Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. As of 2023, there are roughly 9.3 million Americans who benefit from housing assistance programs. What housing assistance programs are available in your region? What programs are funded federally? Generally, how do housing assistance programs aim to provide help, and what are common criticisms of these programs?

Teaching Suggestion: The bureaucracy involved with procuring Section 8 housing and other similar government aid impacts individuals in the program, as described in The Atlantic article provided in the resources below. As such, understanding the requirements to secure housing will help students better connect with the theme of The Psychological Costs of Poverty. Because students may have personal experiences with government aid programs, poverty, and other sensitive content in the text, it may be beneficial to review your group’s guidelines for maintaining respectful and compassionate discussion throughout the unit.

• The US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers general information about the federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
• This resource from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles is a concise, 3-minute video overview describing how Section 8 works on a local level, including steps involved and who qualifies.