BOOK REVIEW: Struggling in the Land of Plenty: Race, Class, and Gender in the Lives of Homeless Families, by Anne R. Roschelle, 2019. Landham, MD: Lexington/Rowman & Littlefield, cloth.
This book would better be titled something like “Gentrification in San Francisco and the Homeless Population that Has Been Created and Maintained by It.” This publisher has recently sent me a couple books with titles that are misleading. This book is not about poverty or homelessness in general. It is much more specific and the title does not tell the reader this.
The book includes a great deal of information on the changes in housing and housing costs in San Francisco… and a few case studies of homeless people who have had to learn to deal with the disappointment of not having a safe place to live. The focus is on women in a shelter experiment where they are receiving a wide variety of services while being kept safe.
The work being reported on here is indeed honorable; however, providing shelter is only one piece of the puzzle regarding homeless people who all have individual needs, since they are individuals with their own lives and backgrounds and aspirations.
Although I do not wish to reveal all the content of the book, I will say that there is much here related to helping students to care deeply about the quality of life in their communities. Learning about the struggles of the poor and homeless helps students better understand differences in income and helps them see how important it is to support our fellow citizens. It also helps them think about ethical and responsible business practices – such as charging reasonable amounts for rent.
Race, class, and gender are three important aspects of the book that guide the content. As a book to be used for discussions (with older students) there is a great deal of straightforward information on the needs and hopes of the poor. As a book to be used as a resource for teachers writing lesson plans and planning student visits to facilities meant to help the homeless, the book provides insights into some of the kinds of people – and their diversity.
I recommend the book if the reader is prepared to consider the above ideas when approaching the text. In addition, the reader should be ready to read the notes at the end of the book. The notes contain a great deal of important information and should not be passed over.