Final answer:
The focus of the federal grants program under Great Society initiatives, including the Model Cities program, was urban development, poverty alleviation, and civil rights equality. These efforts were part of a broader strategy to improve living conditions in cities and were supported by the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
A new focus of the federal grants program under Great Society initiatives such as the Model Cities program was the development and improvement of urban areas, particularly targeted at addressing issues of poverty, housing, and civil rights equality. One of the Great Society's primary missions was to eradicate poverty in the United States. This comprehensive approach encompassed various aspects, including not only housing but also educational reform and increased civil rights.
Key components of this initiative involved urban renewal and the development of public housing. The Model Cities program and similar efforts aimed at funding projects designed to revitalize cities, create more livable spaces, and directly impact the lives of those in impoverished urban communities. These programs highlighted a new cooperative approach between local, state, and federal governments, a dynamic President Johnson referred to as 'creative federalism'.
Furthermore, the Great Society's legislative framework, with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, provided a foundation for combatting racial discrimination and promoting equality, thereby amplifying the impact of urban development and poverty alleviation efforts.