Abstract
The rapid increase in homelessness among families during the 1980s is the result of an increase in the number of low-income families and a decrease in the amount of low-income housing in the United States.1 By 1983, there were 25% more families living below the poverty line than in 1979,2 whereas at the same time fewer low-cost housing units were available.3 In conjunction with these structural changes, service providers began to report that they were seeing homeless families in significant numbers for the first time since the Great Depression and that their numbers seemed to be growing.4–5 By 1985, there were about 11.6 million low-income renter households competing for 4.7 million low-rent units, for a shortage of 7 million units.3 With such a shortage of affordable housing, families that cannot get into low-cost rental units either pay more, double up with family or friends, or become homeless. As a result, homelessness among families continues to be a pervasive problem in the United States.6
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
McChesney KY: Family homelessness: A systemic problem. Journal of Social Issues 46(4):191–205, 1990.
Danziger S, Gottschalk P: The Changing Economic Circumstances of Children: Families Losing Ground (Discussion Paper No. 801-85). Madison, WI, Institute for Research on Poverty, 1985.
Leonard PA, Dolbeare CN, Lazere EB: A Place to Call Home: The Crisis in Housing for the Poor. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 1989.
Hopper K, Hamberg J: The making of America’s homeless: From skid row to new poor, 1945–1984, in Bratt RG, Hartman C, Meyerson A (eds): Critical perspectives on housing. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 1986:14–40.
Stoner MR: The plight of homeless women. Social Service Review 57(4):565–581, 1983.
Waxman LD, Reyes LM: A status report on homeless families in America’s cities—a 29-city survey. Washington, DC: US Conference of Mayors.
Danziger SH, Haveman R, Plotnick R: Antipoverty policy: Effects on the poor and non-poor, in Danziger SH, Weinberg DH (eds): Fighting Poverty: What Works and What Doesn’t. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1986.
Bassi LJ, Ashenfelter O: Direct job creation and Training programs, in Danziger SH, Weinberg DH (eds): Fighting Poverty: What Works and What Doesn’t. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1986:141.
Blank RM, Blinder AS: Macroeconomics, income distribution and poverty, in Danziger SH, Weinberg DH (eds): Fighting Poverty: What Works and What Doesn’t. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1986.
Johnston WB, Packer AH: Workforce 2000: Work and workers for the list century. Indianapolis, IN: Hudson Institute (HI-3796-RR).
Reischauer RD: The welfare reform legislation: Directions for the future, in Cottingham PH, Ellwood DT (eds): Welfare Policy for the 1990s. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1989.
Bane MJ: Household composition and poverty, in Danziger SH, Weinberg DH (eds): Fighting Poverty: What Works and What Doesn’t. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1986.
Polit DF, O’Hara JJ: Support services, in Cottingham PH, Ellwood DT (eds): Welfare Policy for the 1990s. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1989.
Burtless G: The effect of reform on employment, earnings and income, in Cottingham PH, Ellwood DT (eds): Welfare Policy for the 1990s. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1989.
Garfinkel I, McLanahan SS: Single Mothers and Their Children: A New American Dilemma. Washington, DC, The Urban Institute Press, 1986.
Ellwood DT: Poor Support: Poverty in the American Family. New York, Basic Books, 1988.
Lerman RI: Child-support policies, in Cottingham PH, Ellwood DT (eds): Welfare Policy for the 1990s. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1989.
U.S. House, Committee on Ways and Means: Children in Poverty (Committee Print 99-8). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office (Y4.W36.WMCP 99-8), 1985.
Bassuk EL, Rubin L, Lauriat AS: Characteristics of sheltered homeless families. Am J Public Health 76:1097–1101, 1986.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
McChesney, K.Y. (1992). Homeless Families. In: Robertson, M.J., Greenblatt, M. (eds) Homelessness. Topics in Social Psychiatry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0679-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0679-3_19
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0681-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0679-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive