Children - Social Issues, Public Affairs & Policies, Social Problems

Homelessness: Whose Problem Is It?

Name: Homelessness: Whose Problem Is It?
Author: Ted Gottfried
ISBN: 9780761309536

by Ted Gottfried

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Overview

With a clear writing style that employs plenty of examples, Ted Gottfried begins his discussion by examining the history of homelessness in this country and the difficult issues surrounding the homeless, such as the difficulties involved in getting an accurate count of the homeless, and just who they are and why they are in that situation. The opposing sides of whose problem homelessness is and how the problem should be solved, as well as a discussion of welfare reform and how it affects the homeless, are presented fairly and accurately as readers are invited to formulate their own opinions. The book also includes a list of organizations to contact for more information.

Discusses the issue of homelessness, examining who the homless are, how they become that way, and differing views on how to deal with the problem.

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Editorials

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Gottfried offers a statistical picture of homeless America as well as a comprehensive history of this persistent societal problem. Although he acknowledges his activist stand on behalf of the homeless, he conveys a broad range of opinions. He also does an excellent job of presenting associated problems such as poverty, violence, mental illness, substance abuse, immigration, limited schooling, lack of skills, and single motherhood. The author probes the effects of major public-policy decisions that have affected the homeless: deinstitutionalization, rent control, and the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. However, the problem is occasionally framed in terms of simplistic, admittedly "extreme" positions, whereby the homeless are regarded as either victims of society who require massive Federal support or as dependent slackers who are candidates for "tough love" treatment. The author questions liberal positions in a general way. Conservative opinion is personified with references to Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, and the staff of the Heritage Foundation. The issue of homelessness is touched upon in Arlene Erlbach's Everything You Need to Know if Your Family Is on Welfare (Rosen, 1998) and Gail Stewart's Mothers on Welfare (Lucent, 1997). Laurie Rozakis's Homelessness (21st Century, 1995) deals with the topic in a sympathetic manner. Tamara Roleff's The Homeless (Greenhaven, 1996) is also a good supplement.-Libby K. White, Jewish Vocational Services, Baltimore, MD Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.