Session 13

I am very pleased with the programs that the U.S. has implemented to help low-income housing.  Before this class, I had no idea that the government has been so involved with housing policies.  I believe that the voucher system is a great system because it does not create segregated poor areas and it also uses vacant houses in adequate neighborhoods (the system is also being resourceful!) This allows low-income families to be more dispersed which lowers crime rates and also gives more hope for children to concentrate in school and be less influenced by drugs and gangs.  Hope IV program and the HOME program are similar programs that also provide low income families with affordable housing.  This gives me hope that the government is actually trying to rebuild communities and that they do actually care about the poor population.

The Palm Beach and MVI in Pittsburgh are fabulous programs that provides more opportunities in urban areas.  MVI is trying to re-shape Pittsburgh by providing adequate housing and provide more job opportunities to low income families.  I personally believe that job opportunities are more important that finding adequate housing. After all, a job brings the money in to pay for housing.   Non profit business's like MVI should be available in every city.  This is a great outlook for people and I am so happy that they have been established.

These policies are very beneficial but they have also been established since the first Housing Act of 1937.  The vouchers program also only provides funding for 1 in every 3 eligible families.  These acts alone will not provide all families with a safe and substantial home.  Perhaps more needs to be done to increase the funding for all eligible families to receive a home.