Abstract
Despite the important role they play in preventing homelessness, those who shelter people who can not afford housing of their own have been neglected by researchers. This study examines the characteristics of these low income informal shelter providers. While informal shelter providers were similar to a comparison group of low income households that did not shelter others, there were also significant differences between the two groups. Informal shelter providers were more much more likely to live in single family dwellings, they were more likely to be long-term residents of the community, they were more likely to have experienced homelessness themselves, and they devoted a disproportionate share of their incomes to housing.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Allen, W. (1978). Black family research in the United States: A review, assessment and extension.Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 9, 167–190.
Applebaum, R. P. (1984). Testimony on a report to the secretary on the homeless and emergency shelters. In J. Erickson and C. Wilhelm (Eds.),Housing the homeless (pp. 156–164). New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research.
Applebaum, R. P. (1990a). Counting the homeless. In J. A. Momeni (Ed.),Homelessness in the United States: Vol. 1. Data and issues (pp. 1–16). New York: Greenwood Press.
Applebaum, R. P. (1990b). Review of Address Unknown and Down and Out in America.American Journal of Sociology, 96, 253–255.
Auslander, G., & Litwin, H. (May–June, 1988). Social networks and the poor: Toward effective policy and practice.Social Work: pp. 234–238.
Billingsly, D. (1982).Black families in White America. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Caton, C. (1990).Homeless in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Erickson, J., & Wilhelm, C. (1986).Housing the homeless. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research.
Fischer, C. (1982).To dwell among friends: Personal networks in town and city. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Gioglio, G. R. (1989). Homelessness in New Jersey: The social service network and the people served. In J. A. Momeni (Ed.),Homelessness in the United States: Vol. 1. State surveys (p. 112). New York: Greenwood Press.
Hays, W., & Mindel, C. (1973). Extended kinship relations in Black and White families.Journal of Marriage and Family, 35, 246–257.
Hope, M., & Young, J. (1986).The faces of the homeless. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Kunz, J. S. (1989). Homelessness in Missouri: Populations, problems, and policy. In J. A. Momeni (Ed.),Homelessness in the United States: Vol. 1. State surveys (pp. 91–112). New York: Greenwood Press.
Robbins, T. (1984). New York's homeless families. In J. Erickson and C. Wilhelm (Eds.),Housing the homeless (pp. 26–37). New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research.
Rossi, P. H. (1989).Down and out in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schecter, H. (1984). Closing the gap between need and provision.Society, 21, 40–47.
Simpson, J., Kilduf, M., & Blewett, C. D. (1984).Struggling to survive in a welfare hotel. New York: Community Services Society.
Stack, C. (1974).All our kin. New York: Harper & Row.
Starr, R. (1985). Twenty years of housing programs.The Public Interest, 81, 82–93.
Wright, J. D. (1989).Address unknown: The homeless in America. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vacha, E.F., Marin, M.V. Informal shelter providers: Low income households sheltering the homeless. J Soc Distress Homeless 2, 117–133 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074225
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074225