Table Of Content“This book shifts the focus about the causes of homelessness, moving from
individualistic explanations to social and political causes. I am unaware of
other books that take this perspective exclusively and thus this book will
be of value to a variety of audiences, particularly undergraduates, many of
whom are considering broader issues for the frst time upon starting their
college careers.”
—Catherine Mobley, Professor of Sociology, Clemson University
“Southworth and Brallier approach homelessness with the keen eyes
of sociologists who understand that the homeless make choices within
constraints of a social structure over which they have little control. The
authors’ comprehensive treatment of the interplay between structure and
agency that generates homelessness sets this book apart from other eforts
to illuminate and address this social problem. The Rolling Forward Project
epitomizes their thoughtful, feasible, creative, and empowering eforts to
reduce homelessness by addressing one structural cause in Myrtle Beach, SC.”
—Roslyn Arlin Mickelson, Chancellor’s Professor of Sociology,
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
“Southworth and Brallier ofer a major advance in scholarship on homelessness
through a compelling and insightful investigation of historical trends and
policies that exacerbate poverty and constrain housing accessibility. Their
extensive dataset and rich analysis expose how changes in US social and
political structure over the last half century, including neoliberal economic
reforms and the expansion of the non-proft industrial complex, function
to increase homelessness over time. Most importantly, their analysis ofers
tangible pathways for solutions via afordable housing, living wages, access
to mental and physical health care, and public transportation. This book
shows that homelessness is a choice: a choice made by policy makers who
refuse to fund basic public services that would provide a lifeline for the most
vulnerable among us.”
—Jaime J. McCauley, Associate Professor of Sociology, Coastal
Carolina University
Homelessness in the 21st Century
An accessible and engaging introductory text on homelessness and housing
policy, this timely book uses a sociopolitical framework for understanding
issues of homelessness in the United States.
The authors, leading sociologists in their feld, use data from over 250
interviews and feld notes to demonstrate that homelessness is rooted in the
structure of our society. They identify and describe the structural barriers
faced by people who become homeless, including the lack of afordable
housing, the stigmatization and criminalization of homelessness, inadequate
access to health care, employment that does not pay a living wage, and
difculty accessing social services. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds,
most of the people included in this book believe strongly in the American
Dream. This book examines how the belief in the American Dream afects
people experiencing homelessness. It also highlights individuals’ experiences
within the social institutions of the economy, the criminal justice system, and
the health care system. Furthermore, this book explores how stereotypes of
people experiencing homelessness afect individuals and guide social policy.
The authors examine policy changes at the local, state, and national levels
that can be made to eradicate homelessness, but argue that there must be a
political will to shift the narrative from blaming the victim to supporting the
common good.
Expertly combining history, theory, and ethnography, this book is an
invaluable resource for those with an interest in housing policy.
Stephanie Southworth, PhD, is an assistant professor of sociology at
Coastal Carolina University. Her current research focuses on using applied,
community-based research to fnd structural solutions to social problems.
She believes strongly in the value of educating the public about the reasons
for social inequalities to reduce stereotypes. Southworth has published over
a dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and regularly presents the
fndings of her studies to community groups and conferences. She is on the
Board of Directors of several organizations serving low-income community
members. She, along with co-author Sara Brallier, have started several
community programs based on the results of their research.
Sara Brallier is a professor of sociology at Coastal Carolina University. She
teaches social inequality, sociology of religion, the sociology of aging, the
sociology of death and dying, and research methods for the social sciences.
Her current research focuses on housing and food insecurity. She has
published numerous articles and book chapters and frequently shares her
research with community groups and at academic conferences. She uses her
research to inform her activism; she serves on the boards of several agencies
serving marginalized populations and frequently consults with community
groups interested in instigating social change. Her areas of expertise include
social inequality, family demography, gerontology, and the scholarship of
teaching and learning.
Homelessness in the 21st
Century
Living the Impossible American
Dream
Stephanie Southworth
and Sara Brallier
Designed cover image: Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Stephanie Southworth and Sara Brallier
The right of Stephanie Southworth and Sara Brallier to be
identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Southworth, Stephanie, author. | Brallier, Sara, author.
Title: Homelessness in the 21st century: living the impossible
American dream/Stephanie Southworth and Sara Brallier.
Other titles: Homelessness in the twenty-first century
Description: Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY:
Routledge, 2023. | Includes bibliographical references and
index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2022051124 (print) | LCCN 2022051125
(ebook) | ISBN 9781032351605 (hardback) | ISBN
9781032351599 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003325581 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Homelessness—United States—History—21st
century. | Housing policy—United States
Classification: LCC HV4505. S728 2023 (print) | LCC HV4505
(ebook) | DDC 362.50973—dc23/eng/20221101
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022051124
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022051125
ISBN: 978-1-032-35160-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-35159-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-32558-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003325581
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Contents
List of Figures xii
List of Tables xiii
Introduction xiv
Chapter Outlines xvi
SECTION 1
Homelessness in America 1
1 How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Homelessness 3
Introduction 3
Early American Vagabonds 4
“Homelessness” as a Social Problem in the Nineteenth
Century 5
Homelessness 1900–1945 8
The Great Depression and the New Deal 9
World War II 11
The Aftermath of World War II 11
Federal Policy’s Efect on Homelessness 12
The War on Poverty 13
Conclusion 14
2 Neoliberal Ideology and Homelessness 16
Introduction 16
Setting the Stage for a Neoliberal Shift 17
Ronald Reagan’s Administration 18
The Non-Proft Industrial Complex 20
Consequences 21
Fixing the New Problem: The McKinney-Vento Act 21
Bill Clinton’s Administration 22
The Emergence of the Continuum of Care 23
Welfare Reform 24
viii Contents
Culture of Compliance 24
The George W. Bush Administration 25
The Barack Obama Administration 26
The Donald Trump Administration 26
Joe Biden’s Administration 27
Neoliberalism and Space 27
Conclusion 29
3 The Evolution of Risk Factors for the New
Homeless 33
Introduction 33
Deinstitutionalization and the Closure of Psychiatric
Hospitals 34
Nineteenth-Century Psychiatric Care 35
Twentieth-Century Psychiatric Care 35
Deinstitutionalization and Homelessness 37
Mental Illness and Housing 38
The Criminal Justice System 39
Incarceration as a Cause or Consequence of Homelessness 39
The Commodifcation of Public Space 40
Anti-Homeless Laws 40
The Criminal Justice System Contributes to Homelessness 42
Broken Windows Policing 43
Policing Encampments 45
Conclusion: Mental Health Care and Policing in a Neoliberal
Economy 47
4 Theoretical Explanations of Homelessness 50
Introduction 50
Using Grounded Theory to Understand Issues of
Homelessness 51
Structural Theories 53
Marxist Theory 53
Guy Standing 55
Michel Foucault 56
The Interaction Between Structure and Agency 58
Pierre Bourdieu 58
Nicholas Pleace 59
Structuration 60
Conclusion 62
Contents ix
SECTION 2
Research on Homelessness in Myrtle Beach, SC 65
5 Counting and Providing Services for People
Experiencing Homelessness 67
Introduction 67
Counting People Who Are Experiencing Homelessness 67
Comparing HMIS Data to the PIT Count 68
Non-Proft Organizations Serving People Experiencing
Homelessness in Myrtle Beach 71
Shelters 71
Housing Support 73
Food 74
Medical Care 74
Clothing 75
Conclusion 75
6 Work, Efort, and the American Dream 78
Introduction 78
Work as the “Key to Success” in Springhouse 79
Believing the Dream 81
Still Believing—I Can Still Do It 81
All I Need Is a Little Help 82
I Just Need Job Training 83
Just a Temporary Setback 83
Selling Himself (Literally) for the Dream 84
If I Did It Once, I Can Do It Again 84
A New Start and a Parrot to Boot 85
Mental and Physical Health and the American Dream 86
I Want to Work: It’s Just Hard 86
It’s Not Worth It 86
I’ll Be Better Of or Dead 87
Jail or Dead 88
Happy Families 88
Chasing the Dream 89
Conclusion 89
7 Health and Perceptions of Health 92
Introduction 92
The Relationship Between Health and Homelessness 93
Health as a Cause of Homelessness 94
Mental Illness Causing Homelessness 94
From Riches to Rags 95
Physical Health Causing Homelessness 96
