Identifying Solutions to Homelessness in Maryland

Like many other states, homelessness in Maryland is a serious issue today. Despite ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments, Maryland has continued to experience an increase in homelessness in recent years, especially among families and individuals who are suffering the combination of poverty and a dearth of affordable housing (Decker et al., 2022). While some of this trend is attributable on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its negative effect on the national economy, a wide array of chronic issues comprises the complex problem of homelessness in Maryland (The Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness. 2022). Moreover, some people choose to remain homeless for a constellation of personal reasons despite the adversity of the condition, including most especially substance abuse and mental illness. Consequently, identifying viable strategies to improve the effectiveness of homeless interventions represents a timely and important enterprise. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to provide a description concerning homelessness in Maryland and why it is important to address this target population. In addition, an overview of the program proposed for evaluation is followed by a discussion concerning the evaluation questions most salient in addressing this problem. Further, an assessment concerning how the proposed evaluation will expand on existing work and a discussion concerning other evaluations of this program and their findings are followed by a description of the potential contributions the proposed evaluation can make to public health. Finally, a summary of the research and the key findings are provided in the conclusion.

1. What is the target health issue or topic (Homelessness), and why is it important to address? Who is the target population(s)?

The target population of interest in the proposed evaluation consists of homeless individuals in Maryland. Although precise figures are not available, state and federal officials estimate the number of homeless in Maryland at more than 50,000 people. A growing body of research indicates that a number of factors contribute to homelessness, but there is an inextricable relationship between homelessness and public health threats which makes this issue important to address. In this regard, one authority emphasizes that, People typically experience homelessness because they cant afford housing which is often perpetuated by things like poor health. The connection between poverty, housing and health is close and direct (Homelessness in Maryland, 2023, para. 5).

Because many state-level interventions for homelessness rely solely on taxpayer money for funding, it is essential to evaluate this programming to determine if there are gaps in coverage and other opportunities for improvement. For instance, according to Adams and Neville (2020), Integral to health professional practice is the development and delivery of initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Given that many of these initiatives are publicly funded, an [evaluation] should be included for these...…partner organizations were in compliance with applicable state regulations (Annual Report on Homelessness, 2022).

Conspicuously absent from the MICH evaluation, though, is the harsh reality that since its implementation, the homeless problem in Maryland has just gotten worse. When something is made a priority, it is be definition supposed to get better. As noted above, there were some extenuating factors involved in this calculus, but the expenditure of millions of dollars in taxpayer money has not translated into any improvements in the homeless situation in Maryland. Therefore, formulating informed and timely answers to the above-listed evaluation questions will serve to identify potential opportunities to improve the administration of the HSP and its partner organizations in addressing the chronic problem of homelessness in Maryland today and in the future.

Conclusion

The research showed that homelessness in Maryland has been increasing in recent years despite efforts by the federal and state governments. The research also showed that homelessness is a complex issue with multiple causes, including most especially poverty and a lack of affordable housing, but the problem has also been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the corresponding impact on the national economy. In response to this need, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Developments Homelessness Solutions Program was proposed for a critical evaluation using a series of questions that are intended to assess the current effectiveness of this programming in order to identify opportunities for improvement. Finally, the proposed evaluation…