Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: Homeless Children and Families in Small-Town America

We overlook many things when looking at homelessness, sometimes I feel that the point and the focus is completely disregared by city councils and bussiness groups like San Diego's Downtown Partnership. But no area is more heart-wrenching than the affects homlessness has on those with children, or the children themselves.

This is one book I found recently which approaches this subject head on, and the writer doesn't over look much.

That the focus of the author's investegation are on "Small-Town America" was interesting to me. Being a city-guy, I don't think about small-town America much (hey, seriously, I've got a few other things on my mind), but I was surprised at the writer's findings. Shocked, might be too strong of a word, after all, people are people where ever you go.

From Publishers Weekly
In six years of research in New Hampshire, sociologist Vissing saw runaway teens, malnourished children, and upside-down family functioning in which child nurtures parent. Small-town homelessness, Vissing contends, is as bad as, and often worse than, urban. While the rural homeless "live in chaos, out of the chaos there results an orderly existence." Unfortunately, neither contention is well developed. Instead of a sharp focus, Vissing offers a sprawling literature review with snippets from her own findings woven throughout. Vissing prefers the terms housing distress and displacement to homelessness, and these bring within her purview not only people on the streets but families living in trailer parks and campgrounds, and those unfortunates doubling up with relatives. Interview quotes have the ring of truth, but jargon, overly elastic categories and subjective reporting muddy the discussion. Frequently, Vissing crosses the line from analyzing to sermonizing: "Imagine how much better and more appropriate poor, distressed parents would be if they had the same resources as other parents!" "Many heroic students were interviewed." However, she offers sensible advice to social workers and community activists, and the 679-item bibliography will give sociology students something to mull over. Photos by the author.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Vissing (sociology, Salem State Coll.), who has worked extensively with social service agencies, draws on six years of study to inform us that homelessness is no longer just an urban problem. She further contends that in rural areas it has assumed a different character; children and families are being stricken in large numbers, with peculiarly rural factors such as the lack of jobs, housing, and social services exacerbating the situation. Vissing examines the causes and offers steps toward solutions. Throughout her book, she allows the homeless to speak for themselves. Recommended for public and academic libraries. Jim G. Burns, Ottumwa, Ia.

Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.