June 24, 2004 | Read Time: 1 minute
A Shelter Is Not a Home…Or Is It? Lessons From Family Homelessness in New York City, by Ralph da Costa Nunez, recounts the history of homelessness affecting families in New York, as well as efforts to remedy the problem. Mr. Nunez, president of Homes for the Homeless, in New York, describes methods that the city has used to provide temporary shelter for homeless families. The author discusses the transition from large facilities that housed many people in the same room, commonly used in the 1980s, to today’s complexes run by nonprofit groups that offer each family its own living space and provide support services for adults and children. The book also describes some of the challenges facing homeless families, including domestic violence, lack of education and work experience, and poor health. Mr. Nunez advocates shelters that provide after-school programs for children, on-site job training, and medical services.
Publisher: White Tiger Press, 36 Cooper Square, Sixth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10003; http://www.instituteforchildrenandpoverty.org; 139 pages; $14.95.
