The number of people in the U.S. that are homeless fluctuates, making it hard to track. According to HUD, however, on a single night in 2023, 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness. Social services in many forms, both at the government level and the community level, are helping to solve this problem.
Social Services Defined
Social services are broadly defined as services that advance social welfare, social transformation, and social justice. These services may be provided by government agencies or non-profit organizations. Their goal is to improve the well-being of people who, in their current circumstances, can’t access everything they need to live a healthy and productive life.
Causes of Homelessness
The causes of homelessness are many. Currently, the lack of affordable housing is one of the largest issues. As of 2022, a full-time worker would have to make $25.82 per hour to afford a 2 bedroom rental, and $21.21 to afford a one bedroom. This is obviously a huge barrier for low-income families.
This goes hand in hand with poverty as a cause of homelessness. In 2022, the poverty rate in the U.S. was 11.5%. Imagine a family living in poverty with expenses like food, clothing, and childcare. Sometimes it’s a choice between eating and paying rent.
Other factors that contribute to homelessness include:
- Domestic violence
- Mental illness
- Substance abuse disorders
- Barriers to employment for people like ex-felons or those with disabilities
Many social services are devoted to solving these root causes of homelessness, as well as the problem of homelessness itself.
Government Programs that Combat Homelessness
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several programs that address homelessness.
- Continuum of Care (CoC): Provides funding to non-profit organizations and to state and local governments for programs that address homelessness.
- Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG): Provides funding to:
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- Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street
- Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families
- Help operate these shelters
- Provide essential services to shelter residents
- Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families
- Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless
- Title V: A law that enables non-profit organizations to use unutilized, underutilized, excess, or surplus federal properties to assist persons experiencing homelessness.
- HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH): Rental assistance for homeless veterans.
The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) also offer programs to assist homeless people with mental illness or substance use disorders.
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH): Provides funds for services for people with serious mental illness experiencing homelessness.
- Treatment for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (TIEH): Expands access to mental and substance use disorders treatment for homeless people suffering from serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, or other co-occurring disorders.
- SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR): Provides access to Social Security disability benefits for children and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have a mental illness, disability, and/or a substance use disorder.
- The Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC): Provides training on housing and treatment models focused on adults, children, and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have mental illness and/or emotional disturbance, substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders.
- Grants for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance, aka the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI): Provides resources to improve the mental health outcomes for children and youth at risk for or with emotional disturbances and their families who are homeless.
- Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI): Provides comprehensive treatment and services for people, including youth and families with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental illnesses who are homeless.
The Role of Community Non-Profit Organizations
Many non-profit organizations provide social services that address homelessness. For example, the National Alliance to End Homelessness advocates for federal initiatives to combat homelessness, researches solutions to homelessness, and helps communities build programs to help prevent and end homelessness.
Other organizations run homeless shelters, provide services that address the causes of homelessness, and help homeless people access resources that can assist in finding affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity is a unique example of a non-profit organization that has found a creative way to address homelessness. Habitat for Humanity brings those in need of a home together with volunteers to build a home and get an affordable mortgage loan. They also have programs to revitalize neighborhoods, help seniors to age in place, and to advocate for policies that promote housing affordability.
Without these non-profit social service organizations, homelessness would be an even larger problem than it is. Government programs are limited, and these organizations fill gaps that federal programs don’t address.
What Can Individuals Do to Help the Homeless?
Individual contributions to homelessness organizations are invaluable in the efforts to end homelessness. You can contribute in several ways.
- Donate financially
- Donate the necessities that homeless people need
- Volunteer
- Support businesses that contribute to homelessness causes
- If you have a business, hire people in need
- Call your Congress representatives to advocate for programs that address homelessness
In Closing
Homelessness is a problem that everyone should understand and address in whatever way they can. Social services provided by the government and non-profit organizations are critical to addressing the problem, but they require the support of individuals. Whether you make a financial donation, or a donation of necessities, or you volunteer for an organization in your community, you will be making a difference and helping people to live in a warm, safe place. It takes the help of all of us to eradicate homelessness for good.
If you or someone you know is struggling with homelessness, Health Service Alliance is here to help by connecting you with the services that you and your family need. We will work closely with you to ensure that you have access to assistance and to opportunities to have a safe, comfortable place to call home.
