325 publications from this institution
The CDBG turns 40 this year. Thus, it is an appropriate time to take stock of this important program and consider how it can be improved. The purpose of this article is to introduce what we believe to be 6 key issues that must be addressed if the program is going to live up to its full potential. Those issues concern: the continuation of the program and funding levels; the formula for allocating funds to participating jurisdictions; the specification of the population groups targeted; the spatial targeting of funds; the programs role in furthering fair housing; and performance measurement. Each of these issues is discussed and the authors offer their recommendations for improving the efficiency and equity of the program.
Costs for severely mentally disabled persons receiving housing subsidies and/or case management services or who are in a state hospital were compared in two suburban and rural Ohio counties. Costs assessed included housing, mental health services, medical services, dental services, personal consumption, and total costs. Costs for groups consisting of 16 clients with subsidized housing and intensive case management, 24 with subsidized housing and nonintensive case management, 11 with nonsubsidized/intensive, 11 with nonsubsidized/nonintensive, and 20 with subsidized/treatment team clients were compared with aggregate costs for state hospital patients. Costs were adjusted for differences in client characteristics between groups. Results indicated that in the areas of housing costs, mental health costs, personal-consumption costs, and total costs, there were statistically significant differences among the five community-based groups. More dramatic, total operating costs for the state hospital were at least three times as high.
