Homelessness pervades America's cities and rural areas. Multiple factors force people into a life on the street, including job loss, mental illness, and drug addiction. Homelessness can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, marital status, and race. While it's important for societies to provide shelter, food, and support for homeless people, it's even more necessary to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Struggling readers will benefit from this guide's concise language, vivid photos, and helpful graphics in a way that will enhance their understanding of the factors that affect homelessness in America. Provided by publisher.

Includes index.

How does it happen? -- Homelessness looks like -- What drives homelessness? -- History of homelessness -- The big house -- Priced out -- Homelessness in big cities -- Making the homeless criminals -- The countryside -- The employed homeless -- A dangerous life -- A difficult issue -- Taking action -- The private world -- The government -- Types of welfare -- State and local actions -- Local spending -- New approach -- How you can help -- More to be done.