ABSTRACT

The problem of homelessness is as pervasive today as it was at the time of this article in the late 1980s. Solutions continue to be elusive. This article presents an explanation of the origins of some of the crises of homelessness. It examines the preconditions of homelessness as well as events that tend to perpetuate the deprivations of the homeless. The authors make the argument that planners need a comprehensive account of the problem to guide them in their choice of intervention strategies that would be considered appropriate at various stages in the cycle of homelessness.