Lesson Plans for WRAP Report

Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures
By WRAP (Western Regional Advocacy Project)

The report can be downloaded from the WRAP home page at www.wraphome.org
(specifically http://wraphome.org/documents/Without_Housing_20061114.pdf). It is
also available on the DVD provided.

Overview

I gave out one chapter for students to read and complete the chapter questions on
the day of each chapter test. Students started reading the chapter while others
finished their test. What wasn’t finished during class was taken home to complete
for the next class period.

Following Chapter 1

In groups, students discussed chapter 1. Each person handed in their answers to

chapter1. In groups, students read and answered the chapter 2 questions as a
group.

Following Chapter 3

Students did a Pair and Share on the chapter 3 questions. In pairs, students found
the best-fit line for chart 5 using the graph as well as chart of values provided in the
Appendix of the report. I collected both the chapter 3 questions and the best-fit line
solutions.

The following day I did an overview PowerPoint on the Catholic Social Teachings.
Students received chapter 4 as a take home assignment.

Following Chapter 4

We had a class discussion on Chapter 4. Students then read the conclusion and
completed the questions in a group. I then handed out a copy of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and had students list the rights that fall into each of
the CST Themes. Each group created a poster for their assigned theme. Group is
responsible for a quick explanation of their theme followed by a list of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights that fit into their theme.
 Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures

By

WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

Chapter 1

After reading Chapter 1 from the WRAP report, answer the following questions on a
separate piece of paper.

1. According to this chapter, how many people experience homelessness in a

given year? Which group has been the fastest growing population of people
experiencing homelessness?
2. Create a pie graph to illustrate the number homeless children vs. homeless
adults.
3. What is the connection between the Great Depression, New Deal Policies and
the Reagan administration?
4. Why don’t policies and programs like temporary shelters, emergency food and
housing, etc. really work when it comes to addressing homelessness?
5. What are some of the negative stereotypes of people who experience
homelessness?
6. Inadequate healthcare, education, employment and housing systems all
contribute to homelessness. How does negative stereotyping, in addition to
the things mentioned, hurt people who experience homelessness? Give an
example.
7. Why are negative stereotypes of individuals who experience homelessness so
persistent in the United States in the face of overwhelming structural causes
of homelessness?
8. What challenges or critiques do you have to this report? What support do you
have for your view?
9. Do we have a responsibility to respond? Why or why not?

*Adapted from Sisters of the Road Supplemental Workbook

 Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures
By
WRAP
Western Regional Advocacy Project

Chapter 2

After reading Chapter 2 from the WRAP report, answer the following questions on a
separate piece of paper.

1. What happens to people when there is little or no affordable housing?

2. Please define the following terms: deindustrialization, urban renewal,
gentrification, and ghettoization.
3. How have gentrification and urban renewal affected poverty and
homelessness in the United States?
4. Using Chart 1: HUD Subsidized Housing Units, how many existing housing
units were funded in 1976, 1985, 1996, and 2001?
5. Using Chart 1: HUD Subsidized Housing Units, how many new construction
units were funded in 1976, 1985, 1996, and 2001?
6. Complete the chart below using Chart 2: Rural Affordable Housing Units
Created by Section 515 on a separate piece of paper.
Years Change in Number Years Change in
of Units Number of Units
1976-1977 0 1991-1992
1977-1978 + 5,000 1992-1993
1978-1979 1993-1994
1979-1980 1994-1995
1980-1981 1995-1996
1981-1982 1996-1997
1982-1983 1997-1998
1983-1984 1998-1999
1984-1985 1999-2000
1985-1986 2000-2001
1986-1987 2001-2002
1987-1988 2002-2003
1988-1989 2003-2004
1989-1990 2004-2005
1990-1991

*Adapted from Sisters of the Road Supplemental Workbook

 Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures
By
WRAP
Western Regional Advocacy Project
Chapter 3: Band-aids and Illusions: The Consistent Failure of 25 years of
Homeless Policy

After reading Chapter 3 from the WRAP report, answer the following questions on a
separate piece of paper.

1. What was the Stewart B. McKinney Act of 1987?

2. What was the significance of the McKinney Act in addressing homelessness
and poverty?
3. Look at Chart 3 in Chapter 3. Please explain, in your own words, what this
chart depicts.
4. What is supportive housing? What were the flaws of supportive housing?
5. What does it mean to criminalize the homeless?
6. Can you think of other times in past or present history in which people were
portrayed negatively to make the actions of some appear justified?
7. What was the HOPE VI program? What were the flaws of the HOPE VI
program?
8. In your own words, describe what you believe the “collective deception about
homelessness in the United States” is about.

*Adapted from Sisters of the Road Supplemental Workbook

 Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures
By
WRAP
Western Regional Advocacy Project

Chapter 4

After reading chapter 4 from the WRAP report, answer the following questions on a
separate piece of paper.

1. What is a “lethal trade-off”?

2. Look at Chart 6 in Chapter 4 of the WRAP report. Choose one of the lethal trade-offs
and explain how it affects the lack of affordable housing, poverty, and homelessness
in the United States.
3. How does government subsidization of homeownership add to the lack of affordable
housing in the United States?
4. Explain what the phrase, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” means in your
own words.
5. The 2004 Federal Poverty level for a family of 4 was a yearly income of $19,223.
According to Chart 8, what percentage of Federal Housing Subsidies are given to
people earning incomes above poverty level?
6. Explain, in your words, what Chart 7 depicts.

*Adapted from Sisters of the Road Supplemental Workbook

 Without Housing:
Decades of Federal Housing Cutbacks, Massive Homelessness, and Policy Failures
By
WRAP
Western Regional Advocacy Project
Conclusion

After reading the Conclusion from the WRAP report, answer the following questions
on a separate piece of paper.

1. Given that there was early knowledge of the need for affordable housing,
what are some reasons the government did not listen to this need?
2. What are some ideas the report gives to begin to end homelessness?
3. What are some things you can do to work to end homelessness?

*Adapted from Sisters of the Road Supplemental Workbook