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.

Volume 1: Faces of HomelessnessPreface Robert Hartmann McNamaraChapter One: Measuring Progress and Tracking Trends in Homelessness Mary Cunningham and Meghan HenryChapter Two: Go Out and Find a Job: Public Policy and Homeless Men Joel BlauChapter Three: Sight Unseen: The Neglected Problem of Rural Homelessness Barbara S. Hodas and Diana T. MyersChapter Four: Shelter Life for Homeless Men: Risk or Respite?Amy M. Donley and James D. WrightChapter Five: Homelessness and Veterans: Untangling the Connection Catherine E. Burton and Kelly JamesChapter Six: The History of Homeless Women in America Robert Hartmann McNamara and Carrie Flagler WhitneyChapter Seven: Family Homelessness in Our Nation and Community: A Problem with a Solution The National Alliance to End HomelessnessChapter Eight: Homeless Women with Children in Shelters:The Institutionalization of Family Life Kathryn Feltey and Laura NicholsChapter Nine: Foster Care and Homelessness: Preventative Measures to Help Youth Who Are Aging Out of Foster Care Jaimie PageChapter Ten: Shadow Kids: Runaway and Homeless Youth in the United States Robert Hartmann McNamaraChapter Eleven: Health and Human Rights of Homeless Youth Josephine EnsignChapter Twelve: Elderly Homelessness: A Growing Concern James D. Wright, Amy Donley, and Tracy L. DietzChapter Thirteen: African American Males and Homelessness: Voices from the Shelter Daniel White and Charles CrawfordChapter Fourteen: Latinos, Immigrants, and Homelessness Ann M. AvilesVolume 2: Causes of HomelessnessPreface Robert Hartmann McNamaraChapter One: Chronic Homelessness: Portraits on the Streets Emily Spence-Almaguer, James Petrovich, and Jaimie PageChapter Two: Housing Policy, the Low-Income Housing Crisis, and the Problem of Homelessness James D. Wright, Amy M. Donley, and Kevin F. GothamChapter Three: Helping Children and Families Rebuild Their Lives after Katrina Olivia Golden and Joanna ParnesChapter Four: Domestic Violence and Housing Instability: Homeless Women Jean Calterone WilliamsChapter Five: Homelessness and Crack Use: A Case Study in Historical, Environmental, and Social Context Stephanie HartwellChapter Six: Flyin High, Livin Low: Alcohol and HomelessnessMaria ShelleyChapter Seven: Substance Use and Homelessness Suzanne ZergerChapter Eight: Deinstitutionalization and the Homeless Mentally Ill Patrick KinkadeChapter Nine: Homelessness and HIV/AIDS Virginia Shubert and Nancy BernstineChapter Ten: Taking Stock: Housing, Homelessness, and Prisoner Reentry Caterina Gouvis Roman and Jeremy TravisVolume 3: Solutions to HomelessnessPreface Robert Hartmann McNamaraChapter One: Promising Strategies to End HomelessnessMary Cunningham, Sharon McDonald, and Norm SucharChapter Two: A Shelter Is Not a Home . . . Or Is It? New Communities of Opportunity Ralph da Costa NunezChapter Three: Policing Homelessness Chip BurnsChapter Four: The Criminalization of Homelessness Charles CrawfordChapter Five: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Reflections of a Service Provider Michael ChesserChapter Six: Cleaning Up the Streets: Community Efforts to Combat Homelessness by Criminalizing Homeless Behaviors Amy M. Donley and James D. WrightChapter Seven: The Future of Homelessness: Trends in Assessment and Service Utilization James Petrovich and Emily Spence-AlmaguerChapter Eight: The Evolution of Homelessness: Trends and Future Directions Maria FoscarinisChapter Nine: Law and Order? A Reality for the Homeless: The Legal Ramifications of Court Decisions on the Treatment of Homeless Persons Amy Presley HauserChapter Ten: The History and Future of Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Stephen R. Poulin, Stephen Metraux, and Dennis P. CulhaneAbout the Editor and Contributors