Analysis of The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 Overview of the Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 was created with the intent to ameliorate homelessness and address it as a national problem in need of federal response. The need for this extensive law arose out of increased demand for recognition of widespread and increasing homelessness as well as an acknowledgment that the causes of homelessness are many that go beyond moral fault in the person (McKinney, 1987). Prior to the enactment of the McKinney-Vento Act, homelessness was a problem that was seen primarily as a moral flaw in the individual as opposed to a structural problem and homelessness was …show more content…
Education, Training and Community Service Programs. Title VII amends section 306(b) of the Adult Education Act by including homeless adults, antipoverty programs and organizations offering assistance to the homeless as part of state educational agencies’ plan to implement literary and basic skill remediation program for the homeless coordinated with community organizations and existing services in each state and offer outreach services to homeless populations. Title VII also establishes access to free public education to homeless children by removing the residency requirement of homeless individuals for children to attend school. A grant is also established to promote state activities for the education of homeless children and youth. Another aspect of Title VII allows the Secretary of Labor to enter into contracts with State and local public agencies, private non-profit organizations and issue demonstration grants for the implementation of programs that will provide job training to homeless populations (McKinney, 1987).
Title VIII. Food Assistance for the Homeless. Title VIII amends section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to include the definition of a homeless individual and revising the definition of household to remove the residency requirement and allow homeless individuals access to the food stamps program. Title VIII also amends the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program by providing appropriations for the distribution of surplus flour, cornmeal and cheese …show more content…
As the problem of homelessness in America expanded, advocates throughout the country demanded national action to counter a national problem and this led to the introduction of the Homeless Persons’ Survival Act of 1986 that contained emergency relief and preemptive measures as well as long term solutions for homelessness (National Coalition for The Homeless, 2006). Small sections of this proposal were enacted such as the Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act of 1986. In late 1986 legislation containing Title I of The Homeless Persons’ Survival Act was introduced as The Urgent Relief for The Homeless Act which was passed in 1987 in both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. This act was renamed as The McKinney-Vento Act after the death of both of its’ key sponsors, Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce Vento (National Coalition for The Homeless. 2006). McKinney-Vento programs have taken a hit in recent years as funding has been decreased or eliminated entirely for some programs. Some of these programs have also been repealed or have been severely restructured such as the consolidation of the Adult Education for the Homeless and Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration programs in 1998 (National Coalition for The Homeless, 2006). The most recent amendment to the McKinney-Vento Act is the Homeless Emergency Housing Assistance and Rapid Transition
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 was created with the intent to ameliorate homelessness and address it as a national problem in need of federal response. The need for this extensive law arose out of increased demand for recognition of widespread and increasing homelessness as well as an acknowledgment that the causes of homelessness are many that go beyond moral fault in the person (McKinney, 1987). Prior to the enactment of the McKinney-Vento Act, homelessness was a problem that was seen primarily as a moral flaw in the individual as opposed to a structural problem and homelessness was …show more content…
Education, Training and Community Service Programs. Title VII amends section 306(b) of the Adult Education Act by including homeless adults, antipoverty programs and organizations offering assistance to the homeless as part of state educational agencies’ plan to implement literary and basic skill remediation program for the homeless coordinated with community organizations and existing services in each state and offer outreach services to homeless populations. Title VII also establishes access to free public education to homeless children by removing the residency requirement of homeless individuals for children to attend school. A grant is also established to promote state activities for the education of homeless children and youth. Another aspect of Title VII allows the Secretary of Labor to enter into contracts with State and local public agencies, private non-profit organizations and issue demonstration grants for the implementation of programs that will provide job training to homeless populations (McKinney, 1987).
Title VIII. Food Assistance for the Homeless. Title VIII amends section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to include the definition of a homeless individual and revising the definition of household to remove the residency requirement and allow homeless individuals access to the food stamps program. Title VIII also amends the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program by providing appropriations for the distribution of surplus flour, cornmeal and cheese …show more content…
As the problem of homelessness in America expanded, advocates throughout the country demanded national action to counter a national problem and this led to the introduction of the Homeless Persons’ Survival Act of 1986 that contained emergency relief and preemptive measures as well as long term solutions for homelessness (National Coalition for The Homeless, 2006). Small sections of this proposal were enacted such as the Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act of 1986. In late 1986 legislation containing Title I of The Homeless Persons’ Survival Act was introduced as The Urgent Relief for The Homeless Act which was passed in 1987 in both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. This act was renamed as The McKinney-Vento Act after the death of both of its’ key sponsors, Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce Vento (National Coalition for The Homeless. 2006). McKinney-Vento programs have taken a hit in recent years as funding has been decreased or eliminated entirely for some programs. Some of these programs have also been repealed or have been severely restructured such as the consolidation of the Adult Education for the Homeless and Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration programs in 1998 (National Coalition for The Homeless, 2006). The most recent amendment to the McKinney-Vento Act is the Homeless Emergency Housing Assistance and Rapid Transition