Mi Casa es Tu Casa- (My home is your home)

SESSION 13: Community Development & Housing Policies

·         What you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).

The lack of substantial governmental projects to provide affordable housing is one of the main contributors of poverty.  The minimum wage salary is an inadequate reflector of the cost of living because it is simply not enough to cover the expenses the average individual has to pay if he or she intends to have a decent life.  It is logical to assume that private corporations will not lose profits in order to help society since the goal of for-profit corporations is to maximize profits. Therefore, it is up to the government and private individuals to aid those who cannot afford the ridiculously high prices of the housing sector. The Housing Act of 1937 was the first federal piece of legislation that recognized the need to eradicate slums and create decent housing for low-income families. Then the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 created the Community Development Block Grant Program, which provides metropolitan cities with grants that serve to spread the creation of affordable housing and improve the facilities of already existing housing projects.  Despite the government’s efforts to provide affordable housing to low and moderate income families their success eventually reached a stagnant point, meaning it was time for the private sector to get involved. The Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 produced block grants for state and local governments.  In other words, the Home Investment Partnerships, Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP), and Homeownership Zone facilitate the transition of federal resources to local governments to support the development of affordable housing. This legislation designated two programs called HOME and HOPE.  HOME IV offers sophisticated, mix-income housing facilities, however, unemployment, lack of healthcare, and low levels of education are among the factors that challenge those who are trying to overcome poverty. There are more than 13,000 public housing developments in the United States- residents pay 30% of adjusted income. The largest federal housing assistance program are Section 8 Vouchers which allows the tenants to remain on their property paying a rent value equal to 30% of their income while the Housing Authority subsidizes the gap between their income and the fair market price for the property.  The Atlanta Housing Authority has been very active and successful in their quest to eliminate the ghettos.  By 2010, the last three major complexes will be closed (AJC). By eliminated the slums the Housing Authority is helping the children of these impoverished families because the context in which they are being raised will be a great determining force in the adults they will become. George Galster claimed in his publication, Do Neighborhoods matter?, that the best way to decrease poverty is to achieve a 10 percent or less poverty rate in any given neighborhood. Sadly, vouchers lack funding meaning that only 1 in 3 families who are eligible actually receive the benefit.  On the other hand,   Community Development Corporations are important community organizers and builders who are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to decent housing.

·         How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States and globally.

The fact that the nonprofit sector is taking initiatives to alleviate poverty is a very positive social phenomenon. Programs such as the MVI of Philadelphia and the Palm Beach Country Community Development demonstrate that there are many individuals committed to creating progressive communities.  These volunteers often go unaccredited for their charity but they know that they are working hard to make a significant impact in the life of someone.  I used to think poverty was not being addressed at all but now I know that there are numerous individuals out there fighting a war against poverty, the only problem is that they are in desperate need of more soldiers.

Good news: The government pays for wrinkles! Bad News: They don't pay enough :(

Session 12: The Social Security Act

What you think is being done about poverty (e.g., current policies and programs in the United States and globally).

President Franklin Roosevelt’s chief legacy was his transformation of the role of the government.  He passed a serious of legislative acts that enlarged the function of the government in the daily lives of Americans.  The Social Security act of 1935 was a major success for his administration because it protected workers with insurance for unemployment and old age. The Social Security Act is brilliant system where individuals are eligible for employer’s compensation only if they have completed at least forty quarters of work (ten years).  By setting such requirements, the government ensures that at least the beneficiary has paid some part of the compensation. The Social Security act is one of the most successful anti-poverty measures ever invented by the government. The funds, which are collected through taxation, have saved millions of individuals who otherwise might have fallen into the ill cycle of absolute poverty.  Social Security protects people from old age, disability, and provides hospital insurance. Although, social security is shadowed by the privatization vs. anti-privatization debate, up to the date, it has managed to keep millions out of poverty.  Although, social security benefits are not sufficient to provide the elderly with a decent life, at least it helps.  

Why do we allow corporations to dictate our health?

Session: 11- Healthcare in the United States
 

     How well you think poverty is being addressed currently in the United States?

In the United States, healthcare facilities are primarily owned and operated by the private sector.  The lack of governmental agencies that offer healthcare insurance in the US have caused millions of Americans to be uninsured.  The United States leads the world in diplomatic relations, protection of human rights, and wealth but we fall far behind from the industrialized world when it comes to offering free healthcare to the vast majority of citizens.  Private and Government insurance are the main types of health care insurances available.  Statistics show that in 2008-2009, the number of uninsured individuals increased to 50.7 million and the number of uninsured children rose to 7.5 million.  As a result, in 2008 the private sector experienced a decrease of 66.7 percent, however, government insurance increased by 29 percent.  This statistics are very alarming because the fact that more people are now eligible to receive government insurance most likely means that more people are being dragged into poverty.  Furthermore, it emphasizes the urgent need for health insurance that is affordable for everyone.  Young adults, 18-24 year olds, are the portion of the population who is least likely to have health insurance.  On the contrary, the elderly are the ones with the highest rates of insured individuals.  The South is the region of the United States that holds the greatest number of uninsured individuals.  According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Georgia’s rate of uninsured individuals increased by 20.5 percent from 2008 to 2009.  Minorities compose one-third of the population in the United States, yet they conform 52 percent of the number of uninsured individuals.  The great disparity that exists in the health care system of the United States precipitated the creation of The National Center on Minority Health and Disparities. They made some alarming discoveries regarding the inequality of the healthcare system; however, to address these problems, Medicare, Medicaid, and S-CHIP were created.  While these programs provided rudimentary health services for children and the elderly, they failed to address that our youth is also very vulnerable since they are the part of the population with highest rates of uninsured individuals.  A country such as the United States can no longer afford to ignore the issue of healthcare; it is not possible that we lag so far behind on life expectancy.  As a result, the Health Care Reform was finally approved by congress. This government initiative will allow millions of Americans to have access to much-needed healthcare!