Encyclopedia of Homelessness

Editor/Author: Levinson, David
Publication Year: 2004
Publisher: Sage Publications

ISBN: 978-0-7619-2751-8
Category: social sciences
Image Count: 59
Book Status: Available

The Encyclopedia of Homelessness is the first systematic effort to organize and summarize what we know about this complex topic that impacts not only the homeless but all of society. The Encyclopedia focuses on the current situation in the United States with a comparative sampling of homelessness around the world.

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Levinson's remarkable work deserves an award for tackling this complex social problem in such a very thorough and well-organized way. Its more than 150 entries, written by international authorities, focus on the homeless in the US but include overviews of homelessness in many other parts of the world. The contributors also discuss vital issues related to homelessness--e.g., deinstitutionalization, the education of homeless children, and survival strategies. Numerous cross-references assist readers in finding related topics. The sections on causes and prevention are highly recommended to government officials and policy makers. The few photos included show respect for the subject being photographed. The publisher (Sage) is correct in stating, "the Encyclopedia of Homelessness is a must-have resource for sociologists, anthropologists, economists, journalists, social policy analysts and planners, social workers, and lawyers providing advocacy services."
K. M. Venturella
formerly, Montclair State University
This two-volume encyclopedia offers a broad look at the diverse and often misunderstood issue of homelessness, both in the United States and around the world. Covering a variety of issues and perspectives, Levinson aims to debunk the standard misconceptions of the homeless population as a mass of single, alcoholic adult men (think women, adolescents, and families, including many children) and offers the researcher a comprehensive place to begin any exploration of the topic. The general entries are thorough, ranging from one to seven pages and includes references for additional reading; entry topics include countries (e.g., Australia, Japan, Nairobi) populations (e.g., families, older persons, women), legal issues, organizations, and service systems and settings. Included in this 928-page set are 5 appendixes that comprise nearly one-third of the book. One such appendix lists 23 primary source documents that give the reader a brief, yet wide-reaching history of homelessness, beginning with a list of relevant bible passages. In another appendix one will find a nearly complete directory of Street Newspapers throughout the world, listed alphabetically by country or state. However, page 638 is missing, and along with it the listings for papers in U.S. states such as Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington-all of which carry such publications. Of particular note is the resulting absence of the Seattle-based paper entitled Real Change, which is mentioned elsewhere in the entry for Street Newspapers. Overall, this encyclopedia does an excellent job of accomplishing what Levinson set out to do, and establishes itself as an engaging, definitive resource on homelessness. The extent to which the causes, history, and potential solutions of homelessness are explored, make this work a welcome contribution to the literature. The Encyclopedia of Homelessness is highly recommended for academic, public, school, and special libraries, as well as for the layperson.
Rachael Cathcart
Asst. University Librarian, Florida Atlantic Univ., Baca Raton