Toward an international understanding of homelessness

After a discussion of definitional issues when studying homelessness and a brief review of the existing research literature in the United States, this article provides an overview of the similarities and differences between the research literatures in the United States and other developed nations. Similarities include many shared characteristics of homeless populations (e.g., over-representation of men and those traditionally discriminated against) and differences include the timing of interest in the topic (earlier in the United States and the United Kingdom) and the extent of social welfare systems (generally less developed in the United States than in Europe). The articles in this issue include literature reviews, studies comparing homelessness across nations, articles that examine specific issues in relation to homelessness in particular nations, and policy-oriented discussions.