This book presents an unflinching investigation of homelessness in the United States-a problem that has been with us since the arrival of the first English settlers nearly 400 years ago.The terms historically used to describe them include "bums," "hoboes," "migrants," "street people," "transients," "tramps," and "vagrants." Just as varied as the words we have used to describe them are the reasons many people have found themselves living in the land of opportunity without permanent residence.The book considers homelessness and its distinctive character in three periods of American history: the era of tramps and hoboes in the late 1800s-early 1900s, the era of transients and migrants in the 1930s, and the era of homeless and "street" people in the last 40 years. It clarifies the multiple meanings of the word "homeless" today and demonstrates that homelessness is a symptom of more than one problem, leading to confusion about the issue of homelessness and hampering attempts to reduce its occurrence. Author Neil Larry Shumsky, PhD, also postulates that the treatment of homelessness in England before the colonization of North America laid the foundation of pervasive American attitudes and practices.

A guide to relevant reference materials

Reader's Guide to Documents and SidebarsIntroductionPrologue: Vagabonds in EnglandPart I Words and Numbers1. Words2. NumbersPart II Hoboes, Tramps, and Bums, 1790-19303. Ben Reitman Defines Hobo, Tramp, and Bum4. Jack London Explains "the Rods"5. Train Jumping6. A Migrant Farm Worker7. The Extent of the Problem, 1890-19258. Country Lodgings9. The Stem, or Main Stem10. The Hobo Jungle11. "Tramp-Speak" and the Hobo Subculture12. Hobo Songs13. Hobo Politics14. The Hobo College15. Hobohemia DisappearsPart III Migrants and Transients, 1930-196016. On the Farm17. In the City18. Bonus Army19. FERA and FTP20. Bum Brigade21. Squatters22. Weedpatch Camp23. Hooverville24. Picking Grapes in Lodi25. Arts and Culture26. Liquidating the Federal Transient ProgramPart IV Street People, Bag Ladies, and Homeless PeopleDefining Homelessness and Counting Homeless People27. Charles Dickens Coins the Word28. Congress Defines Homeless29. Mitch Snyder Claims "Millions"30. HUD Disagrees Sharply31. Making Sense of the Conflict32. The Number of HomelessWho Are the Homeless?33. An Overview of the Homeless Population Today34. Special Populations of Homeless People35. Homeless Children and Their Families36. Homeless Veterans37. Homeless People in Rural Areas38. Homeless People of Color39. Homeless Latinos and a Different PerspectiveContending with Homelessness40. Staying Alive-Homeless People Cope41. Housing for the Homeless42. Criminalizing the Homeless43. Washington Takes the LeadBibliographyIndex