Poverty and Homelessness

by Greenhaven Press Editor

Overview

The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that there are 564,708 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the U.S. The primary source writings in this anthology have been selected to provide your readers with a broad range of viewpoints on poverty and homelessness, including what role minimum wage plays. The essays in each chapter of this book represent contrasting viewpoints on government social assistance programs and income inequality. Students are encouraged to see the validity of divergent opinions, crucial to the development of critical thinking skills. An important question about the topic is presented in each chapter, and the viewpoints that follow are organized based on their response to the question. Fact boxes summarize important information for researchers, and an extensive bibliography is included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737768862
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/22/2014
Series:	Current Controversies Series
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Foreword 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 Are Poverty and Homelessness Serious Problems?

Poverty: An Overview Bernadette D. Proctor 18

Yes: Poverty and Homelessness Are Serious Problems

U.S. Poverty Rates Are the Highest in the Developed World Paul Harris 25

Severe Poverty Is on the Rise in America Tony Pugh 33

Homelessness in America Is a Growing Problem Jim Romeo 41

Youth Homelessness Is a Serious Problem National Alliance to End Homelessness 49

No: Poverty and Homelessness Are Not Serious Problems

Poverty in the United States Is Not a Big Problem Robert Rector Bill Steigerwald 55

Poverty in the United States Is Usually Short Lived George B. Weathersby 61

Homelessness Is Declining Kevin Fagan 65

Chapter 2 What Causes Poverty and Homelessness?

Chapter Preface 71

Racial Discrimination Contributes to the Problem of Poverty Alan Jenkins 73

Race is a factor in poverty rates, and racial discrimination needs to be addressed in order to find policies that will end poverty for all people. 73

The Absence of Fathers Causes Poverty William Raspberry 82

U.S. Anti-immigrant Policy Increases Poverty Andres Oppenheimer 85

Culture Contributes to the Cycle of Poverty Cathy Young 88

Lack of Support Leads War Veterans into Poverty and Homelessness Saul Landau 91

Homelessness Is Caused by Poverty and a Lack of Affordable Housing National Coalition for the Homeless 97

Homophobia Is a Cause of Youth Homelessness Colby Berger 107

Chapter 3 Do Government Welfare Programs Help the Poor?

Chapter Preface 115

Yes: Government Welfare Programs Help the Poor

Welfare Reform Has Helped People Out of Poverty Michael Tanner 117

Some Welfare Programs for theHomeless Are a Good Investment Philip Mangano 120

No: Government Welfare Programs Do Not Help the Poor

Welfare Reform Has Increased Poverty Stephen Pimpare 124

Welfare Programs Make Poverty Worse David Boaz 128

Welfare Programs for the Homeless Exacerbate the Problem John Derbyshire 132

Chapter 4 What Strategies Would Benefit the Poor and the Homeless?

Chapter Preface 139

A Variety of Approaches Are Needed to Cut Poverty The Center for American Progress 141

Redefining the Poverty Level Would Help Ease the Problem of Poverty Douglas W. Nelson 150

Raising the Minimum Wage Is Necessary to Combat Poverty Holly Sklar Paul Sherry 159

Education Is an Important Part of a Strategy to Combat Poverty Jared Bernstein 169

Providing Housing Is the Key to Ending Homelessness Sam Tsemberis Meghann Farnsworth 175

Criminalizing Homelessness Is Ineffective and Violates Rights National Coalition for the Homeless and National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty 182

Organizations to Contact 189

Bibliography 194

Index 200