THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES Joel Blau New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. $22.95 hardcover

Kreuger, Larry

English

ScholarWorks at WMU

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 
Volume 19 
Issue 4 December Article 15 
December 1992 
Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE 
UNITED STATES by Joel Blau 
Larry Kreuger 
University of Missouri-Columbia 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw 
 Part of the Social Work Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Kreuger, Larry (1992) "Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES by Joel 
Blau," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 19 : Iss. 4 , Article 15. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol19/iss4/15 
This Book Review is brought to you by the Western 
Michigan University School of Social Work. For more 
information, please contact wmu-
scholarworks@wmich.edu. 
Book Review
THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED
STATES Joel Blau New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
$22.95 hardcover.
One might think that the plethora of recent articles and
books on the many faces of homelessness had covered all of the
bases. Not so. The Visible Poor: Homelessness in the United States,
provides a refreshing departure from mainstream analysis of the
poor, the homeless and the poorly housed. The book is a well
documented examination of the multiple and complex causes
of homelessness and an interesting analysis of the various pub-
lic and private responses to several heterogeneous homeless
populations.
The author, after establishing a position that the phenomena
of homelessness cannot be meaningfully understood apart from
political and economic forces in both public and private arenas,
ventures into a more penetrating analysis. Well documented
throughout, the discussion ranges from the social construction
of homelessness as a political category to an historical over-
view of homelessness and to the recent reluctant welfare re-
sponses to homelessness found in the United States.
Blau examines the causes of homelessness in four chapters
on the economics of poverty, social welfare and the principle
of less eligibility, housing and mental illness. Here the author
is careful to delineate the homeless as consisting of several
complex and heterogeneous populations not necessarily socially
or conceptually linked together. Indeed, Blau includes several
instances of how politically motivated definitions of homeless-
ness and various lumping strategies have shaped recent multi-
level public and private responses and policy options.
In the middle chapters the author details reactions to home-
lessness including social movements to organize and politically
involve homeless persons, legal cases and key court decisions
and specific municipal responses from several cities throughout
the United States.
254 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare
Blau finds that cities tend to respond to locally relevant
homeless problems based not only upon the number and dis-
tribution of homeless people (visibility) but just as importantly
upon the local political system and the pervasive power of busi-
ness communities to shape system wide municipal responses.
Two chapters are given over to the special problems of the
homeless and the multiple audiences who have responded (or
failed to respond) in New York City. To some this section of
the book may seem like Big Apple overkill, but this reviewer
found these chapters to be an impressive presentation of the
relationship of homelessness to private business concerns, to
political coalitions, and to public sector pressures. Lessons are
there to be learned.
Examined next is the social policy response in which Blau
characterizes the homeless as having been largely written off
in the 1980's:
Instead of trying to ensure that the vast majority of poor people
have a minimally adequate standard of living, it (social policy)
has reduced social welfare funding and encouraged a form of
national triage.
In the final chapter on human needs Blau lays his cards on
the table by making a case for large scale changes in the welfare
system, new funding for affordable housing, a higher minimum
wage and other changes in a political and economic system
currently dominated by the profit motive. Emphasis is given to
macro political and economic reform rather than to solutions
at the micro level. Joel Blau's wide ranging proposals to help
resolve homelessness as a social problem will strike some as
politically left leaning as there is no discussion of the success
of the trickle-down economic policies of the past two adminis-
trations in Washington. On the other hand and in keeping with
Blau's analysis, those leaning in the other direction would be
unlikely to undertake serious macro analysis of homelessness
to begin with.
The book is easy to read and, while well documented with
forty pages of citations and notes, is intended for the general au-
dience. It would be appropriate for graduate and undergraduate
courses on social policy and social problems.
Book Review 255
It will be welcomed by those seeking a single source for
the study of homelessness and welfare responses. The book
will likely make an important contribution to the discussion
of long term solutions as Professor Blau makes a strong case for
throwing more and larger lifelines what are quickly becoming
America's boat people.
Reviewed by Larry Kreuger, University of Missouri-Columbia

CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Balkin
Associate Professor
Rossevelt University
Economics Department
430 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Laura E. Blankertz, Ph.D.
Matrix Research Institute
Director of Research
Kenilworth 106
Alden Park Manor
2979 Schoolhouse Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144
John R. Belcher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Maryland at Baltimore
School of Social Work
525 West Redwood Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Katherine H. Briar, DSW
Professor
Florida International University
Bay Vista Campus
Miami, FL 33181
Ram A. Cnaan, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
School of Social Work
3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Marcia B. Cohen, Ph.D.
University of New England
School of Social Work
Biddeford, ME 04005
Cushing N. Dolbeare
Consultant on Housing and
Public Policy
215 Eighth Street, Northeast
Washington, DC 20002-6105
Padmini Gulati, DSW
Associate Professor
State University of New
York/ Plattsburgh
The Center for Human Resources
Plattsburg, NY 12901
Anothy Halter
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign
School of Social Services
1207 West Oregon Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Marie D. Hoff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Boise State University
Department of Social Work
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725
Elizabeth Huttman, Ph.D.
Professor
California State University
Sociology Department
Hayward, CA 94542
Sharon M. Keigher, Ph.D.
Associate Professqr
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
School of Social Welfare
P.O. Box 786
Milwaukee, WI 53201
Kristin Knighton, MSW
Doctoral Candidate
University of Washington
4101 15th Avenue, NE
Settle, Washington
Continued...
Larry W. Kreuger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Missouri-Columbia
College of Human Environmental
Services
School of Social Work
702 Clark Hall
Columbia, Missouri 65211
Kay Young McChesney, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Department of Sociology
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121-4499
Sonja Redmond, Ph.D.
California State University
Sociology Department
Hayward, CA 94542
Angie Van Ry, Ph.D.
Director, Homeless Teen Parent
Program
Central Area Youth Association
119 23rd Avenue
Seattle, WA
Contributors
Russell K. Schutt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Sociology Department
University of Massachusetts at
Boston
Inner Harbor
Boston, MA 02125-3393
John J. Stretch, Ph.D.
Director of the Doctoral Program
St. Louis University
School of Social Service
St. Louis, MO 63103
David Wagner, Ph.D.
University of Southern Maine
Department of Social Work
Portland, ME 04103


Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES by Joel Blau

The Journal of Sociology & Social WelfareVolume 19Issue 4 December Article 15December 1992Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR:HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATESby Joel BlauLarry KreugerUniversity of Missouri-ColumbiaFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jsswPart of the Social Work CommonsThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the SocialWork at ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contactmaira.bundza@wmich.edu.Recommended CitationKreuger, Larry (1992) "Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES by Joel Blau," TheJournal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 19 : Iss. 4 , Article 15.Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol19/iss4/15Book ReviewTHE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITEDSTATES Joel Blau New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.$22.95 hardcover.One might think that the plethora of recent articles andbooks on the many faces of homelessness had covered all of thebases. Not so. The Visible Poor: Homelessness in the United States,provides a refreshing departure from mainstream analysis of thepoor, the homeless and the poorly housed. The book is a welldocumented examination of the multiple and complex causesof homelessness and an interesting analysis of the various pub-lic and private responses to several heterogeneous homelesspopulations.The author, after establishing a position that the phenomenaof homelessness cannot be meaningfully understood apart frompolitical and economic forces in both public and private arenas,ventures into a more penetrating analysis. Well documentedthroughout, the discussion ranges from the social constructionof homelessness as a political category to an historical over-view of homelessness and to the recent reluctant welfare re-sponses to homelessness found in the United States.Blau examines the causes of homelessness in four chapterson the economics of poverty, social welfare and the principleof less eligibility, housing and mental illness. Here the authoris careful to delineate the homeless as consisting of severalcomplex and heterogeneous populations not necessarily sociallyor conceptually linked together. Indeed, Blau includes severalinstances of how politically motivated definitions of homeless-ness and various lumping strategies have shaped recent multi-level public and private responses and policy options.In the middle chapters the author details reactions to home-lessness including social movements to organize and politicallyinvolve homeless persons, legal cases and key court decisionsand specific municipal responses from several cities throughoutthe United States.254 Journal of Sociology & Social WelfareBlau finds that cities tend to respond to locally relevanthomeless problems based not only upon the number and dis-tribution of homeless people (visibility) but just as importantlyupon the local political system and the pervasive power of busi-ness communities to shape system wide municipal responses.Two chapters are given over to the special problems of thehomeless and the multiple audiences who have responded (orfailed to respond) in New York City. To some this section ofthe book may seem like Big Apple overkill, but this reviewerfound these chapters to be an impressive presentation of therelationship of homelessness to private business concerns, topolitical coalitions, and to public sector pressures. Lessons arethere to be learned.Examined next is the social policy response in which Blaucharacterizes the homeless as having been largely written offin the 1980's:Instead of trying to ensure that the vast majority of poor peoplehave a minimally adequate standard of living, it (social policy)has reduced social welfare funding and encouraged a form ofnational triage.In the final chapter on human needs Blau lays his cards onthe table by making a case for large scale changes in the welfaresystem, new funding for affordable housing, a higher minimumwage and other changes in a political and economic systemcurrently dominated by the profit motive. Emphasis is given tomacro political and economic reform rather than to solutionsat the micro level. Joel Blau's wide ranging proposals to helpresolve homelessness as a social problem will strike some aspolitically left leaning as there is no discussion of the successof the trickle-down economic policies of the past two adminis-trations in Washington. On the other hand and in keeping withBlau's analysis, those leaning in the other direction would beunlikely to undertake serious macro analysis of homelessnessto begin with.The book is easy to read and, while well documented withforty pages of citations and notes, is intended for the general au-dience. It would be appropriate for graduate and undergraduatecourses on social policy and social problems.Book Review 255It will be welcomed by those seeking a single source forthe study of homelessness and welfare responses. The bookwill likely make an important contribution to the discussionof long term solutions as Professor Blau makes a strong case forthrowing more and larger lifelines what are quickly becomingAmerica's boat people.Reviewed by Larry Kreuger, University of Missouri-ColumbiaCONTRIBUTORSSteven BalkinAssociate ProfessorRossevelt UniversityEconomics Department430 South Michigan AvenueChicago, IL 60605Laura E. Blankertz, Ph.D.Matrix Research InstituteDirector of ResearchKenilworth 106Alden Park Manor2979 Schoolhouse LanePhiladelphia, PA 19144John R. Belcher, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorUniversity of Maryland at BaltimoreSchool of Social Work525 West Redwood StreetBaltimore, Maryland 21201Katherine H. Briar, DSWProfessorFlorida International UniversityBay Vista CampusMiami, FL 33181Ram A. Cnaan, Ph.D.University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Social Work3701 Locust WalkPhiladelphia, PA 19104Marcia B. Cohen, Ph.D.University of New EnglandSchool of Social WorkBiddeford, ME 04005Cushing N. DolbeareConsultant on Housing andPublic Policy215 Eighth Street, NortheastWashington, DC 20002-6105Padmini Gulati, DSWAssociate ProfessorState University of NewYork/ PlattsburghThe Center for Human ResourcesPlattsburg, NY 12901Anothy HalterAssistant ProfessorUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignSchool of Social Services1207 West Oregon StreetUrbana, IL 61801Marie D. Hoff, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorBoise State UniversityDepartment of Social Work1910 University DriveBoise, ID 83725Elizabeth Huttman, Ph.D.ProfessorCalifornia State UniversitySociology DepartmentHayward, CA 94542Sharon M. Keigher, Ph.D.Associate ProfessqrUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeSchool of Social WelfareP.O. Box 786Milwaukee, WI 53201Kristin Knighton, MSWDoctoral CandidateUniversity of Washington4101 15th Avenue, NESettle, WashingtonContinued...Larry W. Kreuger, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorUniversity of Missouri-ColumbiaCollege of Human EnvironmentalServicesSchool of Social Work702 Clark HallColumbia, Missouri 65211Kay Young McChesney, Ph.D.University of Missouri-St. LouisDepartment of Sociology8001 Natural Bridge RoadSt. Louis, MO 63121-4499Sonja Redmond, Ph.D.California State UniversitySociology DepartmentHayward, CA 94542Angie Van Ry, Ph.D.Director, Homeless Teen ParentProgramCentral Area Youth Association119 23rd AvenueSeattle, WAContributorsRussell K. Schutt, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorSociology DepartmentUniversity of Massachusetts atBostonInner HarborBoston, MA 02125-3393John J. Stretch, Ph.D.Director of the Doctoral ProgramSt. Louis UniversitySchool of Social ServiceSt. Louis, MO 63103David Wagner, Ph.D.University of Southern MaineDepartment of Social WorkPortland, ME 04103

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Book Review: THE VISIBLE POOR: HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES by Joel Blau

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