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Significance of Homelessness Policy in Atlanta Many people have become homeless in the US cities due to lack of affordable housing. Atlanta city ranks second with a percentage of 1.4 homeless people who do not have a place to call home or live in inadequate housing. Homelessness is an issue which if it continues without authorities checking it, could result into negative effects both socially and economically. Increased number of homeless people in the city results to increased crime rate because these people have to compete for available public space. Homeless people have the capability of doing anything by breaking the law leading to massive incarceration. Many homeless people would be exposed to criminal justice overstretching the incarceration facilities thus pressuring tax payers more (O’Sullivan, 2012). Moreover, homeless people are exposed to illnesses and health complications and this becomes a burden to emergency care and taxpayers. All citizens are entitled to equitable distribution of social services and homeless people are not an exception. Economically homelessness impact both domestic and foreign tourism that contribute more to the economy. Tourists are scared off by panhandlers and many social events could be adversely affected by increased number of homeless people in the city. Consequently, the value of properties is affected by homelessness since they congregate on undesirable conditions which lower the value of properties. The policy of housing and urban development has made availability of funds to provide supportive housing in Atlanta whose objective is to move people from homelessness to independent residences. Providing of housing is a program that makes social services equitably distributed to all regardless of social-economic status. The policy helps former homeless people with disabilities and payment of rents for people residing in single units (Competitively Awarded Homeless Programs). The Continuum of Care in Atlanta was aimed at getting homeless people and to take preventive actions as it has assisted by offering about $ 1.5 and $1.75 million for homeowners and renters respectively, and spent about $ 4-5million in providing single room occupancy (McGill, Cepalak and Gallops). The feasibility of implementing this program has seen the outcomes becoming beneficial through providing supportive housing and temporal occupancy buildings. Although the costs may seem to be daunting on tax payers, they are beneficial in long term. The cost benefit of this program of provision of supportive housing is supported since the cost of one person per day is estimated at $ 41.85. This is rather cheaper than having people in jail at a cost of $ 164.57, prison cost $ 74, mental hospital $ 467 per day per person (McGill, Cepalak and Gallops). The feasibility of providing housing to homeless people reduces costs and increase benefits by reducing the demand for people in public facilities and hospitalization. The effectiveness of supportive housing initiative by providing homerless individuals with housing has seen the number of holes people reduced significantly, and it has prompted the likelihood of them seeking employment improving their living conditions that had reduced social value stimulated by homelessness. Atlanta urban development and homelessness policy have significantly improved the status of the city economically and socially. Homeless people have been integrated with the rest of the society providing a favorable environment for seeking employments eliminating problems associated with homelessness. The cost involved with homelessness is reduced as the program of providing housing saved about $4million after its initiation, saving nearly $2500 per person per month in health and social services (Larimer, Malone and Garner). Although the society is affected by rebuilding programs in the short run, it is beneficial in the long term by providing equity to all individuals in society by ease of accessing social services. Moreover, the government revenue increases as many people become employed and also elimination of security threats that provides an enabling economic sustainability. Tourism and social events are promoted because the city is safe increasing income since Atlanta is a city that thrives largely of tourism. It is thus, imperative for Atlanta to improve services to homeless people because there will be large scale improvements in the long run reducing the number of holes people which will offer a social and economically prosperous city.
Works Cited
CompetitivelyAwardedHomelessPrograms. " Homes & Communities." Department of Housing and Urban Development (2009).
Larimer, Mary E, et al. "Health Care and Public Service Use and Costs Before and After Provision of Housing for Chronically Homeless Persons With Severe Alcohol Problems." JAMA 301.13 (2009): 1349-1357.
McGill, Kelsey, et al. Homelessness in New Orleans. New Orleans: Loyola University, 2011.
O’Sullivan, Eoin. "Varieties of Punitiveness in Europe: Homelessness and Urban Marginality." European Journal of Homelessness 6.2 (2012): 69-97.