The Homeless [Paperback]

Christopher Jencks (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 067440596X | ISBN-13: 978-0674405967 | Publication Date: March 15, 1995

How widespread is homelessness, how did it happen, and what can be done about it? These are the questions explored by Christopher Jencks, America's foremost analyst of social problems. Jencks examines the standard explanations and finds that the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, the invention of crack cocaine, rising joblessness among men, declining marriage rates, cuts in welfare benefits, and the destruction of skid row have all played a role. Changes in the housing market have had less impact than many claim, however, and real federal housing subsidies actually doubled during the 1980s. Not confining his mission to studying the homeless, Jencks proposes several practical approaches to helping the homeless.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Noted sociologist Jencks ( Rethinking Social Policy ), who teaches at Northwestern University, here offers a brief but instructive survey and analysis of much literature on the homeless. Concentrating on the "visible homeless" (street people and those using shelters), Jencks agrees that their numbers have risen but also notes that his estimate of 400,000 homeless in 1987-1988 is disputed by many advocacy groups as far too low. He attributes the proliferation of mentally ill homeless people both to liberal policies boosting individual autonomy and to conservative policies that cut mental health budgets. He suggests that the "cumulative effect" of having been born disadvantaged, not merely bad luck, leads to the streets. He blames crack and deinstitutionalization for fueling homelessness among individuals and cites skimpy welfare payments, the growth of single motherhood and crack addiction (again) as leading to homeless families. He recommends certain admittedly stopgap measures: increased welfare payments or subsidized housing for families; a day-labor market supported by government and private sources for working adults; and social services and intervention for the mentally ill.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In this brief but thoughtful analysis of homelessness, Jencks, a sociology professor at Northwestern University, focuses on what he calls the "visible homeless": those who "slept in a public place or a shelter" (the latter includes welfare hotels) during a given week. After wrestling with the numbers (appendixes spell out the methodology used and provide supplementary tables), Jencks discusses in some detail the factors he feels are most significant in pushing Americans onto the streets: deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, crack cocaine, joblessness and declining marriage rates, reduced welfare benefits, and the destruction of skid rows across the country. A final chapter offers "Some Partial Solutions"; among them, cubicle hotels to give homeless people a bit of privacy and stability; recognition that, even with training, many former welfare mothers will need continuing subsidies; a publicly run day-labor market for childless homeless adults who can work, and improved disability benefits for those who cannot; and vouchers to allow homeless Americans to select support services they feel are worthwhile. Jencks' concessions to political realities will make his study controversial. Mary Carroll --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (March 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067440596X
• ISBN-13: 978-0674405967
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best work on the subject, December 24, 2000

By 

Kenneth E. Wagner Jr. (Highland Springs, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Homeless (Hardcover)

Jencks is one of the best sociologists in the world. He is a liberal, but you would not know it from this work (not that this work is 'conservative'). Here what you get is concise, well investigated and well written social science by one of the best. Jencks calmly demolishes myths about the homeless, and then walks through the various causal explanations offered by the right and left. Where he finds support he publishes it, and thats a lot considering the politicized nature of much social science. This book, though dated now, would be essential reading for those who want to understand or help the homeless in the U.S.. What really impresses me about his work is his humility about what social science does and can do while demonstrating its merits through his analysis.