Homelessness in the 21st Century: Living the Impossible American Dream

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 field, use data from over 250 interviews and field 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 affordable housing, the stigmatization and criminalization of homelessness, inadequate access to healthcare, employment that does not pay a living wage, and difficulty 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 affects 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 affects individuals and guides 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 find 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 findings 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 A. 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, the sociology of aging, gerontology, and distance education.