Homelessness in Sweden-discussion, patterns, and causes
Titel:
Homelessness in Sweden-discussion, patterns, and causes
Auteur:
Sward, Hans
Verschenen in:
European journal of social work
Paginering:
Jaargang 2 (1999) nr. 3 pagina's 289-303
Jaar:
1999-09-01
Inhoud:
In a number of countries in Western Europe and in North America homelessness has come to the fore once again over the last 15-20 years, a fact to which many books and surveys bear witness. In a number of countries, organizations have been formed both for and by the homeless.1Newspapers sold on the street to promote the cause of the homeless are becoming an increasingly common sight.2Despite this trend there is at present still no generally acknowledged explanation of the cause of homelessness and we do not know whether the causes are the same in the social democratic European welfare states, in the USA and Canada, or in countries with a poorly developed welfare system. Nor do we know whether homelessness for the individual is a short-term or permanent state. This article highlights Swedish homelessness. It is based on the results of a research project which I ran from 1993 to 1998.3The article has three objectives. First, I wish to provide a brief presentation of the issue of Swedish homelessness using, among other things, a study of how the media have dealt with the issue. Secondly, I wish to discuss the pattern of homelessness in Sweden and provide an explanation of why the length of homelessness varies. Thirdly, I wish to highlight the question of how we explain why people can be homeless in a country where social welfare and housing policies have, decade after decade, been directed at eradicating housing problems. The last two questions were highlighted in a case study conducted by me in Malmo, the country's third largest city.
Tijdschrift beschrijving