Modern Homelessness

This in-depth examination reviews fundamental changes of the past decade that have reduced homelessness in the United States and other Western democracies.

Focusing on the last decade, Modern Homelessness: A Reference Handbook examines the issue in the United States and in other nations that have adopted new strategies to address homelessness—and achieved notable results in preventing and ending it. The handbook covers the unprecedented reductions first announced in 2007 and the crucial shifts in strategy and investment, and the results that brought them about. These fundamental changes are analyzed to identify the factors that proved most effective in altering the national and local dialogue and response relative to this daunting issue.

In addition to a brief history of homelessness in contemporary times, the handbook examines key developments of the past decade in research, policy, housing models, and service delivery that have been shown to decrease homelessness. These include active partnership among the governments of the United States, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, and others that moved the discussion in a new direction. The story is brought up to date with a consideration of the effects of the 2008 economic crisis.

Mary Ellen Hombs was deputy director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from 2003 to 2009.

Philip F. Mangano is president and CEO of the American Round Table to Abolish Homelessness, which partners with innovators and jurisdictional leaders nationwide to prevent and end homelessness.