Essay On Social Justice

Social Justice, according to the Department of Government and Justice Studies, means that “all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment” (“What is Social Justice?”). For me, social justice is a willingness to understand that every person has needs, which include safety, security, health, and equality opportunity for learning. Providing affordable housing to every person in the United States is something social justice advocates have always striven for, but we still have such a long way to go.
What is affordable?
Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income to pay for their housing are considered to be “cost burdened” (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.), meaning these families might be unable to afford necessities like food, clothing and healthcare. In the United States, over 12 million households spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. These statistics are according to the federal Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provides multiple grant programs to low income families as well as increasing availability of affordable housing units. HUD also funds a federal program called Housing Choice Vouchers which targets low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. This program provides eligible citizens with suitable housing after approving them on a waiting list. Once a voucher is issued, families pay roughly 30 percent of their income for rent, which is considered an “affordable” amount (HUD).
At the state level, the Iowa Finance Authority, the largest federal block grant, runs the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. This program is run in multiple states, under HUD, and is used to issue grants, direct loans, rental assistance and assist with s...

... middle of paper ...

...adership training and regular meetings, CHI is making development sustainable. These types of organizations are able to make a difference on an individual level, with the personal input of citizens, instead of just sweeping government policies.
Government needs to be able to engage with other organizations, both private and public, in order to address broad housing needs as well as understand the needs of individuals in communities across the United States. Social justice means incorporating the voices of the people – regardless of their race, sexual orientation, gender or income level – in order to make the most fair and beneficial policies regarding housing, healthcare, poverty and education. This service learning project, and my discussions with the residents of Capitol East, have really proven to me the importance of individual participation in social justice.