The Man in the Dog Park: Coming Up Close to Homelessness

by Cathy Small

The Man in the Dog Park offers the reader a rare window into homeless life. Spurred by a personal relationship with a homeless man who became her co-author, Cathy A. Small takes a compelling look at what it means and what it takes to be homeless. Interviews and encounters with dozens of homeless people lead us into a world that most have never seen. We travel as an intimate observer into the places that many homeless frequent, including a community shelter, a day labor agency, a panhandling corner, a pawn shop, and a HUD housing office.

Through these personal stories, we witness the obstacles that homeless people face, and the ingenuity it takes to negotiate life without a home. The Man in the Dog Park points to the ways that our own cultural assumptions and blind spots are complicit in US homelessness and contribute to the degree of suffering that homeless people face. At the same time, Small, Kordosky and Moore show us how our own sense of connection and compassion can bring us into touch with the actions that will lessen homelessness and bring greater humanity to the experience of those who remain homeless.

The raw emotion of The Man in the Dog Park will forever change your appreciation for, and understanding of, the homeless life so many deal with outside of the limelight of contemporary society.

Genres: Nonfiction

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2020

Reviews

[Jessaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found the publish date. 2020.

I have been looking for a book like this for quite a while, because I want to hear from those who were homeless just why they are still on the streets. While this book was a short 202 pages, it gave me many answers that I have been looking for. But, I cannot find the date this book was written, so it doesn't give me information of today's problem.

I learned that 45% of those who are homeless are also working, but they still can't afford an apartment. I remember reading in the book, nickel and dimed, That even 2 jobs would not help someone afford and apartment. The wages were just too low. Of course it depends on what kind of jobs you were looking for.

I have also been discussing this issue with the relative who Beliefs at the homeless she just go out and find jobs. But when I explained this much to the person, I was told that they should get 3 jobs then. I asked. When do they get to sleep? Silence. After I had presented all the information that I have received over the years, I just gave up.

A few other things I learned at this book where, 1⁄6 of all homeless are X. military men. Most women on the streets are those who ran away from their husbands because they were afraid they would get murdered. A percentage of these people are mentally ill and another percentage are on drugs, but the book doesn't say how many periods.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic of homelessness is not explored much or talked about enough. I studied homelessness and incarceration in college with a professor so reading this book reminded me a lot of the past work I did. I think this offers some great insight on how our society treats homeless people and I thought it was interesting to see a view from their eyes rather than just societies view. I am going to recommend this one to my professor as well who I'm sure would be very interested in it. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Laura Spiegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who's worked in community based services most of my career, particularly with impoverished families on the brink of losing their homes, Ms. Small's book is the most sensitive and compassionate portrayal of the homeless I’ve come across while revealing the depth of character and resiliencies required to survive on the streets. I wouldn’t have half the courage as those who experience homelessness and doubt I’d survive for long. Would being on the streets change me? I think, yes, quite a bit.
Kudos to Ms. Small; your book is a significant piece of work. It is genuinely enlightening, instructive and motivating.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional primer for those in the field of heart and hope.
The Man in the Dog Park is spot on about the experiences.
This book speaks to the sincerity of interconnectedness.
Gratitude to the three authors for taking this journey with compassion.
Please read this book with your heart wide open.

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was eye-opening in many ways. The authors work hard to get the reader to understand how people experiencing homelessness are both super-visible and invisible at the same time. They tackle first the common search for why this person or that person became homeless and answer it by giving the context necessary to show how close many people are to becoming homeless and how some are closer through factors not of their own making. They then show the obstacles people experiencing homelessness face when trying to get help, obtain/maintain a job or simply find their footing after finally managing to become rehoused. The authors do not hide the controlled-substance abuse or criminality that exacerbates the problems of homelessness but they also show the profit-making abuse of many industries that prey on those experiencing homelessness. Lastly, the authors seek to emphasize the common humanity that is often lost when someone gets labelled as “homeless” and treated with pity but not empathy. They do so not through a holier-than-thou attitude but through the honest depiction of the attempts and failures by themselves to understand and communicate openly with people experiencing homelessness.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very readable and informative book about homeless people. This book focuses on the problems of homeless people who are higher functioning. These people can conform to shelter rules , have jobs, and often can pay for items such as cars and storage space. In fact many of these people seemed to be highly organized ito be able to juggle multiple commitments without having a home. Many of these people seemed to be members of the working poor.; people whose low income makes them unable to afford high rents.

However, there does seem to be a subset of homeless people can't follow shelter rules. and have problems living in human society. This book does not deal with this group of homeless.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Dobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It is an area that I have wanted to learn more about. Definitely eye-opening and makes the individuals who find themselves homeless -- very human.

So many times "we" look at a symptom and do not delve beneath the covers to find the root causes. Without addressing the root causes -- the symptom will never go away.

Root causes -- such as:
lack of affordable housing
stagnation of real wages at the low end of the pay scales
illness/disability
sudden tragedy/emergency that leaves an individual without funds
abuse
lack of a safety net -- of any kind
lack of help to address mental health issues, such as PTSD
lack of support systems for people recently released from prison
Usurious fees charges by companies offering pay day loans
And the list continues.

[Natalie Yurkiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Cathy Small does an amazing job at exploring people's experiences of homelessness. She is able to retell the stories of individuals with respect and insight. In her book she aims to give readers perspective on society's economic system and how there are a variety of reasons people become homeless. She opens readers minds to be more understanding and to not look down upon people whose status's are considered "below them". This book is phenomenal and give great insights into how to not ostracize individuals who are stuck in the vicious cycle of homelessness

[Sabeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a grader for a professor, I came across The Man in the Dog Park because it was one of the assigned readings for her class. Naturally, I decided to read it too, even though it’s not something I’d typically pick up. I found the first 90 pages engaging and thought-provoking, but the latter half of the book didn’t hold my attention in the same way. While I understand the book’s primary purpose is educational, I found myself wishing for a more compelling element to keep me motivated to finish. That said, it’s still an insightful read for those interested in this subject matter.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really anything I didn’t already know but I’ve studied sociology and psychology and also been a criminal prosecutor. However, it is an excellent example of humanizing homelessness. It doesn’t provide solutions or suggestions but merely information. It certainly could have gone farther—another 20 pages of recommendations based on the
Info learned from all the interviews and experiences would have given it 5 stars

[Terri Athey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative

There is so much information in this book , I think it should be required reading for high school and/or college. People make so many assumptions about the homeless. I believe because it makes us believe it can't happen to us and because we don't want to deal with it. I have worked in social services and very much understand the catch 22 side of all this.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

eye opening!

Very glad to have had this book recommended to me. I intend to pass along the recommendation!
Such a different way to look at homelessness in general and each homeless person in particular.

[Dawn&Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

thought provoking about homelessness

The authors talk about this complex societal problem. Heart wrenching to read about some of the details in the lives of those without homes,

[Geof · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a drier, more reported book than I anticipated. It is a compassionate look at the challenges of being homeless.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth a listen

The author did not walk by. Instead she treated the man with dignity and learned his story. Then gathered more stories. Listen to grow your compassion for the homeless.

[Mish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had some good points but was physically taxing to read