Slate Money Money Talks: The Working Homeless in America
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Jul 8, 2025 Journalist and anthropologist Brian Goldstone, author of *There Is No Place For Us*, discusses the troubling realities of working homelessness in America. He reveals the stark contrast between societal perceptions and the often invisible struggles faced by working individuals without stable housing. Goldstone shares personal stories, including a mother’s descent into homelessness due to systemic failures, and critiques the exploitative conditions in extended stay hotels. He advocates for viewing housing as a human right and suggests innovative solutions to tackle the housing crisis.
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Scale of Hidden Homelessness
- Official homeless counts miss vast numbers living in cars, doubled up, or motels.
- The true homelessness figure in the US is about six times higher than reported, around 4 million people.
Stigma Masks Structural Causes
- Homelessness narratives stigmatize poverty and blame individuals for mental illness or laziness.
- This ignores the systemic dismantling of the social safety net and housing funding cuts starting in the 1980s.
Celeste's Journey to Homelessness
- Celeste lost her rental home to arson by an abusive ex and had to start over with nothing.
- Tenant protections failed her, leading to an eviction record and homelessness despite her steady job.
