The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless ManAnderson, Nels
General
The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man
Anderson, Nels
Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions; Tramps
The United Charities, although engaged chiefly in work with
families, has a homeless-men division. During the year ending
September 30, 1922, 1,026 non-family men received assistance. Of
these, 629 were given material or personal service, and 397 were
referred to other organizations. The Jewish Social Service Bureau
also maintains a homeless men’s department which, in the year 1921,
gave personal and material aid to 1,333 men. During 1922, the
number of men helped fell to less than half this number, largely as
a result of the improved industrial situation. The Bureau works in
close association with two Jewish sheltering-homes, which together
house about 70 men. Homeless men who apply for assistance are cared
for here until their cases are carefully investigated. The Central
Bureau of (Catholic) Charities, in conjunction with the Mission of
the Holy Cross, provides shelter and food for destitute men, and
aids them to become self-supporting.
The Chicago Urban League, organized to promote co-ordination and
co-operation among existing agencies for the welfare of Negroes,
maintains an employment bureau for men out of work. During
the winters of 1920-21 and 1921-22, when thousands of men[69]
were without house accommodations, the League took the lead in
co-operating with churches and other organizations to secure
temporary housing quarters.
The hotels for homeless men maintained by the Salvation Army and by
the Christian Industrial League have already been described.[70] In
addition, both organizations maintain industrial homes where men
are given temporary work and are helped to become self-supporting.
The American Legion has been active in behalf of unemployed
ex-service men, many of whom are also homeless men. Its work has
consisted chiefly in getting jobs for the unemployed, and in this
it has had the hearty co-operation of the newspapers. The Legion
Hall was turned over to homeless veterans for sleeping quarters
during the winter of 1921-22.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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