Describe specific discriminatory issues in a given policy or program and connect a core value or standard from the NASW Code of Ethics.
Explain the mechanisms that lead to the discriminatory issues.
- Describe how a public program or policy has changed over time in response to issues of oppression alienation or discrimination.
- Describe the rationale for these changes.
- Describe a specific population or subgroup (demographic distinctions, how many) impacted by the selected public policy.
- Provide relevant, real-world examples that demonstrate the impacts of the policy.
- Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence.
- Synthesize evidence to demonstrate its importance to your discussion or argument.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
- Demonstrate correct stylistic conventions, document structure, and source attributions.
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
- Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
- Resources: A minimum three academic resources.
- Length of paper: 3–4 double-spaced pages (not including reference list).
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Let’s consider a public policy related to housing assistance programs and explore discriminatory issues within it, connecting them to a core value from the NASW Code of Ethics.
**Discriminatory Issues**: Historically, housing assistance programs have faced issues of discrimination, particularly regarding access to housing based on race, ethnicity, disability, and other protected characteristics. For example, discriminatory practices such as redlining, which systematically denied housing loans and services to people of color in certain neighborhoods, perpetuated racial segregation and disparities in access to quality housing (Williams, 1995).
**Connection to NASW Code of Ethics**: The NASW Code of Ethics upholds the core value of social justice, which calls on social workers to challenge social injustice and promote equitable access to resources, opportunities, and services for all individuals. Discriminatory practices within housing assistance programs directly contravene this core value by perpetuating systemic inequalities and denying marginalized communities their right to safe and affordable housing.
**Mechanisms of Discrimination**: Discriminatory issues within housing assistance programs often stem from systemic biases, institutionalized racism, and unequal access to resources and opportunities. For example, policies and practices that prioritize certain neighborhoods for housing assistance while neglecting others perpetuate spatial segregation and limit housing options for marginalized communities. Additionally, discriminatory screening criteria, such as criminal background checks or credit history requirements, disproportionately exclude individuals from historically marginalized groups from accessing housing assistance (Pager, Western, & Sugie, 2009).
**Changes Over Time**: In response to issues of oppression, alienation, and discrimination, housing assistance programs have undergone significant changes over time. For instance, the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was enacted to prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability. Subsequent amendments and regulations have expanded protections and enforcement mechanisms to address emerging forms of discrimination and promote fair housing practices (Schwemm, 2019).
**Rationale for Changes**: The changes in housing assistance policies reflect a growing recognition of the need to address systemic barriers and promote equitable access to housing for all individuals and communities. By prohibiting discriminatory practices and expanding protections for marginalized groups, policymakers seek to advance principles of social justice, inclusion, and human rights in housing policy (Botein, 2000).
**Impacted Population**: One specific population impacted by discriminatory housing policies is African Americans, who have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing quality housing due to racial segregation, redlining, and discriminatory lending practices. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans continue to experience higher rates of housing instability, substandard housing conditions, and homelessness compared to white Americans, highlighting the enduring impact of discriminatory housing policies on marginalized communities (Housing Assistance Council, 2020).
