Homelessness in the United States, Europe, and Russia - A Comparative Perspective

The editors of this book draw upon professionals in seven industrialized nations to examine the prevalence, causes, trends, demographics, and health concerns of homelessness and to evaluate potential solutions. They also report on the resources available to the homeless by the public and private sectors in each of the seven countries studied; the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Russia, and Spain. Also provided is a comparison of social welfare systems in industrialized nations with perhaps the most current and accurate statistics regarding Russia available in the literature.

The two East European countries, the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation, represent the most radical changes, from a state to a free market economy with their social systems turned upside down. While the former socialist governments provided a system of universalistic care and control, the released uncontrolled free market forces have been eroding most social protection for the individual. Consequently, homelessness as a new phenomena affects those who are not able to compete in the free market economy. The editors tie the data and country-specific chapters together with a series of concluding chapters that include discussions of resources to prevent homelessness, financial resources for the unemployed, social welfare benefits for the indigent, access to health care and sickness benefits, affordable housing and housing policies, and public and private resources for the homeless.

List of contents

Foreword by Michael Stoops
Homelessness in Different Countries
Introduction
United States by Carl O. Helvie
Germany by Wilfried R. Kunstmann
Czech Republic by Aftab HladíkoVÁ
Denmark by Tobias Borner Stax
England by Barbra Carlisle
Russia by Katherine Savina and Oleg Zykov
Spain by Carmelo Vazquez, Manuel Munoz and Abelavdo Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Analysis and Potential Solutions
Comparison of Definitions, Prevalence, Demographics, Trends, Causes, and Health Concerns in Seven Counties by Carl O. Helvie and Wilfried R. Kunstmann
Comparison of Public and Private Resources in Seven Countries by Wilfried R. Kunstmann and Carl O. Helvie
Index

About the author

Carl O. Helvie, Wilfried Kunstmann

Product details

• Authors: Carl Helvie, Helvie Carl O., Wilfried Kunstmann, Kunstmann Wilfried
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.05.1999
• EAN: 9780897895019
• ISBN: 978-0-89789-501-9
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; USA, Russia, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Poverty & Homelessness, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Services, Social welfare & social services, United States of America, USA, Social welfare and social services, Housing & homelessness, Housing and homelessness, Current Events and Issues: Society