THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF HOMELESS YOUTH

This book examines the social constructions that thepublic, private and nonprofit sectors form ofhomeless youth in Denver, Colorado. The purpose isto determine how these social constructions arearticulated and, furthermore, to identify the publicpolicy implications to facilitating collaborationacross sectors and reducing youth homelessness inalignment with Denver's Road Home, the City andCounty of Denver's Ten Year Plan to EndHomelessness. A review of current research providesan accurate description of the situation of homelessyouth in Denver, emphasizing heightened rates ofsubstance abuse, mental illness and abuse. Thisbook suggests that to shift social constructions ofhomeless youth it is important that they are activeparticipants in dialogue with the public, privateand nonprofit sectors and that they are involved ineducating all three sectors about the issuesconfronting them. Overall, actors are more likelyto construct homeless youth as dependent and thereis a willingness to let homeless youth participatein the policy and decision making process.

Autorentext

Jamie Van Leeuwen completed his PhD in Public Policy at the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver with an emphasis on affordable housing and homelessness. In 2006, Jamie was appointed by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to head up Denver's Road Home, the city's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.