ABSTRACT
In many U.S. cities, particularly those in the western United States, among the homeless and downtrodden are a sizable number of Native Americans. The more visible can be found sitting on park benches, hanging out on “skid row,” drinking alcohol from paper bags, sprawled out on sidewalks sleeping, or hidden in doorways at night (e.g., Kuttner and Lorincz, 1970). They have typically made their way to an urban location from the reservation and are either finding it difficult to go back or do not want to return. Alternatively, these individuals may have lost their marginal jobs and are now caught in a downward economic spiral.
