Helping Homelessness with Government Grants

by | Housing Information, Public Assistance

 Poverty and homelessness in the United States and around the world is increasing on a daily basis. Here in the United States, rising housing costs and lower livable wages have been among the 2 biggest contributing factors. Lack of mental health facilities for the poor is another cause. Perhaps the greatest contributor to homelessness, though, is our financial system. Before we can fight homelessness, we have to overcome our capitalist limitations and start helping homelessness with available grants. In an ideal society, neighbors would provide for one another, ensuring that everyone’s basic needs – food, water, and shelter – were met, regardless of income or the ability to contribute.

In our capitalist culture, though, we’ve attached a monetary value to everything, and basic human rights are often only available at a price. As capitalists become more selfish and work to amass more wealth, our government steps in to try to provide for those in need. But government cannot meet everyone’s needs without resorting to a pure socialist agenda, something that voters are not ready to accept.

 

Private and Public Grants Helping Homelessness

helping homelessnessThe most effective funding mechanism for fighting homelessness is through a variety of grants, both public and private. Any group of motivated citizens can apply for grant funding and have some impact on homelessness. They will also need to develop relationships with local government, property owners, nearby neighborhoods, and the homeless community. But the bottom line always comes down to funding.

It’s easy to find grants offered specifically to combat homelessness. GrantWatch.com is a convenient search engine for grants in specific states for specific purposes. The site charges a small fee for access to details, and provides tools and support for applicants. Most major corporations maintain a charitable giving program. From the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Walmart Foundation, everyone wants a reputation for being community minded, and many are extremely generous, especially in the effort to provide for basic human needs.

There are requirements, of course, for any grant program. The funding organizations rarely give to individuals or businesses. They fund government programs and registered non-profits. They want to ensure that their money is used wisely and for the purpose intended, so there are rules about record-keeping, approved spending, project timing and completion, and partnering with other organizations. It’s common to see a requirement that half the funding comes from another source. There are often waiting periods and feasibility studies, permit applications, real estate deals, and government oversight. Grant writing, or submitting an application for a grant, is so complex and specific that most charities hire a specialist to navigate the process. Professional help is also necessary for project management and accountability to the grantor of funds. Especially in the area of providing public housing or low-income housing, a great many rules and expectations are involved. Every level of government, from state to home owners’ associations, has to be consulted, heard, and accommodated.

 

 

Community Groups Can Help

Many community groups, put off by the complexity of grant applications and approvals, skip the whole funding step and just organize to help where they can. Free Hot Soup, a group started in Portland OR and spreading to other cities on the west coast, started with a handful of neighbors cooking a hearty meal and sharing it on the streets downtown. The Portland group has over 2,000 members and for many of them, making soup was just a jumping off place. They now work with homeless groups to establish self-sufficient camps. A couple of people formed a support coalition to advocate for the homeless with local government. Protests are organized. Phone calls are made, Letters are written. Enough people care about their unhoused neighbors that there is constant pressure on city government to address the problem with all possible resources. This kind of pressure can result in the city applying for grants to relieve homelessness and relieving the activists of the headaches of grant writing!

Applying for and receiving grants to fight homelessness is one small piece of the puzzle. It’s an important piece, and a complex one, but not the only one. Without community communication, government oversight, a strong motivated team, and a solid relationship with the people themselves who are experiencing homelessness, money has very little power. A grant is one of many tools needed to get the job done.

 

Best and Worst Student Loan Services
Best and Worst Student Loan Services This is the time of year when hundreds of thousands of Americans begin to prepare for their first semester in college. They begin to seek out the items that will sustain them during dorm life. Parents spend money on new sheets, hot...
How Does Renting to Own Really Work?
 In the years leading up to the financial crisis of 2007-08, the renting to own model — in which tenants/buyers have an option to purchase the house or condo they’re renting from their landlord/seller— was mostly offered by individual homeowners. In the...
Job Hunting at Career Fairs
Are you looking to find a new job or a new career? If you are, you may want to try career day job hunting, as it is a great way to not only find available jobs, but also apply and interview the same day. Looking for new and exciting careers? Click the link below!...
Affordable Housing Problems
On 1st Street in Santa Ana — not far from where authorities recently cleared a tent encampment along the Santa Ana River near Angel Stadium — developer Caleb Roope wants to build nearly 1,000 apartments that will be affordable for low-income seniors and...
Free Cell Phones: Avoid The Trap
Cell phones are becoming very sophisticated with the advancement in the technology. Today the cell phones come with lot of mind-boggling kinds of features on them. Due to the increasing competition between the handset manufacturers and the service providers, lots of...
5 Strategies to Reduce Stress and Strengthen Family Relationships
 Stress is everywhere. You feel stressed at work and on your commute, and maybe even your home, the place that is supposed to be your sanctuary. When you arrive home from your job, you're met by bills that need to be paid, children that need to be fed and...
Examine Failures and Find Inspiration
How to Examine Failures and Use it as Inspiration Sometimes, when we fail, it can feel like the end of the world. None of us like to be told that we are doing something wrong. None of us like to experience setbacks in our plans. It can make us question our self-worth,...
Understanding Federal Grants (Part 1)
 Let me start off by asking you this question. How would you like free money that you will never have to pay back, from the federal government? Sounds great doesn't it? Well, the simple truth is that you can get it if the government decides to award you a...
Getting The Most Out of Your Dental Insurance
If you have dental insurance, it is imperative to know how to get the best out of it. There are several things that you need to understand to maximize the cover for the betterment of your teeth. Your dentist is the most resourceful person to advise you on how to get...
How To Get The Best Insurance Deals
In most cases finding the best insurance deals is difficult. Since having insurance is a requirement rather than being optional it is a good idea to shop around for the best insurance deals. It’s difficult to shell out the cash for insurance premiums and...
Tips for Insurance Discounts
Home insurance and automobile insurance might be must-haves, but it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to have the appropriate coverages. There are things you can do to get discounts on your homeowners insurance and automobile insurance. Here are...
The FHA and Home Loans
 The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures mortgages on loans provided through FHA-approved lenders. Since its creation in 1934, the FHA has insured tens of millions of homes for families in the United States. These mortgage insurances protect...
History of St Patrick’s Day
 St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent,...
Find The Best Section 8 Homes & Rentals
Find The Best Section 8 Homes & Rentals Are you feeling a little frustrated searching for Section 8 homes and rental property? Below is a list of multiple Section 8 housing resources. These are not in any particular order. These are just eight very good resources...
How to Manage Credit Card Payments
Do you have issues paying off credit cards? Sometimes the interest itself can be an overwhelming monthly payment. We have gathered some information below from credit experts that can hopefully help you manage your payments and find a way out from under...
5 Ways to Keep Your House During A Market Crash
Anyone paying attention to the housing market in the Los Angeles area knows that home prices have been at record highs. National Mortgage News suggests that this could be a housing bubble about to burst, and a decline in home prices and an increase in mortgage...
Solid Advice for Credit Repair
It may be difficult to find information on the best ways to improve your credit. There is a wealth of different tips in this article to help you rebuild your journey to credit repair. Using these tips can save you from stressing and prevent headaches....
Five Great Resources for Working from Home
 There have been thousands of people watching “Good Morning America” who have sent us messages thanking us for helping them make the money while working from home. For anyone who hasn’t yet taken the leap forward but feel as though you might be ready,...
Car Shopping and Ways To Pay for It
A franchised new car dealership is a reliable, if not the only, source for anyone who wants to buy a new car.  But to those who prefer buying used or previously owned cars, there are plenty of options and sources one could choose from to be able to make...
The Most Common Reasons for Debt
 High debt balances can create significant stress, negatively impact not only your future, but it can also impact your health. It can prevent you from enjoying the quality of life that you otherwise may enjoy without the burden of debt payments. While...

The Premier Forex League

Subscribe

RSS ED News

Family Picnic

Enter Your Email for Best Results

Due to the overwhelming response, please enter your name and email to ensure the proper search results.

You Are On Your Way!

Family Picnic

Enter Your Email to Receive New Assistance Updates

Due to the overwhelming response, please enter your name and email to ensure proper results.

Thank You! You will now receive the latest assistance updates!

Family Picnic

Enter Your Email for Best Results

Due to the overwhelming response, please enter your name and email to ensure the proper search results.

You Are On Your Way!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This