The Old Homeless and the New Homelessness in Historical Perspective
Description:
A historical comparison of the demography, characteristics and causes of homelessness in the 1950's and 60's as compared to current (1990) times. Homelessness declined in the 1950s and 1960s, to a point that researchers thought it would virtual disappear by the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, homelessness quickly grew and signifiantly changed the landscape. In the 1950's, homeless people were thought to be mainly old men living in cheap hotels on skid rows. The new homeless were much younger, more likely to be minority group members, suffering from greater poverty, and with access to poorer sleeping quarters. Homeless women and families also appeared in significant numbers. However, in the topical areas of mental illness and substance abuse, there were points of similarity.
Type of Resource:
Journal
Publication Date:
1990
Volume:
45
Issue:
8
Pages:
954-959
Location:
Washington