episodic homelessness.

• Follow up sessions with the previously homeless people to find out how they are doing.

Policy Benefits

• There are social and economic incentives behind the policies.

• Housing costs should be subsidized (Daly, 2013).

• Potential benefits:

• Lower medical costs.

• Decreased emergency department costs.

• Lower poverty levels.

Conclusion

• Homelessness affects several people in this community.

• It results from poverty, lack of employment, and calamities. • Addressing the problem will boost the economic well being of the community. • It can be addressed through subsiding housing, job creation, and creating homeless

shelters.

• Lessons learned: • Homelessness is not only harmful to the individuals but also to the society.

• Addressing homelessness is beneficial to the society.

• Different avenues can be considered as sources of funding for the solutions.

• Community policies should entail and evaluation criteria to ensure that they are effective.

Sources • Daly, G. (2013). Homeless: Policies, strategies and lives on the streets. Routledge.

https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=bYVIiPoL0pgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ben efits+of+homeless+policies&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiokqas1NzqAhXNDmMB HQorA4gQ6AEwAnoECAAQAg#v=onepage&q=benefits%20of%20homeless%20p olicies&f=false

• Kende, J., March, J., & Corden, C. (2017, August 10). 7 policies to end family homelessness — Shelterforce. Shelterforce. https://shelterforce.org/2017/07/12/homelessness-housing- integrated-plan-new-york/

• Olukoju. (2017). Causes of homelessness and ways to end and prevent homelessness. Master's Thesis: Hame University of Applied Sciences, 59. https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/138090/Olukoju.pdf?sequence=1&i sAllowed=y

• Thorburn-Quihuis, E. (2018). HUD’s Transitional Housing Unit Program’s Role in the Santa Clara County Community Plan to End Homelessness. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://scholar.google.c om/&httpsredir=1&article=1588&context=etd_projects