* There is no shared vocabulary to describe "homelessness"
"Because research studies GAO reviewed often used different definitions of homelessness, relied on data collected at a point-in-time, and focused narrowly on unique populations over limited geographical areas, the studies cannot be compared or compiled to further an understanding of which factors are associated with experiencing homelessness."
http://www.gao.gov/assets/310/306203.html
* The Reagan administration closed mental institutions, gamed the system, and homelessness became the new normal for the mentally ill:
"Combined with a sharp rise in homelessness during the 1980s, Ronald Reagan pursued a policy toward the treatment of mental illness that satisfied special interest groups and the demands of the business community, but failed to address the issue: the treatment of mental illness "
"June 1986 The Supreme Court upholds a finding that Social Security officials had a 'fixed clandestine policy' to deny disability benefits to people with mental illness. "
"The new emphasis was on "supply side" economics, which essentially "blamed the nation's ills on 'big government' and called for lower taxes, reduced federal spending (military exempted), fewer government regulations, and more private sector initiatives" (Abramovitz, 1992, 101). Thus, to effect a change in the political economy, Reagan was able to win major concessions regarding social policy that continue today. By taking away the safety net, the working class was effectively neutralized: workers no longer had the freedom to strike against their employers or depend upon the social welfare system as a means of living until finding employment. Business was thus free to lower wages, benefits, and the length of contracts. The overall result was that the average income for the average American dropped even as the average number of hours at work increased (Barlett and Steele, 1996; Schor, 1992)." -- Electronic Journal of Sociology (1998)
ISSN: 1198 3655
Is it relevant that America's incarcerated population (mostly working age) is not included in that %? (I mean the shadow economy is statistically significant here)
* unemployment is 53%?
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-05/who-works-an...
* There is no shared vocabulary to describe "homelessness"
"Because research studies GAO reviewed often used different definitions of homelessness, relied on data collected at a point-in-time, and focused narrowly on unique populations over limited geographical areas, the studies cannot be compared or compiled to further an understanding of which factors are associated with experiencing homelessness." http://www.gao.gov/assets/310/306203.html
* The Reagan administration closed mental institutions, gamed the system, and homelessness became the new normal for the mentally ill:
"Combined with a sharp rise in homelessness during the 1980s, Ronald Reagan pursued a policy toward the treatment of mental illness that satisfied special interest groups and the demands of the business community, but failed to address the issue: the treatment of mental illness "
http://sociology.org/content/vol003.004/thomas_d.html
"June 1986 The Supreme Court upholds a finding that Social Security officials had a 'fixed clandestine policy' to deny disability benefits to people with mental illness. "
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/16/us/social-security-program...