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Homelessness in America

The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem

Homelessness in America cover

Homelessness in America

The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem

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Description

The last thirty years have witnessed an urban renaissance in America. Major cities have managed to drive down the murder rate, improve the schools, restore the built environment, and revitalize their economies. Middle class families are putting down roots in neighborhoods once given up for dead. But solutions to homelessness have eluded even the most successful cities. While the South Bronx was once synonymous across the globe for “slum,” now, San Francisco and Los Angeles are just as internationally notorious for their homelessness crises. Indeed, the same cities with the worst homelessness crises rank among America’s most successful. One of the crisis’ more perplexing features is how cities that have met with so much success with respect to economic development, crime and public education have failed to even ease their homelessness crisis, much less end it.
In Homelessness in America, Stephen Eide examines the history, governmental and private responses, and future prospects of this intractable challenge. The “chronic” nature of the challenge should be understood, he argues, by reference to American history and American ideals. The history of homelessness is bound up with industrialization and urbanization, the closing of the West, the Great Depression, and the post WWII decline and subsequent revival of great American cities. Though we’ve used different terms (“tramp” “hobo” “bum”) at other times, something like homelessness has always been with us and the debate over causes and solutions has always involved conflicts over fundamental values. After explaining why homelessness persists in America and correcting popular misconceptions about the issue, Eide offers concrete recommendations for how we can do better for the homeless population.
Homelessness in America engages readers by answering the most common questions their audience brings to the topic and exploring other questions that are no less important for being not as commonly asked. Homelessness intersects with multiple other policy areas: education, urban development, criminal justice reform, mental health. By exploring the intersection of homelessness with so many other policy areas, this book aspires to provide a comprehensive account of the challenge.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 “Homelessness”: An Elusive Concept
Chapter 2 The Romantic Era (Post-Civil War to the 1920s)
Chapter 3 The Skid Row Era (Great Depression to 1970s)
Chapter 4 The Modern Era (1980 to present)
Chapter 5 Harm Reduction and Ending Homelessness
Chapter 6 Compassion, Con and Pro
Chapter 7 Homelessness and Social Integration
Chapter 9 You Can’t Catch Schizophrenia from the Streets
Chapter 10 Police Work and Social Work
Chapter 11 Housing, Housing, Housing
Chapter 12 Conclusion
Bibliography

Product details

Published Jun 02 2022
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 258
ISBN 9781538159576
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Illustrations 7 b/w illustrations; 3 tables
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

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