
Families on the Edge
Experiences of Homelessness and Care in Rural New England
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Families on the Edge
Experiences of Homelessness and Care in Rural New England
About this book
Families on the Edge is an ethnographic portrait of families in rural and small-town New England who are often undercut by the very systems that are set up to help them. In this book, author and medical anthropologist Elizabeth Carpenter-Song draws on a decade of ethnographic research to chart the struggles of a cohort of families she met in a Vermont family shelter in 2009, as they contend with housing insecurity, mental illness, and substance use. Few other works have attempted to take such a long-term view of how vulnerability to homelessness unfolds over time or to engage so fully with existing scholarship in the fields of anthropology and health services.
Research on homelessness in the United States has been overwhelmingly conducted in urban settings, so much less is known about its trajectory in rural areas and small towns. Carpenter-Song's book identifies how specific aspects of rural New Englandāincluding scarce affordable housing stock, extremely limited transportation, and cultural expectations of self-relianceācome together to thwart opportunities for families despite their continual striving to "make it" in this environment. Carpenter-Song shines a light on the many high-stakes consequences that occur when systems of care fail and offers a way forward for clinicians, health researchers, and policymakers seeking practical solutions.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Prelude
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Becoming Homeless in Rural New England
- 3. Life on the Edge
- 4. Paradoxes of Care
- 5. Shattered Families
- 6. Toward Security Following Homelessness
- 7. Conclusion
- Epilogue: Notes from the Pandemic
- Appendix: Family Housing Trajectories
- References
- Index