Homelessness and Drinking: A Study of a Street Population

The classic Skid Rows of the 1930s are virtually gone today, having been replaced by street populations comprised chiefly of members of different ethnic groups, largely members of minority populations. Homelessness and Drinking is a comprehensive study of one such homeless group in Anchorage, Alaska. The data presented, collected from observations of and in-depth interviews with individuals, provides an unprecedented report of the relationship among drinking behavior and demographic, sociological, and other pertinent variables. Although this study is limited to one specific population, the nature of its findings and its implications are important everywhere.

As homeless populations become more prevalent, they present a unique challenge to health and governmental authorities struggling to deal with them. In this study, problems facing both the homeless and those trying to help them are described, providing a clearer understanding of the overall picture of homelessness and drinking. The proposed strategies for aiding recovery include coordinating health and social organizations to create a case management system that focuses on each individual's specific needs, including those of ethnicity.

Homelessness and Drinking has universal implications, as it contributes to a better understanding of the needs of contemporary, ethnically dominant, homeless drinking populations. This interesting volume contains descriptive analyses of the homeless population, drinking among the homeless, and the impact of intervention or treatment with chronic drinkers, and theoretical perspectives on the relationships of homelessness, drinking behavior, and ethnicity. At the conclusion of the study, a scheme is proposed to develop a coordinated approach for treating the drinking homeless, taking all of these factors into consideration.

Social workers, health administrators, substance abuse treatment providers, alcohol/drug researchers, and psychologists are among the many professionals who will find useful information in this practical book.