Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City

Skid Road is a book that explores the historical roots of poverty and homelessness, the worthy and unworthy poor, and the role of charity healthcare and public policy in the United States. It tells the stories of overlooked and long-silenced people who live on the margins of society, and how a large, socially progressive city like Seattle has responded to their health needs.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 312 pages
\n Publication date: 03 August 2021
\n Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
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A comprehensive exploration of the historical origins of poverty and homelessness, the distinction between the worthy and unworthy poor, and the impact of charity healthcare and public policy in the United States.

Seattle, with a population of over 730,000 and a metropolitan area home to nearly four million people, ranks as the third-highest city in the United States for homeless populations. In 2018, an estimated 8,600 individuals experienced homelessness in the city, excluding the substantial number of hidden homeless individuals who doubled up with friends or resorted to living in and out of inexpensive hotels.

In her book "Skid Road," Josephine Ensign delves into the rich history of Seattle, uncovering the stories of marginalized individuals who have been overlooked and long-silenced in official narratives. These individuals, their lives, and deaths, often find their tales excluded from the official accounts of a place. Ensign poses the crucial question: How has a large, socially progressive city like Seattle addressed the healthcare needs of individuals marginalized by poverty, mental illness, addiction, racial/ethnic/sexual identities, and homelessness?

Through extensive interviews and thorough research, Ensign presents a diverse range of perspectives within contemporary health care and public policy debates. Drawing upon her personal experience of homelessness and over three decades of dedicated work as a family nurse practitioner, Ensign possesses a unique vantage point to examine the complex dynamics between caregiving and oppression, as well as charity and solidarity, which shape differing viewpoints on homelessness across the country.

This timely narrative finds particular relevance in the context of ongoing healthcare reform discussions, the affordable housing crisis, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The stories from "Skid Road" shed light on critical issues surrounding poverty, homelessness, and the systemic challenges that perpetuate these issues. Ensign's book serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and humanity of those who face societal margins, and her insights offer valuable contributions to the ongoing efforts to address these pressing social concerns.

\n Weight: 574g\n
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781421440132\n \n