Case Study: Greater Birmingham Habitat For Humanity

This can start to override the stigma often associated with low-income housing and even serving as a point of pride for those who live there” (Marin).

One of the most prevalent forms of discrimination is through housing. While modern discrimination is typically difficult to figure out the exact intentions of the person accused of discrimination, such as a boss not choosing a minority to fill a management role, discrimination in housing has continued to be more obvious. The reason why housing is so important is because where a person lives dictates the school the resident’s children go to, the infrastructure such as hospitals, parks and libraries, and also availability of employment. Many of the housing inequalities have been caused by the Federal government such as the national appraisal system and subsidizing suburban areas, and not enforcing abolishing restricted covenants.

For the past fifty years the shift from meeting the housing needs of the poor through government projects-based housing to a more individual approach, has been slowly implemented. Housing vouchers now enable underprivileged populations to move from high-poverty, segregated neighborhoods to more un-segregated, low-poverty neighborhoods. Low-poverty neighborhoods have less crime, better opportunities for employment, and more diverse schooling options. Some housing advocates however, contend that housing assistance is unnecessary and is an income subsidy that should be combined with other social safety nets (Clark, W. 2008).

Growing up in a disadvantaged part of Washington, D.C. during the 90’s wasn’t always easy. At the time, D.C. was plagued by crime, violence, and poverty, and as a child/teen I often found myself confronted by these harsh realities. Now, as an adult, I actively seek out opportunities to work in underserved and disadvantaged communities because I understand how difficult life can be for those belonging to such communities. I have proudly served in a number of underserved and disadvantaged communities, including rural Guatemala and Flint, Michigan and it is my hope to continue to do

As stated before, communities within cities tend to be segregated by race and economics. Settlement patterns tend to show that people prefer settling with others that display similar outward traits, usually physical characteristics that can be recognized at first glance. Here, race again plays an important role in community poverty. Many communities create disadvantages for minorities based on the population and location. In the study, a white woman, her children, and her partner are evicted from the predominantly white trailer park. Upon eviction, the couple apply to multiple rental agencies and private apartment complexes with little luck because many property owners do not want the burden of children living in their complexes. As the couple become desperate, the woman considers finding a place in the black ghetto community because prices are much cheaper and there are fewer regulations. However, the partner clearly expresses that by lowering the family by living in the ghetto, they will forever be social outcast and seen as scum. The partner would rather be homeless than

In “The Complexities and Processes of Racial Housing discrimination” by Vincent J. Roscigno, Diana L. Karafin, and Griff tester, the main concept of racial disparity and inequality among neighborhoods is discussed, and how those inequalities became to be. They first highlight the wide range of potentially exclusionary practices, through qualitative and quantitative data comprised of over 750 verified housing discrimination cases (Roscigno, p. 162). Citing the U.S. Census, it is found that Blacks, compared to Hispanics and Asians, continue to experience high levels of residential segregation. This is done through discriminatory practices, whether they be by exclusionary or non-exclusionary methods. Even after the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1988, discrimination against Blacks and Hispanics decreased somewhat, though African Americans still appeared to take part in racial steering, and Hispanics continued to have limitations in regards to opportunities and access to rental units (Roscigno, p. 163).

It is often easy to castigate large cities or third world countries as failures in the field of affordable housing, yet the crisis, like an invisible cancer, manifests itself in many forms, plaguing both urban and suburban areas. Reformers have wrestled passionately with the issue for centuries, revealing the severity of the situation in an attempt for change, while politicians have only responded with band aid solutions. Unfortunately, the housing crisis easily fades from our memory, replaced by visions of homeless vets, or starving children. Metropolis magazine explains that “…though billions of dollars are spent each year on housing and development programs worldwide, ? At least 1 billion people

One of the causes of homelessness in Baltimore City is lack of affordable housing, this includes subsidized housing from the state. Lack of affordable housing in Baltimore City is due to an increase luxury housing and Baltimore’s decrease desire for rental housing (Mayor’s Office of Human Services, 2013). Available housing is not proportional to the wages of people living in Baltimore City. Nearly half of renters in Baltimore spend 35% of their income or more on their rent. The waiting list for Baltimore City opened in 2014 and 74,000 households applied for 25,000 available slots for up to six years to own a voucher (“Homelessness in Baltimore,” 2017). For the extremely poor population there are only 42 available homes for over 100 people who identify with the population (Public Justice Center, 2015). Therefore, Baltimore needs to make affordable housing for their population or there should be an increase in jobs and wages. However, the private sector is not interested in developing houses for the low-income population because it is not profitable compared to selling a building to a company to make luxury housing (Richman, 2015).

According to the Census Bureau 25.6 percent of White Center residence live in poverty, which is greater than the national average. A leading cause of poverty is not having access to higher education. I believe this is a problem because children are the ones affected most by poverty. According to the Census Bureau, 42.4 percent of children in White Center under the age of 5 and 49% of 16 to 17 year olds live in poverty. The families that face the most poverty are single female households with no husband present, at 51.3 percent. Unemployment is a leading cause of poverty. The unemployment rate at White Center, WA 26% higher than the national average. I believe this is a problem that needs to be addressed because housing prices in the Seattle

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,

Physical health is not the only challenge African American youths are facing. They are also dealing with living in unsafe conditions. Due to insufficient funds, most poor families are living in poor quality homes like the projects; “for example, blacks and low income people are 1.7 times and 2.2 times more likely, respectively, to occupy homes with severe physical problems compared with the general population.” (Krieger,James)These substandard homes have existed for a number of years and have not been updated; the health concerns such as lead and asthma are painfully

In order to help meet housing needs for struggling families, the United States Government, through the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides benefits to help those families pay rent and support their own homes through the Section 8 Housing Subsidy Program. Carlson, Haveman, Kaplan, and Wolfe (2011) found that an estimated 5.2 million Americans rely on the housing vouchers, and the vouchers help “very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market” (p. 233). The family or individual is able to lease a rental home with the help of the voucher and the voucher amount depends on the family’s income.

Having the privilege to work in one of the busiest emergency departments in Florida, I get to meet many different types of individuals, many of those being homeless. Homeless persons are high risk individuals requiring ED services due to their poor health status, high rates of morbidity, lack of health insurance, chronic use of alcohol and drug abuse, unintentional injuries and much more (Tang, Stein, Hsia, Maselli & Gonzales, 2010). According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (2015), a homeless person is defined as an individual without permanent housing who may or may not be living on the streets; but in a shelter, mission, facility, vehicle, or in an unstable situation. The major precipitating factor contributing to homelessness is the shortage of adequate low-income housing (Shi & Singh, 2015).

The tables in the text make it clear that there is a large gap between the minority population and the general population in regard to knowledge and education about the housing market. Housing discrimination and unethical lending practices are at the root of this problem. Housing and communities remain segregated despite all of the progress America has made since the Civil Rights Movement. Minorities are more likely to live in low income communities and also suffer the side effects of poverty such as a lack of education and job opportunities (Fight Poverty, 2012).

The lack of affordable housing in the United States is a problem that doesn 't receive nearly the attention that it necessitates. This absence of affordable housing became especially prevalent following World War II when suburbanization spread across the country like wildfire. Although the sheer number of homes increased, Jim Crow segregation influenced housing policy, meaning that white institutions prevented blacks from obtaining the mortgages needed to afford such homes. Therefore, rather than accept subprime loans, which often result in foreclosure, many black people have been pigeonholed into paying exorbitant rates for dilapidated rental properties located in inner-cities, thereby creating the affordable housing problem. Although the situation seems bleak, with careful planning and execution, we can solve the affordable housing problem. Specifically, my proposal involves the following two components: the government must first revise and draft three forms of legislation that create strict yet concise standards that landlords must follow, and then allocate federal funding to health and wellness programs within poor communities. By examining the contributing societal factors to the lack of affordable housing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then implementing the proposal mentioned above, one could potentially solve the affordable housing problem there and transpose the plan to other impoverished cities across the country.