The Visible Poor: Homelessness in the United States

by Joel M. Blau

Taking an in-depth look at the causes of homelessness in the United States, Joel Blau disproves the convenient myths that most homeless are crazy, drug addicts, or lazy misfits who brought their suffering upon themselves. He shows that the current crisis was an inevitable result of economic and political changes in recent decades, systematically reviewing the explanations offered by researchers, politicians and pundits, from the deinstitutionalization of mental patients in the 1960s to the gentrification of urban neighborhoods in the 1970s to the evisceration of federal spending on social welfare in the 1980s. Blau argues that current government policies at every level are mired in pointless headcounting and quick-fix solutions that only push the homeless out of sight without touching the underlying causes. He advocates social reforms ranging form a national standard for welfare benefits, a higher minimum wage, and establishment of a social sector for non-profit, affordable housing. A powerful contribution to public debate on homelessness, The Visible Poor must be read by concerned citizens as well as by policy-makers and advocates.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Shane Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliant look at the causes of homelessness in the US with a deep dive into some specific (inadequate) responses. Blau takes the wealthy to task as well as the politicians who enable this. He focuses on homelessness, but throughout shows how the problems that lead to homelessness also have a deleterious effect on those at the bottom of the economic ladder even if they have a roof over their heads. At the end, he sets out a grand vision of what would need to happen to correct the problem of homelessness and the obstacles that would be faced. An excellent read for anyone with an interest in social policy in America.