Required Reading List

The following required reading list is made up of online articles by organizations dedicated to preventing and decreasing homelessness in the US. Each reading offers plans of action to readers on how to make their contribution to the problem and provides statistics and demographics of who is effected.

“I Beat the Odds.” Oher, Michael. Penguin Group USA. 2011. This auto-biography of professional football player Michael Oher gives readers an inside look at what it’s really like to be homeless in America. This resource is particularly affective because it takes an emotional approach and adds to the realism of the problem at hand: homelessness. It offers a down-to-earth perspective of who is homeless, why, and what the experience can be like.

“Child Homelessness in America: A Growing Problem.” Word on the Street. March, 2009. This web article primarily focuses on the population of children who are homeless in America, offering shocking statistics and heartbreaking anecdotes from broken families across the country. It reports the problem surrounding single mothers and the obstacles they face which can, in these specific cases, lead to homelessness.

“Top Causes of Homelessness in America.” Maide, Jeff. Web. 2010. This article finds a balance between the recent economic factors associated with the American homelessness epidemic and the cultural and societal issues which also play a role. The author takes a deeper look into the actual causes of homelessness: tragic life occurrences, domestic violence and untreated mental illness. The reading also offers surprising statistics and a thorough analysis into the “why?” as opposed  to the “what?”

“The Homeless.” Jencks, Christopher. 1994. This book serves as a go-to guide for all causes, factors, and preventative measures associated with homelessness in America. It’s primary goals are to offer an in-depth sociological study of those who are homeless and how those who are more fortunate deal with the issues at hand. Each chapter takes on a different subject: from economic budget cuts, the drug epidemic, marriage, etc. 

Solutions for America. Preventing Homelessness in America: Statistics and Prevention Programs.2003. Web. February 2011. This web article not only provides readers with a history of homeless statistics in America, but primarily focuses on decreasing the homelessness rates and preventing it altogether. It provides tips on working towards preventative efforts such as involving local governments and demonstration of “gap analysis” to find where your community needs the most help. It is essentially a go-to guide for those who want to create their own organization dedicated to helping the less fortunate.

National Alliance to End Homelessness. State of Homelessness 2011. 2011. Web. February 2001. This is a study done by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an advocacy group which promotes measures to end homelessness in America. The study educates readers on the increases of homelessness in recent years, the worsening economic conditions facing those who are or are at risk of homelessness, and the increase of risk factors that determine the likelihood of becoming homeless. It also provides homeless information focused primarily on individual states, offering a more specific search. The group promotes a “Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness,” which works as a strategic guide for citizens to do their part in decreasing homelessness and explains how the outcome can benefit all of society as a whole.

Baltimore Chronicle & Sentinel. “Growing Homelessness in America.” Lendman, Stephen. May 2010. Web. February 2011. This article in the Baltimore Chronicle & Sentinel draws statistics from a 2009 report on hunger and homelessness in US cities and its particularly affective due to its harsh and abrasive critique of the United States economy by questioning why the world’s richest country has such disturbing homelessness rates. This article uses sources like the National Alliance to End Homelessness to convey facts on who makes up the majority of homeless people in the US and what sort of people are at risk. This article is different from most sources and especially attention-grabbing because it provides a loud opinion against the federal government and ties it in with actual facts from legitimate organizations which advocate the prevention of homelessness. 

Washington D.C.’s Street Sense. Lessons Learned in Becoming Invisible. Peter Danelski. January 2011. Web. February 2001. This web article details the experiences had by a theater student at DeSales University who was one of seven to attempt the “homeless challenge” in Washington, D.C. in October of 2010. The students worked closely with the National Coalition for the Homeless headquarters in order to recreate a realistic homeless environment and persona to obtain feedback to share with others on how it feels to appear homeless to society and the burden of the environmental and physical factors that are associated with the lifestyle. This source allows readers a look inside a first-hand experiment and offers information on where to help the homeless, while at the same time urges college students to get involved in the movement to prevent homelessness in America.

SLO Homeless: One Man’s Insight Into the Ups and Downs of Homelessness. 2007. Web. February 2011. Though the author resides in San Luis Obispo, (SLO) California and documents his own personal experiences with the homeless in that particular area, the website is a great resource to not only learn more about the homelessness epidemic in America, but to learn more about the people who become homeless. It addresses social issues surrounding the topic and answers questions like “Why should we help the homeless? And “Are homeless support organizations doing their job?” It also posts national articles on homeless issues.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. “Looking Back, Looking Forward.”  2010. Web. February 2011. This article addresses 2010 as a year in homeless advocacy and focuses on the struggles the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty have gone through to help the homeless and prevent further homelessness. The article explains points of a comprehensive plan the Center has came up with to fight homelessness and explains its beliefs as to why this is an issue that should be a federal responsibility instead of continuing to be overlooked. The plan zeros in on issues like protecting the housing rights of domestic violence survivors and homeless children who are denied access to proper schooling. The reading also makes a list of what the organization believes to be basic human rights, which should be supplied to all citizens.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: “Chronic Homelessness.” 2011. Web. February 2011. This article introduces and dissects the term “Chronic Homelessness” by analyzing the experiences of those who live through long term periods or repeated homelessness. This reading addresses that most “chronic homeless” people often suffer from a disability or an addiction. It also provides solutions to the problem, the most effective being the option of permanent supportive housing. This article is particularly effective because it is unique in that it tells readers how helping the homeless can benefit them and their society as a whole. It explains how permanent housing can be cost-effective and reduce other public costs.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: “Homeless Youth and Sexual Exploitation.” Octber 2009. Web. February 2011. This online article provides research findings on the dangers homeless teens are exposed to and offers practice implications to help rehabilitate those who have suffered. It primarily focuses on the harmful impact sexual abuse can have on teens and the heightened risks homeless are subject to. It explains the negative effects such abuse can have on the long-term health of thousands of youth annually. It offers a variety of ways the public can begin community outreach programs for homeless youth in their area.