An accessible and engaging introductory text on homelessness and housing policy, this timely book uses a sociopolitical framework for understanding issues of homelessness in the United States.
The authors, leading sociologists in their field, use data from over 250 interviews and field notes to demonstrate that homelessness is rooted in the structure of our society. They identify and describe the structural barriers faced by people who become homeless including the lack of affordable housing, the stigmatization and criminalization of homelessness, inadequate access to healthcare, employment that does not pay a living wage, and difficulty accessing social services. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, most of the people included in this book believe strongly in the American Dream. This book examines how the belief in the American Dream affects people experiencing homelessness. It also highlights individuals’ experiences within the social institutions of the economy, the criminal justice system, and the health care system. Furthermore, this book explores how stereotypes of people experiencing homelessness affects individuals and guides social policy. The authors examine policy changes at the local, state, and national levels that can be made to eradicate homelessness, but argue that there must be a political will to shift the narrative from blaming the victim to supporting the common good.
Expertly combining history, theory and ethnography, this book is an invaluable resource for those with an interest in housing policy.
Author(s): Stephanie Southworth, Sara Brallier
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 200
City: New York
Cover
Endorsements
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introduction
Chapter Outlines
SECTION 1 Homelessness in America
1 How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Homelessness
Introduction
Early American Vagabonds
“Homelessness” as a Social Problem in the Nineteenth Century
Homelessness 1900–1945
The Great Depression and the New Deal
World War II
The Aftermath of World War II
Federal Policy’s Effect on Homelessness
The War on Poverty
Conclusion
2 Neoliberal Ideology and Homelessness
Introduction
Setting the Stage for a Neoliberal Shift
Ronald Reagan’s Administration
The Non-Profit Industrial Complex
Consequences
Fixing the New Problem: The McKinney-Vento Act
Bill Clinton’s Administration
The Emergence of the Continuum of Care
Welfare Reform
Culture of Compliance
The George W. Bush Administration
The Barack Obama Administration
The Donald Trump Administration
Joe Biden’s Administration
Neoliberalism and Space
Conclusion
3 The Evolution of Risk Factors for the New Homeless
Introduction
Deinstitutionalization and the Closure of Psychiatric Hospitals
Nineteenth-Century Psychiatric Care
Twentieth-Century Psychiatric Care
Deinstitutionalization and Homelessness
Mental Illness and Housing
The Criminal Justice System
Incarceration as a Cause or Consequence of Homelessness
The Commodification of Public Space
Anti-Homeless Laws
The Criminal Justice System Contributes to Homelessness
Broken Windows Policing
Policing Encampments
Conclusion: Mental Health Care and Policing in a Neoliberal Economy
4 Theoretical Explanations of Homelessness
Introduction
Using Grounded Theory to Understand Issues of Homelessness
Structural Theories
Marxist Theory
Guy Standing
Michel Foucault
The Interaction Between Structure and Agency
Pierre Bourdieu
Nicholas Pleace
Structuration
Conclusion
SECTION 2 Research on Homelessness in Myrtle Beach, SC
5 Counting and Providing Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
Introduction
Counting People Who Are Experiencing Homelessness
Comparing HMIS Data to the PIT Count
Non-Profit Organizations Serving People Experiencing Homelessness in Myrtle Beach
Shelters
Housing Support
Food
Medical Care
Clothing
Conclusion
6 Work, Effort, and the American Dream
Introduction
Work as the “Key to Success” in Springhouse
Believing the Dream
Still Believing—I Can Still Do It
All I Need Is a Little Help
I Just Need Job Training
Just a Temporary Setback
Selling Himself (Literally) for the Dream
If I Did It Once, I Can Do It Again
A New Start and a Parrot to Boot
Mental and Physical Health and the American Dream
I Want to Work: It’s Just Hard
It’s Not Worth It
I’ll Be Better Off or Dead
Jail or Dead
Happy Families
Chasing the Dream
Conclusion
7 Health and Perceptions of Health
Introduction
The Relationship Between Health and Homelessness
Health as a Cause of Homelessness
Mental Illness Causing Homelessness
From Riches to Rags
Physical Health Causing Homelessness
Self-Employment
All in the Family
Health Problems as a Consequence of Homelessness
I’m Better Off Than Him
Shared Spaces Affecting Health
Health as Both a Cause of Homelessness and a Detriment to Finding Housing
Veteran’s Benefits
Health and Outreach Efforts
What Can We Do?
8 Stigma for All
Introduction
Stigma from Service Providers
Toxic Charity
Stigma and Employment
Can I Get a Mat, Please?
Stereotyping Each Other
I Worked My Way Up
I’m More Worthy
Stigma as a Coping Mechanism
They’re Crazy—I’m Not
Stereotyping by Others
Internalizing the Stigma
Conclusion
What Can Be Done?
9 The Police Made Me Homeless: Regulating Behavior
Introduction
The Crime of Homelessness
Feeding People—Kindness or Criminal?
Encampment Sweeps
A Revolving Door
Collateral Damage
Attitudes Toward the Police
Keep Moving
Why Criminalize?
Police as First Responders to Health Incidents
What Can Be Done?
Affordable Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing with Intensive Case Management
Outreach
Public Restrooms and Monitored Campsites
Prison Reentry Programs
Conclusion
10 Making an Impact: The Poverty Project
Introduction
Transportation as a Structural Barrier
The Rolling Forward Project
Outcomes of the Rolling Forward Project
Managing Rolling Forward
Divergent Goals
The Giving Wall
Latent Consequences of the Giving Wall
Advocacy and Free Buses
Conclusion
Conclusion: The New American Dream
In Conclusion
Basic Human Rights
Seeing the Truth in the Familiar
It’s My (Their) Own Fault
Going Upstream
What Can We Do?
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Methodology
In the Beginning
Our Data
Reflexivity
Gaining Access to the Homeless Community
Interviews
Sample
Appendix 2: Definitions
Index
