Visible Voices: Literacy and the Invisible Homeless

Who are the “invisible homeless”? They are individuals and families who have been forced into temporary living situations or shelter systems as a result of such conditions as changes in income, domestic violence, health care needs, and shifting housing costs. Unlike the chronically homeless, who are often stereotyped, or the situationally homeless, who may receive emergency assistance regaining their previous lives, the marginally homeless – often called the invisible homeless – get caught in institutional spirals that seem to discourage change. This book, however, provides evidence that an individual’s literacy identity can promote positive transitions out of homelessness. Although the stigma surrounding homelessness provokes silence, the five individuals who took part in this project speak eloquently about their circumstances, their accomplishments, and their intentions. In addition, the book can serve as a how-to for completing a qualitative research project, as the reader is walked through the steps of the research process.