Realistic Public Library Services For Homeless Patrons 1
Running head: REALISTIC PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES FOR HOMELESS PATRONS
Realistic Public Library Services For Homeless Patrons:
Examining Homelessness and How it Relates to Public Library Service
Bill Sannwald
San José State University
Abstract
This article explores the issue of homelessness in relation to public library service. Homelessness is a societal problem, but libraries have the opportunity to provide realistic services to improve the lives of this special patron group. The article examines the current statistics of homelessness in the United States as well as the factors that cause homelessness. Many of the specific problems associated with providing library services to homeless members of the community are highlighted. Recommendations are made on some of the standout ways public libraries can better provide services to homeless patrons while keeping these goals realistic and feasible.
In an impassioned opinion piece published in Library Journal, Blaise Cronin (2002) states the following: “A library is not a community masturbation center. A library is not a porn parlor. A library is not a refuge for the homeless. A library is not a place in which to defecate, fornicate, or micturate. A library is not a bathing facility.” Though Cronin only makes one direct statement about the homeless, all of the issues mentioned can be directly related to problems associated with providing library services to homeless patrons. Cronin (2002) goes on to argue, “Libraries are not shelters and librarians should not be viewed as surrogate social workers.” However, as anyone who has worked in a public library can most likely attest to, separating library work from social work is often not so easy. As Ayers (2006) states, “Serving the poor and homeless presents one of the greatest challenges America’s public libraries have ever faced.”
While it is true that public libraries are not institutions for social work, it is very possible that they can still benefit the many homeless patrons that utilize libraries on a daily basis. If only on a level of being an equalizing force in providing access to information, public libraries can play a major part in the lives of its homeless patrons. In fact, according to the American Library Associations’ Policy Manual, doing so is precisely within the scope of what is expected of public library service. “The American Library Association promotes equal access to information for all persons, and recognizes the urgent need to respond to the increasing number of poor children, adults, and families in America” (2006). In regards to the ALA’s stance, Ayers (2006) observes, “Clearly the ALA has a compassionate, concerned, and serving attitude toward the nation’s poor and its homeless. That attitude should filter down to all libraries and become a catalyst for change in the lives of the poor and the homeless. It should also be a catalyst for change in libraries.”
Providing realistic library services to homeless patrons is a tall order, but by implementing changes that are reasonable and still within the possible range of practical services, libraries have an opportunity to better serve a segment of their patron base that is often overlooked, unwanted, and ignored. It’s important to realize that public libraries can’t be expected to work miracles, but at the same time, it is possible that improved services to homeless patrons can be attained. Libraries shouldn’t tackle the issue alone, but instead should work with local organizations to form partnerships and better understand the needs of their homeless patrons. Even minor improvements and alterations in the way public libraries provide services to homeless patrons can have a larger positive impact on the lives of many homeless library users and the communities they live in as a whole.
An Examination of Homelessness in the United States of America
Most individuals, especially those who live in or have visited metropolitan areas, are familiar with the social issue of homelessness. However, defining what constitutes a person as being homeless is not as straightforward as it would seem. “Even the definition of homelessness remains disputed. Some observers say it means residing in a shelter (or outdoors) for more than six months, other say anyone without a home is homeless” (Triplett, 2004). The Federal Government’s definition leans towards the latter. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2008), a homeless person is defined as follows:
An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is: A.) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill); B.) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or C.) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Even with the above definitions in mind, it is critical to note that a great deal of diversity exists within homeless populations. Knowing this is especially important for information professionals working in libraries that service homeless patrons. “The homeless are not a homogenous population. Providing information services that are most useful and thus most used, becomes a simpler task when target audiences are more defined and more specific. Different homeless groups have different information needs” (Hersberger, 2005). No matter what the definition of homelessness may be, then, it is imperative to realize that a great deal of diversity exists within homeless populations, and homeless people should be thought of as individuals, each with their own personal needs and desires. As Grace (2000) points out, “Homeless people are not stereotypes; they are members of our society. They come from all national and ethnic backgrounds.”
Though often viewed as a more recent problem, specifically one sparked during the 1980s, homelessness has actually been a social issue from before the earliest days of the United States. When examining the culture and communities occupied by “tramps,” “hobos,” and “bums” throughout United States history, Kusmer (2002) notes, “The homeless have been a part of American civilization almost since the founding of the first English colonies four hundred years ago.” Since homeless communities have existed throughout the entirety of American history, then, it is little wonder that the problem still persists today. “Although the contemporary homeless differ in many respects from their hobohemian and skid row predecessors, they still largely defy the label of ‘disaffiliation’ and, in fact, continue to forge communities even in the absence of a permanent shelter” (Depastino, 2003).
Estimating the number of homeless individuals in the United States can be a daunting challenge. The best estimates come from information provided by homeless shelters. According the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness (2007), 193,183 unduplicated individuals used emergency shelters and/or transitional houses in the 21 cities surveyed. Of this number 76% were individuals, 23% were members of households with children, and 1% were unaccompanied youth. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2007) estimates that in any given year, 3.5 million people experience homelessness, with nearly 40% (1.35 million) of this total being children. The United States Census (2008) estimates the national population as roughly 304,700,000, which means that almost 1 out of every 100 people is homeless.
Numerous factors have contributed to homelessness throughout the existence of the United States. “Historically, the great causes of homelessness have included pilgrimage, war, famine, social upheaval, itinerant labor, alcoholism, and the lure of the open road” (Hopper, 2003). However, the levels of homelessness have not remained constant over time and the factors contributing to homelessness have been varied and changing. Currently, the homeless population in the United States appears to be increasing. “Researchers conclude that counts of both homeless individuals and homeless families have increased dramatically since the 1950s and 1960s. The causes of this growth in number of homeless families are multiple, complex, and not well understood” (Lewit & Baker, 2002). As to the factors affecting rising homeless populations, Ayers (2006) states:
After World War II homelessness was almost a nonexistent condition in America. Cheap sleeping rooms only were easy to find in urban areas. This continued until 1980. There was a sharp rise in homelessness in the 1980s due to several factors. The Reagan administration’s policy of deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill and its funding cuts for subsidized housing contributed to the increasing in numbers. Another factor was the breakdown of marriages. Many people divorced and that thrust many women and children into poverty. The nation’s illegal drug problem also contributed to the rise of homelessness.
Thus, it can be argued that there is not one simple cause for homelessness, and in many cases it is a combination of reasons that results in individuals becoming homeless. Further, while the myriad factors that contribute to homelessness are known, there is some disagreement on which particular causes represent those that are the most prevalent. For instance, Stoops (2005) lists the three major causes of homelessness as being the lack of affordable housing, the lack of affordable health care, and poor paying jobs. Meanwhile, in reported causes of homelessness amongst singles and unaccompanied youth, U.S. Conference of Mayors (2007) reports the main contributing factors are mental illness, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment. Table 1 provides a percentile view of these listed factors. For reported causes of homelessness among households with children, the main reasons are lack of affordable housing, poverty, domestic violence, low-paying jobs, and unemployment. A more detailed account of these factors can be found in Table 2. Of single homeless individuals, 77% are men and 23% are women, whereas with homeless families 84% have single mothers as head-of-household, with only 16% of homeless families having fathers present as a member of the family unit. (Ayers, 2006). Clearly, homelessness continues to be problematic to combat because of the numerous circumstances and scenarios that can lead individuals becoming homeless.
Table 1.
2007 Reported Causes of Homelessness Among Singles and Unaccompanied Youth
Mental Illness / Substance Abuse / Lack of Affordable Housing / Poverty / Unemployment65% / 61% / 43% / 39% / 22%
Note. The source of for this data is U.S. Conference of Mayors Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness
Table 2.
2007 Reported Causes of Homelessness Among Households With Children
Lack of Affordable Housing / Poverty / Domestic Abuse / Low-Paying Jobs / Unemployment87% / 57% / 39% / 30% / 26%
Note. The source of for this data is U.S. Conference of Mayors Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness
It is also important to understand that the demographics of the homeless population in the United States are significantly varied in terms of ethnicity, and this diversity differs from region to region. A report from the National Coalition for the Homeless (2007) states, “Like the total U.S. population, the ethnic makeup of homeless populations varies according to geographic location. For example, people experiencing homelessness in rural areas are more likely to be white.” As with homeless populations, securing hard statistics about the homeless population’s ethnic makeup is difficult, with most reported information coming from homeless shelters. Currently, the best estimates of homeless ethnicity show that African-Americans represent the largest portion of the homeless population, followed by Caucasians, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). Table 3 provides an estimated statistical breakdown of the ethnic composition of individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States.
Table 3.
2007 Estimates for Ethnic Background of Homeless Individuals
African-American / Caucasian / Hispanic / Native American / Asian49% / 35% / 13% / 2% / 1%
Note. The source of for this data is National Coalition For the Homeless 2007Who is Homeless? Fact Sheet
Considering the statistics examined above, it is clear that the high level of ethnic, gender, and familial diversity that exists with the homeless population, coupled with the numerous factors contributing to homelessness, provides a seemingly insurmountable challenge for public libraries. However, it is a challenge libraries will have to tackle. Libraries have always functioned to be reflections of the communities they serve, striving to meet the needs and expectations of a continually changing patron base. Pollard (2008) states, “The role of libraries in communities has changed drastically during the past 40 years. No longer limited to primarily holding a collection of books to be checked out or used for reference, libraries today serve a broad range of essential community needs and constituents.” With homeless patrons often a substantial part of public libraries’ user bases, finding ways to meet their needs is critical for libraries to fulfill their proper roles. However, public libraries also need to find a balance between providing realistic and manageable services versus venturing into social work territory beyond their capacity and scope. Libraries alone cannot solve the social issue of homelessness, but they can contribute to its decline in numerous ways.
Homeless Patrons in Public Libraries
In most any public library system, a certain percentage of the user base is most likely homeless. Given the widespread social issue of homelessness in the United States, it’s inevitable that public libraries should find themselves servicing homeless patrons. After all, it is within the realm of service of public libraries to provide equal access for all members of the community. “Public libraries provide free and open access to knowledge and services to all residents regardless of income, race, or age. They are a neutral, respected gateway to information and a safe place between work and home that offers equal access to all community members” (Pollard, 2008). Being open to all members of the community proves libraries to have the potential to be influential equalizers in the cities and neighborhoods they provide service to, but that does not mean all members of the community value the services libraries provide to special groups such as the homeless.
Perception of Homeless Individuals and their Use of Public Libraries
There is a perception that library patrons are divided into two groups: “deserving” and “undeserving” (Hersberger, 2005). The deserving poor represent individuals that become homeless through no fault of their own and are represented by such subgroups as homeless families, homeless children, and individuals making strides to improve their situation. The undeserving poor, on the other hand, are people who become homeless due to reasons such as substance abuse, divorce, or teenage pregnancy (Ayers, 2006). Viewed from a different angle, it can be surmised that the idea of deserving and undeserving represents the perception of whether or not individuals are worthy of library use. These perceptions are not only limited to members of the community, but can also be held by library staff as well as homeless individuals themselves. It is far too common that library staff members view the homeless as “problem patrons,” but as Isaacson (2006) argues, “Maybe we should all think twice before we label some of our users as problem patrons.”
All the same, problems related to how homeless individuals are perceived continue to exist in public libraries. Most, if not all, information professionals would agree that in keeping with an ideal vision and goal for public library service—namely that all members of the community have free, equal, and indiscriminate access to resources—homeless patrons have just as much right to library use as anyone else and should be treated accordingly. However, the reality is that homeless patrons, and the problems that come with servicing them, continue to stand out as challenges for staff and patrons. Chattoo (2002) states:
Library staff and others consider them nuisances. Coping with problems associated with street people such as lack of access to proper sanitation and hygiene, lack of interest in the same, and sometimes mental illness, can affect the library as well as those who spend time in it. Some street people smell so badly that they cause nausea. Sleeping street people may snore so loudly it disturbs contemplation. For hygiene reasons patrons may fear handling materials touched or used by street people. As a result many librarians classify “street people” as “problem patrons.”
In order to best provide free and equal access to all members of the community, staff and community members should put aside any preconceived discriminatory notions about homeless individuals being problem patrons. “Categorizing an entire class of people as ‘problem patrons’ is outright discrimination” (Hersberger, 2005). Still, it is unrealistic to believe that discrimination will ever completely be eradicated, especially in a public place where homeless individuals share the same resources and are often directly in contact with other members of the community. “The rich and the poor can sit side by side at a reference desk, can check out the same books, and can attend the same book discussion panels” (Pollard, 2008). Therefore, library patrons may object to the presence of homeless users, especially given the aforementioned preconception of worthy and unworthy patrons. “Taxpayers expect library staff to provide library services and leave the homeless to social workers” (Ward, 2007). Nevertheless, while a percentage of any homeless community may prove to be problematic, especially in a setting such as a library, there are also individuals who take full advantage of the resources libraries offer.