ABSTRACT
In this chapter I conduct a critical analysis of a number of texts associated with the debate over the landmark federal legislation on homeless, the McKinney Act of 1987; legislation that still frames contemporary homeless policy. I do so to promote a greater awareness of the rhetorical and discur sive forces at play in contemporary society’s views of homelessness. Such awareness may aid those identified as homeless to recognize negative social constructions of themselves appearing in public policies and derogatory stereotypes circulating in society-at-large. Once social constructions and
those stereotypes are recognized as political portrayals and not as inherent qualities, the homeless and their allies may begin to challenge them strate gically. Moreover, they may even begin to work on ways to challenge soci ety to look beyond the rhetoric and to address those institutions and arrangements that facilitate their homelessness. Thus, this analysis furthers the aims of a critical theory of homelessness as discussed earlier.
