Homelessness isn’t only an issue involving poverty. Income inequality and increasing housing costs are factors that add to homelessness, and fixing those factors can help decrease the likelihood of a family becoming homeless.

Also, many kids born in working class family neighborhoods don’t receive the same quality of education kids receive in middle class family neighborhoods. The inequality in education needs to be eradicated and more opportunities, such as job training and fun activities that will build skills needed later in life, need to be provided for kids that are in the lower SES.

I agree with Nunez and Culhane that the homeless must be provided with services such as job training, other educational services, and mental and physical health care instead of just being plopped into housing. Some can really utilize the services if they are provided with it, and others might not need it. But for some, providing education services and health care can help end a cycle of homelessness.

Housing and rental discrimination still persist today.  In the past, discrimination was more open and overt; today, it is subtle.  Minority buyers and renters are treated less favorably than whites.  Whites generally are given more information, help, and options than minorities by realtors, bankers, and insurance providers.  For example, banks have become stricter to minorities, offering “higher down payments and less favorable mortgage rates.”  As a result, minorities have a tougher time buying a house.  Very little has been done to dismantle the segregated neighborhoods.  Real estate practices continue to contribute to residential segregation. Even today, the Fair Housing Act is not adequately enforced.  For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is processing fewer complaints, it is taking longer to process complaints, and victim compensation has declined.

I am unsure if I would be for blocking HUD’s new fair-housing rule or against. I agree that people should choose where they want to live without government interference. But I’m also for reducing racial segregation and providing people access to better resources. I’m leaning more towards against blocking it, but who am I to say that people have to live in certain areas even if they don’t want to.