Addressing veteran homelessness through public policy assessment

Public Policy Assessment

Homelessness is a public policy issue that is relevant for almost every community, especially within the veteran community, where there is a general appreciation that individuals who have served their country should be looked after. The development of policies to improve a situation can be complex with many different influences and concerns various stakeholders. The use of a decision making model that breaks down the process into its component parts; looking at understanding the problem, the relevant policy goals, assessing and choosing potential solutions, and evaluation, provides a strong framework for the analysis (Weiner & Vining, 2011). These stages will be used to consider the issue of homelessness.

Understanding the problem

Homelessness may be defined in different ways, in United States it usually incorporates a relatively narrow definition, including only those who are living on the streets, or who are housed in emergency accommodation (Daly, 2013). Other countries adopt a broader view, incorporating those who are in defining it is those who are not insecure accommodation, which also incorporates those who are in temporary accommodation such as welfare hotels, or are living in insecure conditions (Daly, 2013). The problem of homelessness is complex, those who do not have a home win a precarious situation, they are vulnerable, with increased risk of being a victim of crime, and vulnerable in terms of both mental and physical health. The problem may also be seen as cyclic, as those who are homeless not have the relevant access to resources to break the cycle. From a financial perspective, homelessness has both direct and indirect costs on society, not only those who are homeless. Increased costs may include higher levels of welfare support including health care and social problems such as dealing with crime by all to the homeless. The presence of homelessness in an area may have a negative impact that will influence perceptions of the area, may deter people from visiting local businesses, and impact on real estate prices. From the perspective of many of the electorate, homelessness is an issue they do not want to see, and although they want it solved, there may also be an unwillingness to see increased spending from the public purse. In January of 2014 data collected by the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development indicated there were approximately 49,933 veterans homeless on any given night, an increase of 33% on 2010 (NAEH, 2014).

Choosing a solution

Solutions may include expanding the current homeless programs, or altering them to give veterans priority. However, a different policy was implemented in Phoenix, which has been very successful. Working with the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city provided housing for the chronically homeless veterans and then support for them while they rebuilt their lives, including welfare payments for food and living while they adjusted and aid in finding work (Santos, 2014).

Evaluation

By January 2014 the city had officially ended veteran homelessness, and the vast majority of these who hade been given homes had gone on to find jobs and become independent reducing the burden on the welfare state as well as improving their own lives, and reducing the problems associated with homelessness (Santos, 2014). The short-term cost has resulted in longer term benefits, and low long-term costs to the community.

Reference

Daly, G, (2013), Homeless: Policies, Strategies and Lives on the Streets, Routledge

National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), (2014), Veterans, accessed at http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/veterans1

Santos, F, (2014, Jan 15), Program to End Homelessness Among Veterans Reaches a Milestone in Arizona, New York Times, accessed at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/us/program-to-end-homelessness-among-veterans-hits-milestone-in-arizona.html?_r=0

Weiner, DL; Vining AR, (2011), Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice, New York, Longman