Housing for people with disabilities is still one of the unresolved issues in many developed countries including the USA. The US government has come up with some programs to assist non-elderly disabled people and their families. However, this effort is insufficient. More so, some programs do not meet their goals entirely. For instance, the voucher program, which is regarded as the most successful one among similar incentives, does not cover all the needs of people with special needs as well as fails to reach all those in need (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [USDHUD], 2015). For instance, only 30% of people requesting the assistance receive it (USDHUD, 2015). It is also noteworthy that the number of disabled people is often under-reported as many people do not regard themselves as disabled and do not request any assistance from the authorities.
It has been found that approximately 30% of US households have at least one person with special needs (USDHUD, 2015). At that, half of the people with special needs are adults between 18 and 64 years old. As has been mentioned above, the existing programs do not reach the entire population of these individuals. Therefore, it is essential to develop some programs aimed at assisting a narrow group of people. The country invests a lot in the assistance provided to young adults when it comes to education, health care, as well as housing, but when it comes to disabled people, their needs are not fully met. At that, these people will also contribute to solving issues associated with such problems as the aging population and the increasing national debt. Hence, it is possible to address such populations as college students in a low-income community as these people are likely to need governmental assistance.
It has been acknowledged that the outcomes of any program largely depend on the quality of research implemented to create this program. Yuen, Terao, and Schmidt (2013) state that research enables program developers to identify the needs of the population and come up with effective methods to satisfy them. Quantitative research design can be used to identify the exact needs of young adults (18-25 years old) with disabilities associated with housing.
It is necessary to note that the research will involve the use of primary data as well as secondary data. There is certain information revealing relevant statistics (the number of people with disabilities, the rate of those involved in various programs, the number of households, demographic data, and so on). Besides, many facts can be found in peer-reviewed articles. The sources can be found online and in local libraries. This kind of information can be valuable background for the present research. To collect new data, it is necessary to implement a survey. College students with special needs can be asked to complete surveys concerning their housing needs as well as their awareness of existing opportunities, and their willingness to participate.
As for the sampling methods to be used, it is possible to use the random sampling technique. This method is associated with a minimal level of bias as each individual (within the target group) has equal chances to participate (Babbie, 2016). It is possible to address officials of all the colleges located in a particular community with a request to implement the research. Each student with special needs enrolled in the colleges will receive a questionnaire with questions mentioned above. This strategy will help identify the major needs of college students with disabilities in a specific community (and similar locations).
On balance, it is possible to note that housing for people with disabilities is a significant issue yet to be resolved. College students (aged between 18 and 25) with special needs studying in low-income neighborhoods are likely to need assistance more than their more well-off counterparts. Hence, the program will address these people’s needs. A quantitative study can help identify the needs of the target population and develop an effective program.
References
Babbie, E. (2016). The basics of social research. Belmont, CA: Cengage.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2015). A picture of disability and designated housing. Web.
Yuen, F. K. O., Terao, K. L., & Schmidt, A. M. (2013). Effective grant writing and program evaluation for human services professionals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.