Overview

Homelessness is one of the most compelling social problems in the United States. Dating from the early years in Colonial America to the current problems relating to homeless women and children, homelessness has been the topic of discussion of scholars, social activists, and policy makers. Many types of social problems are linked to homelessness, including poverty, substance abuse, foster care, and crime. As a result, unpacking the issues has proven to be a challenge for anyone interested in this topic. Homelessness in America offers an assessment of what is known about each segment of the homeless population, which contrary to conventional belief, is comprised of a wide variety of faces from many backgrounds. It explains linkages to other social issues and provides a balanced overview of homelessness in light of the varying perspectives on the topic. While much of what has been written about homelessness has come from the academic perspective, agendas often interfere with an accurate understanding of the problem. Clearly, there is a place for other types of perspectives, including those that view homelessness through political and legal lenses. These groups have provided us with a robust body of information within which we may better understand the questions relating to homelessness. McNamara has brought together the voices of these groups in order to reveal the numerous political, economic, and social constraints that beset current attempts to solve homelessness. In addition, the commonly held belief that homelessness is a result of laziness or a poor work ethic is turned on its head to reveal that homelessness is truly a multifaceted and complex issue.

Full Product Details

9780275995553

Table of Contents

Reviews

<p>. . . this new comprehensive three-volume encyclopedia from Praeger is a welcome and timely addition to the social science literature for Catholics, and students and readers interested in the plight of the homeless. . . . The encyclopedia takes a scholarly approach; chapters are informative and engaging, and its research is first-rate. In all, the encyclopedia is without rival in its depth and scope. This work will fill an important void in the reference literature and it will undoubtedly become the premier reference source on the subject. Bound in attractive and sturdy bindings using high-quality materials, it is highly recommended for all undergraduate, school, and public libraries serving interested readers. - <p>Catholic Library World

Strengths of the set include several chapters that describe research conducted by their author(s), include the 'voices' of homeless persons in their own words, and provide statistical facts about the prevalence of homelessness (both at point-in-time and during a period) or the relative size of different subpopulations (e.g., single men, families with children). . . . there is a good deal of useful information about this social problem as well as efforts to address it . . . - Choice . . . this new comprehensive three-volume encyclopedia from Praeger is a welcome and timely addition to the social science literature for Catholics, and students and readers interested in the plight of the homeless. . . . The encyclopedia takes a scholarly approach; chapters are informative and engaging, and its research is first-rate. In all, the encyclopedia is without rival in its depth and scope. This work will fill an important void in the reference literature and it will undoubtedly become the premier reference source on the subject. Bound in attractive and sturdy bindings using high-quality materials, it is highly recommended for all undergraduate, school, and public libraries serving interested readers. - Catholic Library World

Author Information

Robert Hartmann McNamara is Associate Professor of Political Science and Criminal Justice at the Citadel. He is the author of several books. McNamara has served as a Senior Research Fellow for the National Strategy Information Center, the Policy Lab, the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, D.C., and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Baltimore, MD.

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