The New Poverty: Homeless Families in America

Only nine years ago, the head of a typical homeless family was 35 years old and a high school graduate, who had had been employed on more than a short-term basis. In examining data on New York City's homeless population today, one finds that ""the typical homeless family head-of-household is a young, single woman without a high school diploma or substantial work experience. There is a 50 percent chance that she is currently pregnant. She has most likely experienced substance abuse and is probably the victim of domestic violence and perhaps has lived in foster care as a child."" Nunez, president of Home for the Homeless in New York City, analyzes this change of demographics, and offers a way out of the cycle of poverty and homelessness: American Family Inns, his organization's privately and publicly funded shelter system. Nunez's uncritical advocacy and use of participants' testimonials is too often like advertising copy; on the other hand, the system is indeed an attractive alternative to traditional shelters. Most governmental responses to homelessness begin and end in emergency relief; American Family Inns, for the same cost or less, ""Provide up to ten times the services with tangible, lasting results."" They mean to give young, homeless mothers help in keeping their vulnerable families together and in maintaining their new independence with on-site support services that include adult education and job training; after-school, accelerated classes for children; drug rehabilitation; child care; preparation for moving into housing and follow-through counseling. The target audience of this persuasive volume includes voters as well as policy-makers. Photos not seen by PW. (June)