Book Review – Housing, Homelessness, and Social Policy in the Urban North

Abstract:

Christensen et al.’s edited volume, Housing, Homelessness, and Social Policy in the Urban North (University of Toronto Press, 2024), critically examines homelessness, challenging traditional approaches and advocating for context-specific solutions. Through case studies from the Canadian North, Alaska, and Greenland, the book explores how historical and structural factors perpetuate homelessness in the face of urbanization and social policy. Organized into three regional sections, it critiques interventions that focus mainly on larger urban centers, neglecting rural communities impacted by colonial policies. The authors argue against one-size-fits-all solutions, promoting culturally sensitive approaches tailored to specific contexts. Key themes include the regional geography of homelessness, definitional challenges of home, rural-urban mobility, welfare colonialism, and the adaptation of Housing First initiatives. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community-based support structures, often overshadowed by external solutions. This volume is essential for understanding homelessness through a nuanced lens that incorporates cultural and contextual factors.

doi.org/10.54825/XBZL5263