How Ten Global Cities Take On Homelessness: Innovations That Work

by Linda Gibbs, Jay Bainbridge, Muzzy Rosenblatt

Creative solutions for global cities addressing their urgent homeless crises.

This book takes on perhaps the most formidable issue facing metropolitan areas today: the large numbers of homeless residents within cities. Four dedicated experts with first-hand experience profile ten cities—Bogota, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Houston, Nashville, New York City, Baltimore, Edmonton, Paris, and Athens—to explore ideas, strategies, successes, and failures. Together they bring an array of government, nonprofit, and academic perspectives to offer a truly global perspective. The authors answer essential questions about the nature and causes of homelessness and analyze how cities have used innovation and local political coordination to address this pervasive problem.
 
Ten Global Cities will be an invaluable resource not only for students of policy and social work but for municipal, regional, and national policymakers; nonprofit service providers; community advocates and activists; and all citizens who want to collaborate for real change.
These authors argue that homelessness is not an insurmountable social condition, and their examples show that cities and individuals working in coordination can lead the charge for better outcomes.
 

Genres: Nonfiction

287 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Bridget Malicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a public management class in my public policy graduate program (I got to pick my book for this project). It is a short read that provides mostly high-level insights about the "innovations that work." There are definitely relevant lessons for municipal management more broadly, which was helpful from my standpoint. Definitely helpful for policymakers and those who are interested in managing at the city level or interested in creating cross-sector coalitions. It is not a how-to and the authors explicitly state that.

[Wesley Franks · Rating 1 out of 5]

To anyone thinking of reading this, stop. I made that dumb mistake, let me save you the effort. You will NOT learn how 10 global cities take on homelessness. This could have been a fun, 30-page article. Instead, what this amounts to is four bureaucrats who just repeat themselves for over 200 pages. There are entire sections that use lengthy paragraphs to say absolutely nothing. (It’s a surreal moment when you spend 30 minutes reading something and actually feel dumber after).

Why is this book so shallow? My theory is that policies that might actually reverse homelessness, like safe injection sites or government housing, are too straight forward for the authors to seriously contend with. They’ve spent YEARS dedicating themselves to a problem that hasn’t gotten better. What else can you do but write a book. Brought to you by Bloomberg Associates.

[Ryan Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the best book on homelessness that I've read (see Homelessness is a Housing Problem by Gregg Colburn) but this was surprisingly good and, really, these two books aren't talking about the same issues. Colburn's book take a data-driven look at some of the assumptions folks have about the causes of homelessness and provides great information on what works and what doesn't. This book from Linda Gibbs and co is more advocacy-focused, and spends a good amount of time talking about each element related to society's response to homelessness, from PIT counts to street outreach to prevention to housing supply and addressing public concerns. This book works hard to be apolitical and invites everyone to the table to discuss what has proven effective for addressing the needs of unsheltered individuals around the world. This book feels like it was written for housing department staff or policy advisors while Colburn's book feels like it was written for the academic layperson. I'm grateful to have read both.

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book which discusses how ten cities across the globe have tackled homelessness really is the product of a group of bureaucrats congratulating themselves on their managerial approach to the issue. Reading the book, which suffered like a lot of collective efforts from too many voices, was difficult because the style and manner in which it was written just made it boring. At the same time I felt I was reading a sales pitch for those who wrote the book.

[Anneliese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful examples but far from revolutionary. Just because NYC and LA are spending the most on combatting homelessness doesn't mean they are leading on the issue. It largely advocates for more of the same approach to what feels like an intractable problem. If you're looking for inspiration or a fresh take on housing first policies, keep looking.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this book is about the success of tackling homelessness and poverty, then looking at LA and NYC you will see that what is proposed & suggested are a failure. Don’t waste your time and money here looking for a solution to homelessness issues in your community.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating dive into homelessness and the intricacies of this social ill. It presents the issue with all its ramifications and provides a clear indication as to what different cities are trying to achieve. 10/10 for those passionate in the matter.