Research Article

Homelessness in the US and Germany: a cross-national analysis†

  1. Carolyn J. Tompsett1,
  2. Paul A. Toro1,*,
  3. Melissa Guzicki1,
  4. Natascha Schlienz2,
  5. Marc Blume3,
  6. Sylvie Lombardo4

Article first published online: 25 APR 2003

DOI: 10.1002/casp.724

Issue

Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology

Volume 13, Issue 3, pages 240–257, May/June 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tompsett, C. J., Toro, P. A., Guzicki, M., Schlienz, N., Blume, M. and Lombardo, S. (2003), Homelessness in the US and Germany: a cross-national analysis. J. Community. Appl. Soc. Psychol., 13: 240–257. doi: 10.1002/casp.724

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, Bern, Switzerland

  4. 4

    Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

*Research Group on Homelessness and Poverty, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 71 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA.

  1. †

    Further information on the present and other related research projects can be found on our web site at http://sun.science.wayne.edu/∼ptoro/.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 APR 2003
  2. Article first published online: 25 APR 2003

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Keywords:

  • homelessness;
  • public opinion;
  • attitudes;
  • knowledge

Abstract

A public opinion survey was administered by telephone to nationally representative samples in the US and Germany to assess prevalence of homelessness as well as attitudes, opinions and knowledge regarding homelessness. Lower prevalence rates were found in Germany as compared with the US. German respondents demonstrated higher levels of general compassion, greater support for the public rights of the homeless, a greater tendency to view the homeless as trustworthy, and were more likely to view economic factors and less likely to view personal failings as integral to the problem of homelessness. Respondent age, gender, and political affiliation predicted many public opinion variables. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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