A half-century after the “War on Poverty” of Lyndon Johnson, poverty rates remain unchanged. Scholars have advanced polarized theories about the causes of poverty, as politicians have debated how (or if) to fund welfare programs. Yet little research has been conducted where the poor are provided a platform to speak on their own behalf. While it is important to understand how economic systems affect the homeless, it is equally important to learn about the day-to-day realities faced by those who rely on public policies for survival. Drawing on the author’s experience working in the homeless community, this book presents some of their stories of loss, abuse, addiction, and marginalization through interviews, observations, and ethnographic research.

Joshua D. Phillips is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, Brandywine in Media, Pennsylvania. He has written several academic essays on race, poverty, and sexual violence.

Joshua D. Phillips
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6457-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2527-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Part I: Camden, New Jersey
1—Introduction 3
2—Frank’s Place 9
Part II: Researching Homelessness
3—Defining Homelessness 45
4—The Case for Narratives 67
Part III: Stories of Homelessness
5—Losing Everything 81
6—Navigating the System 103
7—Manipulating the System 131
8—Seeking Recognition/Finding Community 144
Part IV: What’s Next?
9—Conclusion 159
10—Epilogue 174
Appendix A: List of Participants and Demographics 177
Appendix B: Guiding Interview Questions 179
Bibliography 181
Index 187

• “Recommended”—Choice
• “Dr. Phillips’ book needs to be in the public discourse as he requires readers to consider their relationship to homelessness through his smart, insightful, and poignant argument.”—Molly Wiant Cummins, St. Cloud State University
• “Josh Phillips writes with clarity, compassion, and insight about the causes and potential solutions to the problem of homelessness, eloquently advocating for policy-making that includes the voices of those most directly impacted…an inspiring read.”—Suzanne M. Daughton, Southern Illinois University.