ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the problem and the nature of the issues that face those who are homeless in rural America. Defining rural America has long plagued the discussion of rural policy. Despite the fact that three-quarters of all counties in the nation are categorized as rural by the US Census Bureau, many are interlinked with metropolitan America and the distinctions are sometimes blurred. The rural economy has undergone significant change since the 1980s and one way to describe rural America is by looking at the broad changes across non-metropolitan counties. Many rural Americans have experienced economic changes not seen since the Great Depression with dwindling populations and growing fiscal problems. The problems in rural America have received less attention than their more visible urban counterparts. Many in America view life in rural communities through stereotypical lenses. Literal homelessness is less common in rural areas due to kinship ties and a general lack of resources and service providers.
