8 Housing Services
Introduction
Human services are those programs and services designed to support and promote the well being of the City’s low and moderate income populace that are in need of such services. In particular these programs are designed to address the basic socio-economic needs of low and moderate individuals, families, communities, and diverse social groups through social planning, intervention, prevention, maintenance services and emergency assistance programs.
Poverty is an unfortunate reality that Atlanta and other major urban areas face in relation to the obstacles spurred by social challenges. According to the U.S. Census, the current poverty rate for the City is at 27.3%. The Bureau of Labor reports that the current unemployment rate for the City is at 4.7%. Human Services’ provision is to be effectively assertive in the City’s effort to promote the institution of family and to provide a better quality of life for those that benefit from such programs and services. Atlanta has major human service challenges to be faced in the coming years. Some of these challenges are as follows:
A continued increase in the low-moderate elderly population without an adequate social support system.
The lack of affordable housing to support individuals in poverty.
The lack of inner-city jobs that allow the individual or family to escape the incidence of poverty.
The lack of available and affordable childcare services for those most in need.
The lack of “reverse commute” and like transportation programs to allow inner city residents the ability to access higher paying job opportunities in suburban counties.
There is a rapidly increasing population of Hispanics, Asians and other ethnic groups that are migrating to the City in increasing numbers. The City must find ways to address the needs of diverse ethnic groups through its human services delivery system.