Publisher's Synopsis
Cities throughout the United States are experiencing a dramatic rise in the number of homeless persons. Who are the homeless? How many homeless persons are there in America? What policies and programs for the homeless have and should be implemented at the federal, state and local levels?
This collection of articles, reports and case studies brings together a vari-ety of perspectives to help answer these questions. The materials include discussions on the political ramifications of the issue, the changing mass media images, and the many sources of homelessness. Estimates by the De-partment of Housing and Urban Development and others of the number of homeless persons are presented. Three specific population subgroups—the traditional Skid Row population, the deinstitutionalized mentally ill, and homeless women and children—are examined in detail.
Finally, case studies and resource materials about existing and proposed policies and programs are included as models for local and state action. This collection brings together a diverse group of authors including Kim Hopper, Chester Hartman, Donald Bogue, Thomas J. Main, H. Richard Lamb, Patri-cia Cayo Sexton, and other experts from the fields of Anthropology, Plan-ning, Political Science, Psychiatry, Sociology, and Social Work. Not only is the book of vital interest to state and local officials, it is well suited to be a textbook in urban planning, sociology, and policy analysis courses examin-ing current social issues.
I. Images of the homeless
II. Background and politics
III. The importance of numbers
IV. Who are the homeless and why?
V. Solutions to the problem
VI. Resources
