In the introduction, Hunter shares an eye-opening statistic: “Around one in every 500 Americans is homeless.” From there, each concise, well-organized chapter thoughtfully introduces different aspects of the issue, including types of homelessness, how different demographic groups are affected, the root causes, and the physical and emotional effects. The pages are visually appealing and easy to navigate, with color photos and section headers in different colors. Facts and statistics appear throughout, and sidebars provide additional context, exploring topics such as “Finland’s Solution” and “Life Expectancy for Homeless People.” Each chapter ends with two different perspectives on a debate question—for example, “Can Someone Be Homeless if They Are Sleeping Inside?” or “Should There Be Homelessness in a Rich Country?” Readers are then invited to analyze the arguments and decide what they think. Despite touching upon race and gender as factors, the book surprisingly doesn’t refer to the fact that LGBTQ+ youth are at a much higher risk of homelessness, a major oversight. It also doesn’t mention the shift toward the term unhoused. Nevertheless, this book will help readers consider the factors that contribute to this pervasive issue and its impact on individuals and society, allowing them to come to their own informed opinions. Some may even be inspired to work on a solution.
