The 1980s have witnessed a dramatic increase in homelessness among impoverished and dependent persons, particularly in major metropolitan areas. In this in-depth study, Carol, L.M. Caton and her colleagues synthesize the available information on this alarming trend, providing a comprehensive discussion of the causes and historical antecedents of homelessness and answering such questions as: Who are the homeless and what are their day-to-day lives like? What can be done to help the homeless and ensure that society meets its responsibility to them? How many homeless are there and why are their...

The Open Door: Homelessness and Severe Mental Illness in the Era of Community Treatment explains how and why homelessness among the mentally ill has persisted over the past 35 years, despite policy and program initiatives to end it. This ten-chapter book chronicles the unintended rise of homelessness in the wake of far-reaching post-World War II mental health care reforms, and highlights the key role of advocacy in spurring a governmental response to homelessness. The author provides a comprehensive, carefully documented -state of the science- on homelessness, reviews critical issues...