Sheridan 1

Jacob Sheridan

Dr. Priscilla A. Brown

ENG-211

3 September 2018

Summary Exercise

In the essay “Ignoring Homeless Families” by Greg Kaufmann, the author states that

while the costs of homeless families are more difficult to quantify than those of homeless single

adults, they are still just as meaningful and real. The lack of quality health services greatly

increases the rates of chronic illnesses and disabilities in homeless children. Several attempted

federal programs to help homeless families have proved ineffective at assisting those in need.

Programs designed to help the homeless in Wisconsin are geared more toward helping single

adults rather than adults with children. The author cites several experts who agree that keeping

families out of shelters should be the priority, not getting them out of shelters as fast as possible.

Then the author demonstrates the lack of a unified plan to assist homeless children across the

nation. Finally, the author mentions The American Almanac of Family Homelessness as a source

for several potential solutions to the problem of homeless families and homeless single adults.

Kaufmann, Greg. “Ignoring Homeless Families.” Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, edited

by Katherine Anne Ackley, Cengage Learning, 2018, 255-259.