Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-46).

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1988. / Vita. Bibliography: leaf 46.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Virginia Commonwealth University, 2004. / Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Prepared for: School of Social Work. Bibliography: p. 152-160.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliography.

In 1981, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH), to raise the consciousness of the world to the estimated 100 million people who have no shelter, and to the 1 billion who lack a secure, permanent home which they can afford. This dissertation contributes to the goals and objectives of the IYSH, and introduces conceptual and practical considerations which are pertinent to a geographic examination of homelessness in Canada. Field observations from across the country are integrated with a critical appraisal of the international literature to demonstrate that the spatial distribution and diversity of the homeless are related to physical shelter problems and to a combination of individual, social and economic precipitants which produce homelessness at a variety of regional, community and household scales. Three broad categories among the homeless in Canada are identified: those who are inadequately housed; those who are economically disenfranchised, and those who are socially marginalised and service-dependent. Homelessness is shown to be linked to a wide range of human, social and economic problems, for individuals and families, for communities and for society as a whole. It is defined as the absence of a continuing or permanent home over which people have personal control, and which provides the essential needs of shelter, privacy and security at an affordable cost, together with ready access to social, economic, health and cultural public services. In various regions of the country the problems historically have been chronic; in others, they are spatially and temporally episodic. It is argued here that the problem constitutes a legitimate focus of academic inquiry which is of significance and relevance to geography. Case examples are presented to show: homelessness results from the reciprocal relations between individuals and social processes; these relations are manifest in identifiable spatial forms; these spatial arrangements in turn influence the composition of the homeless and the sources of homelessness. Geographic considerations contribute to an understanding of homelessness in Canada through an analysis of how individual action, social processes and spatial relations are linked to the genesis and persistence of homelessness. By showing how certain events and conditions precipitate and exacerbate homeless-related problems, evidence is presented that the problems in Canada cannot be reduced to single-factor causal explanations. Despite regional and temporal variations, and the establishment of a social welfare safety net, poverty, unemployment and inadequate social assistance benefits have historically influenced the form of homelessness. The effects of deinstitutionalisation and revitalisation have significantly altered the structure of the inner city and the vital role which these areas play in providing a supportive community for the socially marginalised homeless. As living conditions have improved, housing problems of the homeless have shifted to concerns over affordability and the lack of low-cost accommodation. Two significant conclusions emerge: homelessness is not a problem OF cities; but IS amenable to public policy intervention, of which housing is a vital but not exclusive part of creating a place to call home. Given the classification of the homeless and the recognition that homelessness is manifest at varying geographic scales, differential policies, programmes and housing alternatives are required to assist the homeless and reduce homelessness. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

This dissertation is an archaeological investigation of a late 20th century homeless encampment in Pelham Bay Park, New York City. This project examines the relationship between aspects of dwelling and the social status of homelessness within an iconic urban setting in the United States. In contemporary public discourse, the meaning of "homelessness" seems self-evident to most people as a condition defined by lack: a lack of permanence in general and of a permanent dwelling place in particular, a lack of personal possessions and personal relations, and most consequentially, a lack of political status. This research interrogates these assumptions by reading homelessness through the material record that people left behind, of what they did have when they inhabited spaces outside the sanctioned institutions for the "homeless," spaces where people intentionally dwelled and created their own structures of home. This project returns us to the most basic questions in the study of homelessness in the United States: what exactly is homelessness, what does it mean to be homeless, and how are people marked or recognized as homeless within our society? In order to answer these questions, this research explores how boundaries defining homelessness manifest and are articulated within our society.

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Chronically homeless individuals, or Street Dwellers, present unique challenges for clinicians and outreach workers who engage them when offering services like food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and mental health counseling including substance abuse treatment. This study examines Street Dwellers\' hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better life. Through thematic analysis of interview statements five themes emerged; Normal Life, Optimism, Planning, Helping Others, and From Rags to Respect. Study findings suggest that Street Dwellers dream vividly and often about a life off the streets while frequently forming and reforming plans to get there. These findings provide clinicians and outreach workers insight into the phenomenon of Street Dwelling that could be used to design more effective strategies to help this vulnerable population. / Master of Science

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