Thank you to Netgalley and North Atlantic Books for an e-ARC of When We Walk By. These opinions are mine alone.

This is an important and humanizing book, as it reminds each of us to think more closely on how we view people experiencing homelessness, and the possible solutions going forward. I appreciated all of the resources provided that are offering unique and person-centered ideas and programs.

At times, especially towards the end of the book, I felt that some of the information was repetitive. Perhaps this was intentional to remind the reader of specific points before finishing the book. For some reason, this often annoys me--I appreciate the statistic once, but twice or more makes me feel like the author doesn't trust me to remember on my own.

This is a very well-researched book. With a topic such as homelessness and housing insecurity, it is crucial for data findings to be extremely current in order to tell the story as it playing out in real/recent times. While there were many findings from the last 5 years, there were also a bunch that went back 15-30 years, and other than illustrating the homelessness issue in other decades, this information didn't feel as relevant to current issues in the U.S.--sure, some things are the same, but our country is also in a much different place in 2023 than in 2013 or 2006.

I especially enjoyed reading the personal yet varied stories of actual people who have dealt with homelessness. I am probably guilty of having some biases in my head of what homelessness looks like. I hadn't really considered the many different ways it can present itself. I also hadn't really thought about all of the possible solutions (tiny homes, non-hostile urban architecture, etc.).

The authors' non-profit Miracle Money (Miracle Messages) is extremely impressive, both in intention and outcomes. I applaud the authors for writing this book and opening up more dialogue about improving the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Lots to think about!

3.75 stars
I will share my review on Goodreads closer to publication date.

This is a non fiction book about the homeless crisis in America. It doesn't hold back from the realities of how close people are to experiencing homelessness and it tries to remove the stigma of homelessness. It uses a lot of statistics but also blends them with first hand accounts making it relatable and accessible. It's an important read but can be a bit slow to get into.

Summary:

When We Walk By takes an urgent look at homelessness in America, showing us what we lose—in ourselves and as a society—when we choose to walk past and ignore our neighbors in shelters, insecure housing, or on the streets. And it brilliantly shows what we stand to gain when we embrace our humanity and move toward evidence-based people-first, community-driven solutions, offering social analysis, economic and political histories, and the real stories of unhoused people.

Review:

4⭐️

This book was brilliant. It really brought to life the people and individuals behind the statistics and stereotypes.

It challenges the perception society has and made me think about my own biases towards people experiencing homelessness.

The authors unflinchingly highlight how the narrative of homelessness being an individual issue is both fundamentally wrong but also serves to prevent us holding those systems responsible to account.

A spotlight is shone on the true impact of homelessness - how multifaceted it can be: affecting mental and physical health, family relationships, the criminal justice system and discrimination.

Highlights issue of racism and discrimination and just how endemic it is in modern society.

Brings into the light the significant problem of youth homelessness that most of us are blind to. Showcases the particular struggles of children who grow up in care and the need for longer term support post 18.

Although based in the US so much of this book is relevant to the UK too.

A really powerful and thought provoking book.

'When We Walk By' by Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burnes is a thought-provoking and timely book that sheds light on the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to homelessness in America. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the issue of homelessness and find solutions to end it.

The authors start by asking readers to reflect on their own interactions with unhoused individuals, and then delve into the systemic issues that perpetuate homelessness in America. They explore the ways in which our brains have been conditioned to overlook homeless individuals, and how this conditioning contributes to the dehumanization of unhoused people. The authors provide a deep analysis of the social, economic, and political forces that shape myths like “all homeless people are addicts” and “they’d have a house if they got a job.” The authors argue that conservative economics gets housing insecurity wrong, and that the problem of homelessness is not the result of individual failings, but rather systemic failures.

The authors also discuss relational poverty and how it contributes to the “us versus them” mentality that often divides communities. The book is full of real stories of unhoused people that help to humanize the issue of homelessness and provide readers with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those experiencing housing insecurity.

One of the book’s strengths is its emphasis on community-driven solutions. The authors argue that effective solutions to homelessness require people-first, evidence-based approaches that prioritize the needs and voices of unhoused individuals. They provide examples of successful programs and policies that have been implemented in various cities across the country, and offer practical advice on how individuals can get involved in efforts to end homelessness in their communities.

Overall, 'When We Walk By' is a deeply humanizing and engaging book that challenges readers to think critically about homelessness in America. The authors offer a nuanced analysis of the issue that goes beyond the usual stereotypes and assumptions, and provide readers with practical solutions that they can implement in their own communities. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about homelessness, housing solutions, and their own humanity.